Chapter Nehemiah to Nessus's Shirt of N by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Nereus, father of the water-nymphs. A very old prophetic god of great kindliness. The scalp, chin, and breast of Nereus were covered with seaweed instead of hair.

By hoary Nêreus’ wrinkled look.
   —Milton: Comus, 871 (1634).

Nerinê, Doto, and Nysê, the three nereids who guarded the fleet of Vasco da Gama. When the treachercus pilot had run Vasco’s ship upon a sunken rock, these three sea-nymphs lifted up the prow and turned it round.

The lovely Nysê and Nerinê spring
With all the vehemence and speed of wing.
   —Camoëns: Lusiad, ii. (1569).

Nerissa, the clever confidential waiting-woman of Portia the Venetian heiress. Nerissa is the counterfeit of her mistress, with a fair share of the lady’s elegance and wit. She marries Gratiano a friend of the merchant Anthonio.—Shakespeare: The Merchant of Venice (1698).

Nero, a Roman emperor. A name synonymous with tyranny, persecution, and wickedness (37, 54–68).

Nero’s Friend. When all the statues of Nero were thrown down by order of the senate, some unknown friend strewed the grave with violets.

The Nero of the North, Christian II. of Denmark (1480, reigned 1534–1558, died 1559).

Nesle (Blondel de), the favourite minstrel of Richard Cœur de Lion [Nesle = Neel].—Sir W. Scott: The Talisman (time, Richard I.).

Nessus’s Shirt. Nessos (in Latin, Nessus) the cen taur carried the wife of Herculês over a river, and, attempting to run away with her, was shot by Herculê s. As the centaur was dying, he told Deïani’ra that if she steeped in his blood her husband’s shirt, she would secure his love for ever. This she did, but when Herculês put the shirt on, his body suffered such agony, that he rushed to mount Œta, collected together a pile of wood, set it on fire, and, rushing into the midst of the flames, was burnt to death.

When Creusa, the daughter of king Creon, was about to be married to Jason, Medea sent her a splendid wedding robe; but when Creusa put it on, she was burnt to death in excruciating pain.

Morgan le Fay, hoping to kill king Arthur, sent him a superb royal robe. Arthur told the messenger to try it on, that he might see its effect; but no sooner had the messenger done so, than he dropped down dead, “burnt to mere coal.”—Sir T. Malory: History of Prince Arthur, i. 75 (1470).

Eros, ho! the shirt of Nessus is upon me [i.e. I am in agony].

Shakespeare: Antony and Cleopatra, activ.sc. 10(1608).