Chapter Tests of Chastity to Thames of T by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Tests of Chastity to Thames

Tests of Chastity. Alasnam’s mirror (p. 18); the brawn or boar’s head (p. 145); drinking-horns (see Arthur’s Drinking-horn, p. 64; Sir Caradoc and the Drinking-horn, p. 178); Florimel’s girdle (p. 376); grotto of Ephesus (p. 452); the test mantle (p. 668); oath on St. Antony’s arm was held in supreme reverence, because it was believed that whoever took the oath falsely would be consumed by “St. Antony’s fire” within the current year; the trial of the sieve (p. 1005).

Tests of Fidelity. Canacê’s mirror (p. 174); Gondibert’s emerald ring (p. 436). The corsned or “cursed mouthful,” a piece of bread consecrated by exorcism, and given to the “suspect” to swallow as a test: “May this morsel choke me if I am guilty,” said the defendant, “but turn to wholesome nourishment if I am innocent.” Ordeals (p. 779), combats between plaintiff and defendant, or their representatives. (See Sea, p. 975.)

Tête Bottée, Philippe de Commines [Cum.min], politician and historian (1445–1509).

You, sir Philippe des Comines [sic], were at a hunting-match with the duke, your master; and when he alighted, after the chase, he required your services in drawing off his boots. Reading in your looks some natural resentment, … he ordered you to sit down in turn, and rendered you the same office … but … no sooner had he plucked one of your boots off than he brutally beat it about your head … and his privileged fool, Le Glorieux, … gave you the name of Tête Bottée.—Sir W. Scott: Quentin Durward, xxx. (time, Edward IV.).

Tethys, daughter of Heaven and Earth, the wife of Ocean and mother of the river-gods. In poetry it means the sea generally.

The golden sun above the watery bed
Of hoary Têthys raised his beamy head.
   —Hoole’s Ariosto, viii.

By the earth-shaking Neptune’s mace [trident]
And Têthys’ grave majestic pace.
   —Milton: Comus, 870 (1634).

Tetrachordon, the title of one of Milton’s books about marriage and divorce. The word means “the four strings;” by which he means the four chief places in Scripture which bear on the subject of marriage.

A book was writ of late called Tetrachordon.
   —Milton: Sonnet, x.

Teucer, son of Telamon of Salamis, and brother of Telamon, Ajax. He was the best archer of all the Greeks at the siege of Troy.

I may, like a second Teucer, discharge my shafts from behind the shield of my ally.—Sir W. Scott.

Teufelsdroeckh (Herr) [pronounce Toi-felz-drurk], an eccentric German professor and philosopher. The object of the satire is to expose all sorts of shams, social as well as intellectual.—Carlyle: Sartor Resartus (1849).

Teutonic Knights (The), an order organized by Frederick duke of Suabia, in Palestine (1190). St. Louis gave them permission to quarter on their arms the fleur-de-lis (1250). Abolished in 1809 by Napoleon I. It still exists in Austria.

Texartis, a Scythian soldier, killed by the countess Brenhilda.—Sir W. Scott: Count Robert of Paris (time, Rufus).

Tezozomoc, chief of the priests of the Aztecas. He fasted ten months to know how to appease the national gods, and then declared that the only way was to offer “the White strangers” on their altars. Tezozomoc was killed by burning lava from a volcanic mountain.

Tezozomoc
Beholds the judgment … and sees
The lava floods beneath him. His hour
Is come. The fiery shower, descending, heaps
Red ashes round. They fall like drifted snows,
And bury and consume the accursed priest.
   —Southey: Madoc, ii. 26 (1805).