Chapter Ventidius to Versailles of V by Brewer's Readers Handbook

his boisterous waves into the narrower mouth
Of the Vergivian Sea; where meeting, from the south,
Great Neptune’s surlier tides, with their robustious shocks
Each other shoulder up against the griesly rocks.
   —Drayton: Polyolbion, x. (1612).

Vergobretus, a dictator selected by the druids, and possessed of unlimited power both in war and state during times of great danger.

This temporary king or vergobretus laid down his office at the end of the war.—Dissertation on the Era of Ossian.

Verisopht (Lord Frederick), weak and silly, but far less vicious than his bear-leader, sir Mulberry Hawk. He drawled in his speech, and was altogether “very soft.” Ralph Nickleby introduced his niece Kate to the young nobleman at a bachelors’ dinner-party, hoping to make of the introduction a profitable investment, but Kate was far too modest and virtuous to aid him in his scheme.—Dickens: Nicholas Nickleby (1838).

Vermilion Sea (The), the gulf of California.

Vernon (Diana), niece of sir Hildebrand Osbaldistone. She has great beauty, sparkling talents, an excellent disposition, high birth, and is an enthusiastic adherent of an exiled king. She marries Frank Osbaldistone.

Sir Frederick Vernon, father of Diana, a political intriguer, called “his excellency the earl of Beauchamp.” He first appears as father Vaughan [Vawn].—Sir W. Scott: Rob Roy (time, George I.).

Verolame or Verulam, “a stately nymph” of Isis. Seeing her stream besmeared with the blood of St. Alban, she prayed that it might be diverted into another channel, and her prayer was granted. The place where St. Alban was executed was at that time called Holmhurst.—Robert of Gloucester: Chronicle (in verse), 57 (thirteenth century).

(A poetical account of this legend is also given by W. Browne, in his Britannia’s Pastorals, iv., 1613.)

Veronica, the maiden who handed her handkerchief to Jesus on His way to Calvary. The “Man of sorrows” wiped His face with it, returned it to the maiden, and it ever after had a perfect likeness of the Saviour photographed on it. The handkerchief and the maiden were both called Veronica (i.e. vera iconica, “the true likeness”).

(One of these handkerchiefs is preserved in St. Peter’s of Rome, and another in Milan Cathedral.)

Verrina, the republican who murders Fiesco.—Schiller: Fiesco (1783).

Versailles, a town near Paris, noted for its park and palace built by Louis XVI., now used as a museum.

The German Versailles, Cassel; so called from its gardens, conservatories, fountains, and colossal statue of Herculês. The Versailles of Poland, the palace, etc., of the counts of Braniski, which now belong to the municipality of Bialystok.