Chapter Lane to La Roche of L by Brewer's Readers Handbook

arranged a duel for the day following, but sir Ezzelin disappeared mysteriously. Subsequently, Lara headed a rebellion, and was shot by Otho.—Byron: Lara (1814).

Lara (The Seven Sons of), sons of Gonzalez Gustios de Lara, a Castilian hero, brother of Ferdinand Gonzalez count of Castile. A quarrel having arisen between Gustios and Rodrigo Velasquez his brother- in-law, Rodrigo caused him to be imprisoned in Cordova, and then allured his seven nephews into a ravine, where they were all slain by an ambuscade, after performing prodigies of valour. While in prison, Zaïda, daughter of Almanzor the Moorish prince, fell in love with Gustios, and became the mother of Mudarra, who avenged the death of his seven brothers (A. D. 993).

Lope de Vega has made this the subject of a Spanish drama, which has several imitations, one by Mallefille, in 1836. (See Ferd. Denis: Chroniques Chevaleresques d’ Espagne, 1839.)

Larder (The Douglas), the flour, meal, wheat, and malt of Douglas Castle, emptied on the floor by good lord James Douglas, in 1307, when he took the castle from the English garrison. Having staved in all the barrels of food, he next emptied all the wine and ale, and then, having slain the garrison, threw the dead bodies into this disgusting mess, “to eat, drink, and be merry.”—Sir W. Scott: Tales of a Grandfather, ix.

Wallace’s Larder is a similar mess. It consisted of the dead bodies of the garrison of Ardrossan, in Ayrshire, cast into the dungeon keep. The castle was surprised by him in the reign of Edward I.

Lardoon (Lady Bab), a caricature of fine life, the “princess of dissipation,” and the “greatest gamester of the times.” She becomes engaged to sir Charles Dupely, and says, “To follow fashion where we feel shame, is the strongest of all hypocrisy, and from this moment I renounce it.”—Burgoyne: The Maid of the Oaks (1779).

La Roche, a Swiss pastor, travelling through France with his daughter Margaret, was taken ill, and like to die. There was only a wayside inn in the place, but Hume the philosopher heard of the circumstance, and removed the sick man to his own house. Here, with good nursing, La Roche recovered, and a strong friendship sprang up between the two. Hume even accompanied La Roche to his manse in Berne. After the lapse of three years, Hume was informed that Mademoiselle was about to be married to a young Swiss officer, and hastened to Berne to be present at the wedding. On reaching the neighbourhood, he observed some men filling up a grave, and found on inquiry that Mademoiselle had just died of a broken heart. In fact, her lover had been shot in a duel, and the shock was too much for her. The old pastor bore up heroically, and Hume admired the faith which could sustain a man in such an affliction.—Mackenzie: The Story of La Roche (in The Mirror).