Chapter Lucy to Lumbercourt of L by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Lucy to Lumbercourt

Lucy, a dowerless girl betrothed to Amidas. Being forsaken by him for the wealthy Philtra, she threw herself into the sea, but was saved by clinging to a chest. Both being drifted ashore, it was found that the chest contained great treasures, which Lucy gave to Bracidas, the brother of Amidas, who married her. In this marriage, Bracidas found “two goodly portions, and the better she.”—Spenser: Faërie Queene, v. 4 (1596).

Lucy, daughter of Mr. Richard Wealthy, a rich London merchant. Her father wanted her to marry a wealthy tradesman, and as she refused to do so, he turned her out of doors. Being introduced as a fille de joie to sir George Wealthy “the minor,” he soon perceived her to be a modest girl who had been entrapped, and he proposed marriage. When the facts of the case were known, Mr. Wealthy and sir William (the father of the young man) were delighted at the happy termination of what might have proved a most untoward affair.—Foote: The Minor (1760).

Lucy [Lockit], daughter of Lockit the jailer. A foolish young woman, who, decoyed by captain Macheath under the specious promise of marriage, effected his escape from jail. The captain, however, was recaptured, and condemned to death; but being reprieved, confessed himself married to Polly Peachum, and Lucy was left to seek another mate.

How happy could I be with either [Lucy or Polly].
Were t’other dear charmer away!
   —Gay: The Beggar’s Opera, ii. 2 (1727).

(Miss Fenton (duchess of Bolton) was the original “Lucy Lockit,” 1708–1760.)

Lucy Deane, in the novel called The Mill on the Floss, by George Eliot (Mrs. J. W. Cross) (1860).

Lucy Goodwill, a girl of 16, and a child of nature, reared by her father who was a widower. “She has seen nothing,”he says; “she knows nothing, and, therefore, has no will of her own.” Old Goodwill wished her to marry one of her relations, that his money might be kept in the family; but Lucy had “will” enough of her own to see that her relations were boobies, and selected for her husband a big, burly footman named Thomas.—Fielding: The Virgin Unmasked (1740).

Lucy and Colin. Colin was betrothed to Lucy, but forsook her for a bride “thrice as rich as she.” Lucy drooped, but was present at the wedding; and when Colin saw her, “the damps of death bedewed his brow, and he died.” Both were buried in one tomb, and many a hind and plighted maid resorted thither, “to deck it with garlands and true-love knots.”—Tickell: Lucy and Colin (1720).

(Vincent Bourne translated this ballad into Latin verse.)

Through all Tickell’s works there is a strain of ballad-thinking.…In this ballad [Lucy and Colin] he seems to have surpassed himself. It is, perhaps, the best in ourlanguage.—Goldsmith: Beauties of English Poetry (1767).

Lucylius (B.C. 148–103), the father of Roman satire.

I have presumed, my lord for to present
With this poore Glasse, which is of trustie Steele [satire].
And came to me by will and testament
Of one that was a Glassmaker [satirist] indeede:
Lucylius this worthy man was namde.
   —Gascoigne: The Steele Glas (died 1577).

Lud, son of Heli, who succeeded his father as king of Britain. “Lud rebuilt the walls of Trinovantum, and surrounded the city with innumerable towers…for which reason it was called Kaer-lud, Anglicized into Lud- ton, and softened into London.…When dead, his body was buried by the gate…Parthlud, called in Saxon Ludes-gate.”—Geoffrey: British History, iii. 20 (1142).

…that mighty Lud, in whose eternal name
Great London still shall live (by him rebuilded).
   —Drayton: Polyolbion, viii. (1612).