Chapter Zabarell to Zeluco of Z by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Zany of Debate. George Canning was so called by Charles Lamb in a sonnet printed in The Champion newspaper, Posterity has not endorsed the judgment or wit of this calumny (1770–1827).

Zaphimri, the “orphan of China,” brought up by Zamti, under the name of Etan.

Ere yet the foe burst in,
“Zamti,” said he, “preserve my cradled infant;
Save him from ruffians; train his youth to virtue …”
He could no more; the cruel spoiler seized him,
And dragged my king, from yonder altar dragged him,
Here on the blood-stained pavement; while the queen
And her dear fondlings, in one mangled heap,
Died in each other’s arms.
   —Murphy: The Orphan of China, iii. 1 (1761).

Zaphna, son of Alcanor chief of Mecca. He and his sister Palmira, being taken captives in infancy, were brought up by Mahomet, and Zaphna, not knowing Palmira was his sister, fell in love with her, and was in turn beloved. When Mahomet laid siege to Mecca, he employed Zaphna to assassinate Alcanor, and when he had committed the deed, discovered that it was his own father he had killed. Zaphna would have revenged the deed on Mahomet, but died of poison.—Miller: Mahomet the Impostor (1740).

Zapolites , in More’s Utopia, means the Swiss. They are described as a half-savage race, hired by the Utopians as mercenary soldiers.

Zara, an African queen, intensely in love with Osmyn (q.v.).—Congreve: The Mourning Bride (1697).

“Zara” was one of the great characters of Mrs. Siddons (1755–1831).

Zara (in French, Zaïre), the heroine and title of a tragedy by Voltaire (1733), adapted for the English stage by Aaron Hill (1735). Zara is the daughter of Lusignan d’Outremer king of Jerusalem and brother of Nerestan. Twenty years ago, Lusignan and his two children had been taken captives. Nerestan was four years old at the time; and Zara, a mere infant, was brought up in the seraglio. Osman the sultan fell in love with her, and promised to make her his sultana; and as Zara loved him for himself, her happiness seemed complete. Nerestan, having been sent to France to obtain ransoms, returned at this crisis, and Osman fancied that he observed a familiarity between Zara and Nerestan, which roused his suspicions. Several things occurred to confirm them, and at last a letter was intercepted, appointing a rendezvous between them in a “secret passage” of the seraglio. Osman met Zara in the passage, and stabbed her to the heart. Nerestan was soon seized, and being brought before the sultan, told him he had slain his sister, and the sole object of his interview was to inform her of her father’s death, and to bring her his dying blessing. Osman now saw his error, commanded all the Christian captives to be set at liberty, and stabbed himself.

Zaramilla, wife of Tinacrio king of Micomicon, in Egypt. He was told that his daughter would succeed him, that she would be dethroned by the giant Pandafilando, but that she would find in Spain the gallant knight of La Mancha, who would redress her wrongs and restore her to her throne.—Cervantes: Don Quixote, I. iv. 3 (1605).

Zaraph, the angel who loved Nama. It was Nama’s desire to love intensely and to love holily; but as she fixed her love on an angel and not on God, she was doomed to abide on earth till the day of consummation. Then both Nama and Zaraph will be received into the realms of everlasting love.—Moore: Loves of the Angels (1822).

Zauberflöte (Die), a magic flute, which had the power of inspiring love. When bestowed by the powers of darkness, the love it inspired was sensual love; but when by the powers of light, it became subservient to the very highest and holiest purposes. It guided Tamino and Pamina through all worldly dangers to the knowledge of divine truth (or the mysteries of Isis).—Mozart: Die Zauberflöte (1791).

Zeal (Arabella), in Shadwell’s comedy The Fair Quaker of Deal (1617).

(This comedy was altered by E. Thompson in 1720.)