Character Sketches of Romance Volume I Part 66

Tennyson, _The Princess_, iv.

Ca.s.sIUS, instigator of the conspiracy against Julius Caesar, and friend of Brutus.--Shakespeare, _Julius Ccesar_ (1607).

_Brutus_. The last of all the Romans, fare thee well!

It is impossible that ever Rome Should breed thy fellow. Friends, I owe more tears To this dead man than you shall see me pay.

I shall find time, Ca.s.sius, I shall find time.

Act. v. sc. 3.

Charles Mayne Young trod the boards with freedom. His countenance was equally well adapted for the expression of pathos or of pride; thus in such parts as "Hamlet," "Beverley," "The Stranger," "Pierre," "Zanga,"

and "Ca.s.sius," he looked the men he represented.--Rev. J. Young, _Life of G. M. Young_.

[Ill.u.s.tration] "Hamlet" (Shakespeare); "Beverley" (_The Gamester_, Moore); "The Stranger" (B. Thompson); "Pierre" (_Venice Preserved_, Otway); "Zanga" (_Revenge_, Young).

Ca.s.sY, a colored woman, mistress of Legree, in Harriet Beecher Stowe's _Uncle Tom's Cabin_. Disgusted with her master and with her life, she befriends another woman, even more helpless than herself, and by stratagem and force of will contrives her escape (1852).

CASTAGNETTE _(Captain)_, a hero whose stomach was replaced by a leather one made by Desgenettes [_Da'.ge.net_'], but his career was soon ended by a bomb-sh.e.l.l, which blew him into atoms,--Manuel, _A French Extravaganza_.

CASTA'LIO, son of lord Acasto, and Polydore's twin-brother. Both the brothers loved their father's ward, Monim'ia "the orphan." The love of Polydore was dishonorable love, but Castalio loved her truly and married her in private. On the bridal night Polydore by treachery took his brother's place, and next day, when Monimia discovered the deceit which had been practised on her, and Polydore heard that Monimia was really married to his brother, the bride poisoned herself, the adulterer ran upon his brother's sword, and the husband stabbed himself.--Otway, _The Orphan_ (1680).

CASTA'RA, the lady addressed by Wm. Habington in his poems. She was Lucy Herbert (daughter of Wm. Herbert, first lord Powis), and became his wife. (Latin, _casta_, "chaste.")

If then, Castara, I in heaven nor move, Nor earth, nor h.e.l.l, where am I but in love?

W. Habington, _To Castara_ (died 1654).

The poetry of Habington shows that he possessed ... a real pa.s.sion for a lady of birth and virtue, the "Castara" whom he afterwards married.--Hallam.

CAS'TLEWOOD (_Beatrix_), the heroine of _Esmond_, a novel by Thackeray, the "finest picture of splendid l.u.s.trous physical beauty ever given to the world."

CAS'TOR (_Steph'anos_), the wrestler.--Sir W. Scott, _Count Robert of Paris_ (time, Rufus).

_Castor_, of cla.s.sic fable, is the son of Jupiter and Leda, and twin-brother of Pollux. The brothers were so attached to each other that Jupiter set them among the stars, where they form the constellation _Gemini_ ("the twins"). Castor and Pollux are called the _Dios'curi_ or "sons of Dios," _i.e._ Jove.

CAS'TRIOT (_George_), called by the Turks "Scanderbeg" (1404-1467).

George Castriot was son of an Albanian prince, delivered as a hostage to Amurath II. He won such favor from the sultan that he was put in command of 5000 men, but abandoned the Turks in the battle of Mora'va (1443).

This is the first dark blot On thy name, George Castriot.

Longfellow, _The Wayside Inn_ (an interlude).

CASTRUC'CIO CASTRACA'NI'S SWORD.

When Victor Emmanuel II went to Tuscany, the path from Lucca to Pistoia was strewed with roses. At Pistoia the orphan heirs of Pucci'ni met him, bearing a sword, and said, "This is the sword of Castruccio Castracani, the great Italian soldier, and head of the Ghibelines in the fourteenth century. It was committed to our ward and keeping till some patriot should arise to deliver Italy and make it free." Victor Emmanuel, seizing the hilt, exclaimed, "_Questa e per me_!" ("This is for me.")--E. B. Browning, _The Sword of Castruccio Castracani._

CAS'YAPA. The father of the immortals, who dwells in the mountain called Hemacu'ta or Himakoot, under the Tree of Life, is called "Casyapa." Southey, _Curse of Kehama_. Canto vi. (1809).

CATEUCLA'NI, called _Catieuchla'ni_ by Ptolemy, and _Ca.s.sii_ by Richard of Cirencester. They occupied Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, and Hertfordshire. Drayton refers to them in his _Polyolbion_, xvi.

CATGUT (_Dr._), a caricature of Dr. Arne in _The Commissary_, by Sam.

Foote (1765).

CATH'ARINE, queen-consort of Charles II; introduced by sir W. Scott in _Peveril of the Peak_. (See CATHERINE, and also under the letter K.)

_Cath'arine (St.)_ of Alexandria (fourth century), patron saint of girls and virgins generally. Her real name was Dorothea; but St.

Jerome says she was called Catharine from the Syriac word _Kethar_ or _Kathar_, "a crown," because she won the triple crown of martyrdom, virginity, and wisdom. She was put to death on a wheel, November 25, which is her _fete_ day.

_To braid St. Catharine's hair_ means "to live a virgin."

Thou art too fair to be left to braid St. Catharine's tresses.

Longfellow, _Evangeline_ (1848).

CATH'BA, son of Torman, beloved by Morna, daughter of Cormac king of Ireland. He was killed out of jealousy by Ducho'mar, and when Duchomar told Morna and asked her to marry him she replied, "Thou art dark to me, Duchomar; cruel is thine arm to Morna. Give me that sword, my foe;" and when he gave it, she "pierced his manly breast," and he died.

Cathba, young son of Torman, thou art of the love of Morna. Thou art a sunbeam in the day of the gloomy storm.--Ossian, _Fingal_, i.

CATH'ERINE, wife of Mathis, in _The Polish Jew_, by J. R. Ware.

_Catherine_, the somewhat uninteresting heroine of _Washington Square_, by Henry James, a commonplace creature made more commonplace by the dull routine of wealthy respectability (1880).

_Catherine (The countess_), usually called "The Countess," falls in love with Huon, a serf, her secretary and tutor. Her pride revolts at the match, but her love is masterful. When the duke her father is told of it, he insists on Huon's marrying Catherine, a freed serf, on pain of death. Huon refuses to do so till the countess herself entreats him to comply. He then rushes to the wars, where he greatly distinguishes himself, is created prince, and learns that his bride is not Catherine the quondam serf, but Catherine the duke's daughter.--S. Knowles, _Love_ (1840).

CATH'ERINE OF NEWPORT, the wife of Julian Avenel (2 _syl.)._--Sir W.

Scott, _The_ _Monastery_ (time, Elizabeth). (See CATHARINE, and under K.)

CATH'LEEN, one of the attendants on Flora M'Ivor.--Sir W. Scott, _Waverley_ (time, Greorge II.).

CATH'LIN OF CLU'THA, daughter of Cathmol. Duth-Carmor of Cluba had slain Cathmol in battle, and carried off Cathlin by force, but she contrived to make her escape and craved aid of Fingal. Ossian and Oscar were selected to espouse her cause, and when they reached Rathcol (where Duth-Carmor lived), Ossian resigned the command of the battle to his son Oscar. Oscar and Duth-Carmor met in combat, and the latter fell. The victor carried the mail and helmet of Duth-Carmor to Cathlin, and Cathlin said, "Take the mail and place it high in Selma's hall, that you may remember the helpless in a distant land."--Ossian, _Cathlin of Clutha_.

CATH'MOR, younger brother of Cair'bar ("lord of Atha"), but totally unlike him. Cairbar was treacherous and malignant; Cathmor high-minded and hospitable. Cairbar murdered Cormac king of Ireland, and having inveigled Oscar (son of Ossian) to a feast, vamped up a quarrel, in which both fell. Cathmor scorned such treachery. Cathmore is the second hero of the poem called _Tem'ora_, and falls by the hand of Fingal (bk. viii.).

Cathmor, the friend of strangers, the brother of red-haired Cairbar.

Their souls were not the same. The light of heaven was in the bosom of Cathmor. His towers rose on the banks of Atha; seven paths led to his halls; seven chiefs stood on the paths and called strangers to the feast. But Cathmor dwelt in the wood, to shun the voice of praise.--Ossian, _Temora_, i.

CATH'OLIC _(The)._ Alfonso I. of Asturias, called by Gregory III. _His Catholic Majesty_ (693, 739-757).

Ferdinand II. of Ar'agon, husband of Isabella. Also called _Ruse_, "the wily" (1452, 1474-1516).

Isabella wife of Ferdinand II. of Aragon, so called for her zeal in establishing the Inquisition (1450, 1474-1504).

CATHOLIC MAJESTY _(Catholica Majestad_), the special t.i.tle of the kings of Spain. It was first given to king Recared (590) in the third Council of Toledo, for his zeal in rooting out the "Arian heresy."

Cui a Deo aeternum meritum nisi vero Catholico Recaredo regi? Cui a Deo aeterna corona nisi vero orthodoxo Recaredo regi?--_Gregor._ _Mag._, 127 and 128.

But it was not then settled as a fixed t.i.tle to the kings of Spain. In 1500 Alexander VI. gave the t.i.tle to Ferdinand V. king of Aragon and Castile, and from that time it became annexed to the Spanish crown.

Ab Alexandro pontifice Ferdinandus "Catholici" cognomentum accepit in posteros c.u.m regno transfusum stabili possessione. Honorum t.i.tulos principibus dividere pontincibus Romanis datur.--Mariana, _De Rebus Hesp_., xxvi. 12; see also vii. 4.

CA'THOS, cousin of Madelon, brought up by her uncle Gor'gibus, a plain citizen in the middle rank of life. These two silly girls have had their heads turned by novels, and thinking their names commonplace, Cathos calls herself Aminta, and her cousin adopts the name of Polix'ena. Two gentlemen wish to marry them, but the girls consider their manners too unaffected and easy to be "good style," so the gentlemen send their valets to represent the "marquis of Mascarille"

and the "viscount of Jodelet." The girls are delighted with these "distinguished n.o.blemen;" but when the game has gone far enough, the masters enter, and lay bare the trick. The girls are taught a useful lesson, without being involved in any fatal ill consequences.--Moliere, _Les Precieuses Ridicules_ (1659).