Chapter Goosey Goderich to Gottlieb of G by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Goosey Goderich to Gottlieb

Goosey Goderich, Frederick Robinson, created viscount Goderich in 1827. So called by Cobbett, for his incapacity as a statesman (premier 1827–1828).

Gorboduc, Gorbodug, or Gorbogud, a mythical British king, who had two sons (Ferrex and Porrex). Ferrex was driven by his brother out of the kingdom, and on attempting to return with a large army, was defeated by him and slain. Soon afterwards, Porrex himself was murdered in his bed by his own mother, who loved Ferrex the better.— Geoffrey: British History, ii. 16 (1142).

And Gorbogud, till far in years he grew;
When his ambitious sonnes unto them twayne
Arraught the rule, and from their father drew:
Stout Ferrex and stout Porrex him in prison threw.

But oh! the greedy thirst of royall crowne…
Stird Porrex up to put his brother downe;
Who unto him assembling forreigne might,
Made warre on him, and fell himself in fight;
Whose death t’ avenge, his mother, mercilesse
(Most Mercilesse of women, Wyden hight),
Her other sonne fast sleeping did oppresse,
And with most cruell hand him murdred pitilesse.
   —Spenser: Faerie Queene, ii. 10, 34, 35 (1590).

Gorbodue, the first historical play in the language. The first three acts by Thomas Norton, and the last two by Thomas Sackville afterwards lord Buckhurst (1562). It is further remarkable as being the father of iambic ten-syllable blank verse.

Those who last did tug
In worse than civil war, the sons of Gorbodug.
   —Drayton: Polyolbion, viii. (1612).

Gorbrias, lord-protector of Iberia, and father of king Arbaces.— Beaumont and Fletcher: A King or No King (1611).

Gordius, a Phrygian peasant, chosen by the Phrygians for their king. He consecrated to Jupiter his wagon, and tied the yoke to the draught-tree so artfully that the ends of the cord could not be discovered. A rumour spread abroad that he who untied this knot would be king of Asia, and when Alexander the Great was shown it, he cut it with his sword, saying, “It is thus we loose our knots.”

Gordon (The Rev. Mr.), chaplain in Cromwell’s troop.—Sir W. Scott: Woodstock (time, Commonwealth).

Gordon (Lord George), leader of the “No Popery riots” of 1779. Half mad, but really well-intentioned, he countenanced the most revolting deeds, urged on by his secretary Gashford. Lord George Gordon died in jail, 1793.— Dickens: Barnaby Rudge (1841).

Gordonius or Gordon (Bernard), a noted physician of the thirteenth century in the Rouergue (France), author of Lilium Medicinæ, de Morborum Prope Omnium Curatione, septem Particulis Distributum (Naples, 1480).

And has Gordonius “the divine,”
In his famous Lily of Medicine …
No remedy potent enough to restore you?
   —Longfellow: The Golden Legend.

Gorgibus, an honest, simple-minded citizen of middle life, father of Madelon and uncle of Cathos. The two girls have had their heads turned by novels, but are taught by a harmless trick to discern between the easy manners of a gentleman and the vulgar pretensions of a lackey.— Molière: Les Précieuses Ridicules (1659).

Gorgibus, father of Célie. He is a headstrong, unreasonable old man, who tells his daughter that she is for ever reading novels, and filling her mind with ridiculous notions about love. “Vous parlez de Dieu bien moins que de Lélie,” he says, and insists on her giving up Lélie for Valère, saying, “S’il ne l’est amant, il le sera mari,” and adds, “L’amour est souvent un fruit du mariage.”

Jetez-moi dans le feu tous ces méchants écrit [i.e. romances
Qui gatent tous les jours tant de jeunes esprits;
Lisez moi, comme il faut, au lieu de ces sornettes,
Les Quatrains de Pibrac, et les doctes Tablettes
Du