Chapter Amanda to Ambrose of A by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Amanda to Ambrose

Amanda, wife of Loveless. Lord Foppington pays her amorous attentions, but she utterly despises the conceited coxcomb, and treats him with contumely. Colonel Townly, in order to pique his lady-love, also pays attention to Loveless’s wife, but she repels his advances with indignation; and Loveless, who overhears her, conscious of his own shortcomings, resolves to reform his ways, and, “forsaking all other,” to remain true to Amanda, “so long as they both should live.”—Sheridan: A Trip to Scarborough (1777).

Amanda, in Thomson’s Seasons, is meant for Miss Young, who married admiral Campbell.

And thou, Amanda, come, pride of my song! Formed by the Graces, loveliness itself.
“Spring,” 480, 481 (1728).
Awakened by the genial year,
In vain the birds around me sing;
In vain the freshening fields appear;
Without my love there is no spring.

Amanda, the victim of Peregrine Pickle’s seduction, in Smollett’s novel of Peregrine Pickle (1751).

Amara (Mount), a place where the Abyssinian kings kept their younger sons, to prevent sedition. It was a perfect paradise enclosed with alabaster rocks, and containing thirty-four magnificent palaces.—Heylin: Microcosmus (1627).

Where the Abassin kings their issue guard,
Mount Amara, … by some supposed
True paradise under the Ethiop line,
By Nilus line, enclosed with shining rock
A whole day’s journey high.
   —Milton: Paradise Lost, iv. 280, etc. (1665).

(“The Ethiop line” means the equinoctial line.)

Amarant. There are numerous species of this flower, those best known are called prince’s feather and love lies a-bleeding, both crimson flowers. The bloody amaranth and the clustered amaranth also bear red flowers; but there is a species called the melancholy amaranth, which has a purple velvety flower. All retain their colours pretty well to the last, and the flowers endure for a long time. Pliny says (xxi. 11) that the flowers of the amaranth recover their colour by being sprinkled with water.

Immortal amaranth, a flower which once
In paradise, fast by the Tree of Life,
Began to bloom. … With these … the spirits elect
Bind their resplendent locks.
   —Milton: Paradise Lost, iii. 353, etc. (1665).

Amaranta, wife of Bartolus, the covetous lawyer. She was wantonly loved by Leandro, a Spanish gentleman.—John Fletcher: The Spanish Curate (1622). Beaumont died in 1616.

Amaranth (Greek, amarantos, “everlasting”) so called because its flowers retain their “flaming red” colour to the last. Longfellow, by a strange error, crowns the angel of death with amaranth, with which (as Milton says) “the spirits elect bind their resplendent locks,” and his angel of life he crowns with asphodel, the flower of Pluto or the grave.

He who wore the crown of asphodels …
[said] “My errand is not death, but life” …
[but] The angel with the amaranthine wreath
Whispered a word, that had a sound like death.
   —Longfellow: The Two Angels.

Amaranth (Lady), in Wild Oats, by John O’Keefe, a famous part of Mrs. Pope (1740–1797).

Amarillis, a shepherdess in love with Perigot (t sounded), but Perigot l oved Amoret. In order to break off this affection, Amarillis induced “the sullen shepherd” to dip her in “the magic well,” whereby she became transformed into the perfect resemblance of her rival; and soon effectually disgusted Perigot with her bold and wanton conduct. When afterwards he met the true Amoret, he repulsed her, and even wounded her with intent to kill. Ultimately, the trick was discovered by Corin, “the faithful shepherdess,” and Perigot was married to his true love.—John Fletcher: The Faithful Shepherd (1610).

Amaryllis, in Spenser’s pastoral, Colin Clout’s Come Home Again, is the countess-dowager of Derby. Her name was Alice, and she was the youngest of the six daughters of sir John Spenser, of Althorpe, ancestor of the noble houses of Spenser and Marlborough. After the death of the earl, the widow married