Chapter Mariana to Marine of M by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Marianne [Franval], sister of Franval the advocate. She is a beautiful, loving, gentle creature, full of the deeds of kindness, and brimming over with charity. Marianne loves captain St. Alme, a merchant’s son, and though her mother opposes the match as beneath the rank of the family, the advocate pleads for his sister, and the lovers are duly betrothed to each other.—Holcroft: The Deaf and Dumb (1785).

Maridunum, i.e. Caer-Merdin (now Caermarthen).—Spenser: Faërie Queene, iii. 3 (1590).

Marie (Countess), the mother of Ul’rica (a love-daughter), the father of Ulrica being Ernest de Fridberg, “the prisoner of State.” Marie married count D’Osborn, on condition of his obtaining the acquittal of her lover Ernest de Fridberg; but the count broke his promise, and even attempted to get the prisoner smothered in his dungeon. His villainy being made known, the king ordered him to be executed, and Ernest, being set at liberty, duly married the countess Marie.—Stirling: The Prisoner of State (1847).

Marie de Brabant, daughter of Henri III. due de Brabant. She married Philippe le Hardi, king of France, and was accused by Labrosse of having poisoned Philippe’s son by his former wife. Jean de Brabant defended the queen’s innocence by combat, and being the victor, Labrosse was hung (1260–1321).

(Ancelot has made this the subject of an historical poem called Marie de Brabant, in six chants, 1825.)

Marie Kirikitoun, a witch, who promised to do a certain task for a lassie, in order that she might win a husband, provided the lassie either remembered the witch’s name for a year and a day, or submitted to any punishment she might choose to inflict. The lassie was married, and forgot the witch’s name; but the fay was heard singing, “Houpa, houpa, Marie Kirikitoun! Nobody will remember my name.” The lassie, being able to tell the witch’s name, was no more troubled.—Basque Legend.

Grimm has a similar tale, but the name is Rumpel-stilzchen, and the song was—

Little dreams my dainty dame,
Rumpelstilzchen is my name.

Marigold’s Prescriptions (Dr.), a Christmas number of All the Year Round for 1865, by Dickens. Dr. Marigold is an itinerant cheap Jack, called “doctor” in compliment to the medical man who attended at his birth, and would only accept a tea-tray for his fee. The death of little Sophy in her father’s arms, while he is convulsing the rustic crowd with his ludicrous speeches, is one of the most pathetic touches ever written. I heard Dickens himself read the story.

Marina, a shepherdess of unrivalled beauty, loved by Celandine, a neighbouring shepherd “rich in all those gifts which seely hearts bewitch.” Celandine despised her love, because it was too easily won, so Marina threw herself into a river, from which she was rescued by a shepherd who fell in love with her. To avoid this new suitor, she threw herself into a well-spring, but was rescued by the presiding god thereof, who declared his devotion to her, and committed her to the charge of a water-nymph. This nymph gave her a draught from the waters of Oblivion, which made her forget all about Celandine.—Browne: Britannia’s Pastorals (1613).

Marina, daug hter of Periclês prince of Tyre, b o rn at sea, where her mother Thaisa, as it was supposed, died in giving her birth. Prince Periclês entrusted the infant to Cl eon (governor of Tarsus) and his wife Dionysia, who brought her up excellently well, and she became most highly accomplished; but when grown to budding womanhood, Dionysia, out of jealousy, employed Leonine to murder her. Leonine took Marina to the coast with this intent, but the outcast was seized by pirates, and sold at Metalinê as a slave. Here Periclês landed on his voyage from Tarsus to Tyre, and Marina was introduced to him to chase away his melancholy. She told him the story of her life, and he perceived at once that she was his daughter. Marina was now betrothed to Lysimachus governor of Metalinê; but, before the espousals, went to visit the shrine of Diana of Ephesus, to return thanks to the goddess; and the priestess was discovered to be Thaisa the mother of Marina.—Shakespeare: Pericles Prince of Tyre (1608).

Marina, wife of Jacopo Foscari the doge’s son.—Byron: The Two Foscari (1820).