Chapter Bethlemenites to Bias of B by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

does not make it, but it makes it go down more pleasantly, and adds somewhat to its wholesomeness. As Shakespeare says, “Where virtue is, it makes more virtuous.”
   Promettre plus de beurre que de pain. To promise much, but perform little. To promise more than one, can, or chooses to, perform. The butter of a promise is of no use without substantial bread. “Be thou fed” will not fill an empty stomach. A little help is worth a deal of pity.

Beuves (1 syl.), or Buovo of Aygremont. The father of Malagigi, and uncle of Rinaldo. (Ariosto: Orlando Furioso.)

Bever A “drink” between meals. (Italian, bevere, to drink- our beverage; Latin, bibere - our im-bibe). At Eton they used to have “Bever days,” when extra beer and bread were served during the afternoon in the College Hall to scholars, and any friends whom they might bring in.

“He . . . will devour three breakfasts . . . without prejudice to his bevers.”- Beaumont and Fletcher: Woman Hater, i. 3.

Bevil A model gentleman in Steele's Conscious Lovers.

“Whate'er can deck mankind,
   Or charm the heart, in generous Bevil showed.”
Thomson: Winter, 654-5.

Bevis' The horse of Lord Marmion. (Sir Walter Scott.) (See Horse. )
   Bevis of Southampton. A knight of romance, whose exploits are recounted in Drayton's Polyolbion. The French call him Beuves de Hantone.

Bevoriskius whose Commentary on the Generations of Adam is referred to by Sterne in the Sentimental Journey, was Johannes Bevoricius, physician and senator, author of a large number of books. The Commentary will be found at fol. 1 (1652).

Bevy A bevy of ladies. A throng or company; properly applied to roebucks, quails, and pheasants. Timid gregarious animals, in self-defence, go down to a river to drink in bevies or small companies. Ladies, from their timidity, are placed in the same category (Italian, bevere, to drink).

“And upon her deck what a bevy of human flowers- young women, how lovely!- young men, how noble!”- De Quincey: Dream-fugue.

Bezaliel in the satire of Absalom and Achitophel, by Dryden and Tate, is meant for the Marquis of Worcester, afterwards Duke of Beaufort.

“Bezaliel with each grace and virtue fraught,
Serene his looks, serene his life and thought;
On whom so largely Nature heaped her store,
There scarce remained for arts to give him more.”
Part ii. 947-56.

Bezonian A new recruit; applied originally in derision, to young soldiers sent from Spain to Italy, who landed both ill-accoutred and in want of everything (Ital. besogni, from bisogno, need; French besoin).

“Base and pilfering besognios and marauders.”
- Sir W. Scott: Monastery, xvi.

“Great men oft die by vile bezonians.”
Shakespeare: 2 Henry VI., act iv. 1.

“Under which king, Bezonian? Speak or die” (2 Hen. IV., act v. 3). Choose your leader or take the consequences - Cæsar or Pompey? “Speak or die.”

Bheem or Bhima. One of the five Pandoos, or brotherhoods of Indian demi-gods, famous for his strength. He slew the giant Kinchick, and dragged his body from the hills, thereby making the Kinchick ravine.

Biæum in rhetoric, means converting the proof into a disproof. As thus: That you were the murderer is proved by your being on the spot at the time. Reply: Just the contrary, if I had been the guilty person most certainly I should have run away. (Greek, biaion.)