_Beatrice_, niece of Leonato governor of Messina, lively and light-hearted, affectionate and impulsive. Though wilful she is not wayward, though volatile she is not unfeeling, though teeming with wit and gaiety she is affectionate and energetic. At first she dislikes Benedick, and thinks him a flippant conceited coxcomb; but overhearing a conversation between her cousin Hero and her gentlewoman, in which Hero bewails that Beatrice should trifle with such deep love as that of Benedick, and should scorn so true and good a gentleman, she cries, "Sits the wind thus? then, farewell, contempt. Benedick, love on; I will requite you." This conversation of Hero's was a mere ruse, but Benedick had been caught by a similar trick played by Claudio, don Pedro, and Leonato. The result was they sincerely loved each other, and were married.--Shakespeare, _Much Ado about Nothing_ (1600). BEATRICE CENCI, the _Beautiful Parricide (q.v.)._ BEATRICE D'ESTE, canonized at Rome. BEATRICE GIORGINI, an Italian contessa whose parents contract a secret marriage, an unequal match as to birth and fortune, and, dying young, one by violence, leave their child in charge of Betta, a faithful nurse, who takes her to her mother's mother, an old peasant. At her grandmother's death she becomes companion to a relative of her father; marries don Leonardo, her father's cousin and one of the witnesses to the secret marriage, and uses him to prove her legitimacy and his own treachery.--Mary Agnes Tincker, _Two Coronets_ (1889). BEAU BRUMMEL, George Bryan Brummel, son of a London pastry-cook, who became the fashion at the court of George III. and reigning favorite of the Prince of Wales. His story has been made the foundation of a brilliant American play by Clyde Fitch, in which Richard Mansfield takes the part of Brummel (1890). BEAU CLARK, a billiard-maker at the beginning of the nineteenth century. He was called "The Bean," assumed the name of _Beauelerc_, and paid his addresses to a _protégée_ of lord Fife. BEAU FIELDING, called "Handsome Fielding" by Charles II., by a play on his name, which was Hendrome Fielding. He died in Scotland Yard. BEAU HEWITT was the original of sir George Etherege's "Sir Fopling Flutter," in the comedy called _The Man of Mode or Sir Fopling Flutter_ (1676). BEAU NASH, Richard Nash, called also "King of Bath;" a Welsh gentleman, who for fifteen years managed the bath-rooms of Bath, and conducted the balls with unparalleled splendor and decorum. In his old age he sank into poverty (1674-1761). BEAU D'ORSAY _(Le)_, father of count d'Orsay, whom Byron calls "_Jeune Cupidon._" BEAU SEANT, the Templars' banner, half white and half black; the white signified that the Templars were good to Christians, the black, that they were evil to infidels. BEAU TIBBS, in Goldsmith's _Citizen of the World_, a dandy noted for his finery, vanity, and poverty. BEAUCLERK, Henry I. king of England (1068, 1100-1135).