Chapter Wallenrode to War-Cries of W by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Wallenrode to War-Cries

Wallenrode (The earl of), an Hungarian crusader.—Sir W. Scott: The Talisman (time, Richard I.).

Waller, in love with Lydia lady’s-maid to Widow Green. His love at first was not honourable, because his aristocratic pride revolted at the inferior social position of Lydia; but when he knew her real worth, he loved her, proposed marriage, and found that she was the sister of Trueworth, and had taken service to avoid an obnoxious marriage. —Knowles: The Love-Chase (1837).

Waller’s Plot, a plot organized, in 1643, by Waller the poet, against the parliamentary party. Its objects were to secure the king’s children, to seize the most eminent of the parliamentarians, to capture the Tower, and resist all taxes imposed for the support of the parliamentary army.

Walley (Richard), the regicide, whose story is told by major Bridgenorth (a roundhead) at the dinner- table.—Sir W. Scott: Peveril of the Peak (time, Charles II.).

Wallflowers, young ladies in a ballroom, who have no partners, and who sit or stand near the walls of the ball-room.

Walnut Tree. Fuller says, “A walnut tree must be manured by beating, or else it will not bear fruit.” Falstaff makes a similar remark on the camomile plant, “The more it is trodden on, the faster it grows.” The almond and some other plants are said to thrive by being bruised.

A woman, a spaniel, and walnut tree,
The more you beat them, the better they be.
   —Taylor, the “water- poet” (1630).

Walnut Web. When the three princes of a certain king were sent to find out “a web of cloth which would pass through the eye of a fine needle,” the White Cat furnished the youngest of the three with one spun by the cats of her palace.

The prince…took out of his box a walnut, which he cracked…and saw a small hazel nut, which he cracked also…and found therein a kernel of wax. …In this kernel of wax was hidden a single grain of wheat, and in the grain a small millet seed…On opening the millet, he drew out a web of cloth 400 yards long, and in it was woven all sorts of birds, beasts, and fishes; fruits and flowers; the sun, moon, and stars; the portraits of kings and queens, and many other wonderful designs.—Comtesse D’Aulnoy: Fairy Tales (“The White Cat,” 1682).

Walpurgis Night, the evening of May Day, believed in German superstition to be the occasion for a witches’ sabbath on the Brocken, a peak of the Harz mountains.

(Walpurgis is a legendary female saint, who is reputed to have converted the Saxons to Christianity.)

Walsingham, the affianced of Helen Mowbray. Deceived by appearances, he believed that Helen was the mistress of lord Athunree, and abandoned her; but when he discovered his mistake, he married her.—Knowles: Woman’s Wit, etc. (1838).

Walsingham (Lord), of queen Elizabeth’s court.—Sir W. Scott: Kenilworth (time, Elizabeth).

Walter, marquis of Saluzzo, in Italy, and husband of Grisilda, the peasant’s daughter (q.v.).—Chaucer: Canterbury Tales (“The Clerk’s Tale,” 1388).

(This tale, of course, is allegorical; lord Walter takes the place of deity, and Grisilda typifies the true Christian. In all her privation, in all her sorrows, in all her trials, she says to her lord and master, “The will be done.”)

Walter (Master), “the hunchback,’ guardian of Julia. A worthy man, liberal and charitable, frank and honest, who turns out to be the earl of Rochdale and father of Julia.—Knowles: The Hunchback (1831).

Walter [Furst], father-in-law of Tell.—Rossini: Guglielmo Tell (opera, 1829).