Chapter Laugh on the Other Side of Your Mouth to Law of L by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

1844.
   Alfred Tennyson, 1850.
   Alfred Austin, 1896.
   Six or seven of these are almost unknown, and their productions are seldom read.

Laurel The Greeks gave a wreath of laurels to the victor in the Pythian games, but the victor in the Olympic games had a wreath of wild olives, the victor in the Nemean games a wreath of green parsley, and the victor in the Isthmian games a wreath of dry parsley or green pine-leaves. (See Crown .)
   Laurel. The ancients believed that laurel communicated the spirit of prophecy and poetry. Hence the custom of crowning the pythoness and poets, and of putting laurel leaves under one's pillow to acquire inspiration. Another superstition was that the bay laurel was antagonistic to the stroke of lightning; but Sir Thomas Browne, in his Vulgar Errors, tells us that Vicomereatus proves from personal knowledge that this is by no means true.
   Laurel, in modern times, is a symbol of victory and peace. St. Gudule, in Christian art, carries a laurel crown.

Laurence (Friar). The Franciscan friar who undertakes to marry Romeo and Juliet. To save Juliet from a second marriage he gives her a sleeping draught, and she is carried to the family vault as dead. Romeo finds her there, and believing her sleep to be the sleep of death, kills himself. On waking, Juliet discovers Romeo dead at her side, and kills herself also. (Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet.) (See Lawrence .)

Lavaine' Sir (2 syl.). Brother of Elaine', and son of the lord of Astolat. He accompanied Sir Lancelot when he went, incognito, to tilt for the ninth diamond. Lavaine is described as young, brave, and a true knight. (Tennyson: Idylls of the King, Elaine.)

Lavalette (Marquis de), a French statesman who was condemned to death for sending secret despatches to Napoleon, was set at liberty by his wife, who took his place in the prison.
   Lord Nithsdale escaped in a similar way from the Tower of London. His wife disguised him as her maid, and with her he passed the sentries and made good his escape.

Lavender From the Spanish lavandera (a laundress), the plant used by laundresses for scenting linen. The botanical name is Lavandula, from the Latin lavo, to wash. It is a token of affection.

“He from his lass him lavender hath sent.
Showing his love, and doth requital crave;
Him rosemary his sweetheart, whose intent
Is that he should her in remembrance have.”
Drayton: Eclogue, IX.

   Laid up in lavender- i.e. taken great care of, laid away, as women put things away in lavender to keep off moths. Persons who are in hiding are said to be in lavender. The French have the phrase “Elever dans du coton, ” referring to the custom of wrapping up things precious in cotton wool.

“Je veux que tu sois chez moi, comme dans du coton.”- La Muscotte, i. 2.

   In lavender. In pawn. In Latin, pignori opponere.

“The poor gentleman paies so deare for the lavender it is laid up in, that if it lies long at the broker's house he seems to buy his apparel twice.”- Greene: Imp. Har. Misc., v. 405.

Lavinia Daughter of Latinus, betrothed to Turnus, King of the Rutuli. When Æneas landed in Italy, Latinus made an alliance with the Trojan hero, and promised to give him Lavinia to wife. This brought on a war between Turnus and Æneas, which was decided by single combat, in which Æneas was victor. (Virgil: Æneid.)
   Lavinia. The daughter of Titus Andronicus, bride of Bassianus, brother of the Emperor of Rome. Being grossly abused by Chiron and Demetrius, sons of Tamora, Queen of the Goths, the savage wantons cut off her hands and pluck out her tongue, that she may not reveal their names Lavinia, guiding a stick with her stumps, makes her tale known to her father and brothers; whereupon Titus murders the two Moorish princes and serves their heads in a pasty to their mother, whom he afterwards slays, together with the Emperor Saturninus her husband. (Titus Andronicus, a play published with those of Shakespeare.)
   In the play the word is accented Andron'icus not Androni'cus.
   Lavinia. Italy; so called from Lavinia, daughter of Latinus and wife of Æneas. Æneas built a town which he called Lavinium, capital of Latium.

“From the rich Lavinian shore
I your market coine to store.”
A well-known Glee

Lavinia and Palemon A free poetical version of Ruth and Boaz, by Thomson in his Autumn.