Chapter Armida to Arsaces of A by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Armida to Arsaces

Armida, in Tasso’s Jerusalem Delivered. A sorceress, who seduced Rinaldo and other crusaders from the siege of Jerusalem. Rinaldo was conducted by her to her splendid palace, where he forgot his vows, and abandoned himself to sensual joys. Carlo and Ubaldo were sent to bring him back, and he escaped from Armida; but she followed him, and, not being able to allure him back again, set fire to her palace, went to Egypt, and offered to marry any one who would kill Rinaldo. She herself discharged an arrow at him, and attempted to kill herself, but was prevented by Rinaldo, to whom she became reconciled.

Her father was Arbilan of humble race, her mother was Chariclea queen of Damascus; both died while Armida was a mere child. Her uncle was Hidrastesking of Damascus.

[Julia’s] small hand
Withdrew itself from his, but left behind
A little pressure…but ne’er magician’s wand
Wrought change with all Armida’s fairy art,
Like what this light touch left on Juan’s heart.
   —Byron: Don Juan, i. 71.

N.B.—When the young queen of Frederick William of Prussia rode about in military costume to incite the Prussians to arms against Napoleon, the latter wittily said, “She is Armida in her distraction setting fire to her own palace.”

(Both Glück and Rossini have taken the story of Armida as the subject of an opera.)

Armida’s Girdle. Armida had an enchanted girdle, which, “in price and beauty,” surpassed all her other ornaments; even the cestus of Venus was less costly. It told her everything; “and when she would be loved, she wore the same.”—Tasso: Jerusalem Delivered 1575).

ARMSTRONG (Archie), court jester to James I., introduced in The Fortunes of Nigel, by sir Walter Scott (1822).

Armstrong (Grace), the bride-elect of Hobbie Elliot of the Heugh-foot, a young farmer.—Sir W. Scott: The Black Dwarf (time, Anne).

Armstrong (John), called “The Laird’s Jock.” He is the laird of Mangerton. This old warrior witnesses a national combat in the valley of Liddesdale, between his son (the Scotch chieftain) and Foster (the English champion), in which young Armstrong is overthrown.—Sir W. Scott: The Laird’s Jock (time, Elizabeth).

Armstrong (Johnny), a ballad, the tale of which is as follows: James V. of Scotland, in an expedition against the borderers, in 1529, came in contact with Johnny Armstrong, the freebooter, and his horsemen. Armstrong craved pardon and permission to enter the royal service; but the king replied—

Thou shalt have no pardon, [but] To-morrow morning by ten o’ the clock Ye all shall hang on the gallows- tree.

A fight, of course, ensued, “and every man was slain.” Their graves are still pointed out in Carlenrig churchyard.

Arnaut, an Albanian mountaineer. The word means “a brave man.”

Stained with the best of Arnaut blood.
   —Byron: The Giaour, 526.

Arnheim (2 syl.). The baron Herman von Arnheim, Anne of Geierstein’s grandfather.

Sibilla of Arnheim, Anne’s mother.

The baroness of Arnheim, Anne of Geierstein.—Sir W. Scott: Anne of Geierstein (time, Edward IV.).