Chapter Mansur to Mardi-Gras of M by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Marchmont (Miss Matilda), the confidante of Julia Mannering.—Sir W. Scott: Guy Mannering (time, George II.).

Marcia, in Addison’s drama called Cato, is beloved both by Sempronius and by Juba (1713).

Marcian, armourer to count Robert of Paris.—Sir W. Scott: Count Robert of Paris (time, Rufus).

Marck (William de la), a French nobleman, called “The Wild Boar of Ardennes” (Sanglier des Ardennes).—Sir W. Scott: Quentin Durward (time, Edward IV.).

Marcliffe (Theophilus), pseudonym of William Godwin (author of Caleb Williams, 1756–1836).

Marcomanic War, a war carried on by the Marcomanni, under the leadership of Maroboduus, who made himself master of Bohemia, etc. Maroboduus was defeated by Arminius, and his confederation broken up (A.D. 20). In the second Christian century a new war broke out between the Marcomanni and the Romans, which lasted thirteen years. In A.D. 180 peace was purchased by the Romans, and the war for a time ceased.

Marcos de Obregon, the hero of a Spanish romance, from which Lesage has borrowed very freely in his Gil Blas.—Vicente Espinel: Vida del Escudero Marcos de Obregon (1618).

Marculf and Salomon or “The Fool and the Philosopher.” Marculf the fool, who had delivered Salomon from captivity, outwits “the sage” by knavery and cunning.—Stricker: from a German poem, twelfth century.

Marcus, son of Cato of Ut?>ca, a warm-hearted, impulsive young man, passionately in love with Lucia daughter of Lucius; but Lucia loved the more temperate brother, Portius. Marcus was slain by Cæsar’s soldiers when they invaded Utica.

Marcus is furious, wild in his complaints;
I hear with a secret kind of dread,
And tremble at his vehemence of temper.
   —Addison: Cato, i. x (1713).

Mardi-Gras (Le), the last day of the carnival; noted in Paris for the travestie of a Roman procession marching to offer an ox in sacrifice to the gods. The ox, which is always the “prize” beast of the season, is decorated with gilt horns and fillet round its head; mock priests with axes, etc., march beside it, a band with all sorts of tin instruments or instruments of thin brass follow, and lictors, etc., fill up the procession.

Tous les ans on vient de la ville
Les marchands dans nos cantons,
Pour les mener aux Tuileries,
Au Mardi- Gras, devant le roi
Et puis les vendre aux boucheries
J’aime Jeanne ma femme, eh, ha! j’aimerais mieux
La voir mourir que voir mourir mes bœufs.
   —Pierre Dupont: Les Bœufs.