BIAN'CA, the younger daughter of Baptista of Pad'ua, as gentle and meek as her sister Katherine was violent and irritable. As it was not likely any one would marry Katherine "the shrew," the father resolved that Bianca should not marry before her sister. Petruchio married "the shrew," and then Lucentio married Bianca.--Shakespeare, _Taming of the Shrew_ (1594). _Bianca_, daughter of a noble family in "The Young Italian," one of the _Tales of a Traveller_, by Washington Irving. She is beloved passionately by the young Italian and betrothed to him. In his absence Filippo, the false friend of her lover, weds her. The betrayed friend on learning the truth kills Filippo, and is ever afterwards haunted by his dying face (1824). _Bian'ca_, a courtesan, the "almost" wife of Cassio. Iago, speaking of the lieutenant, says: And what was he? Forsooth a great arithmetician. One Michael Cassio, a Florentine, A fellow almost damn'd in a fair wife. Shakespeare, _Othello_, act i. sc. I (1611). _Bian'ca_, wife of Fazio. When her husband wantons with the marchioness Aldabella, Bianca, out of jealousy, accuses him to the duke of Florence of being privy to the death of Bartol'do, an old miser. Fazio being condemned to death, Bianca repents of her rashness, and tries to save her husband, but not succeeding, goes mad and dies.--Dean Milman, _Fazio_ (1815). BIBBET (_Master_), secretary to major-general Harrison, one of the parliamentary commissioners.--Sir W. Scott, _Woodstock_ (time, Commonwealth). BIBBIE'NA (_Il_), cardinal Bernardo, who resided at Bibbiena, in Tuscany. He was the author of _Calandra_, a comedy (1470-1520). "BIBLE" BUTLER, _alias_ Stephen Butler, grandfather of Reuben Butler, the presbyterian minister (married to Jeanie Deans).--Sir W. Scott, _Heart of Midlothian_ (time, George II.). BIB'LIS, a woman who fell in love with her brother Caunus, and was changed into a fountain near Mile'tus.--Ovid, _Met_. ix. 662. Not that [_fountain_] where Biblis dropt, too fondly light, Her tears and self may dare compare with this. Phin. Fletcher, _The Purple Island_, v. (1633). BIB'ULUS, a colleague of Julius Cæsar, but a mere cipher in office; hence his name became a household word for a nonentity. BIC'KERSTAFF (_Isaac_), a pseudonym of dean Swift, assumed in the paper-war with Partridge, the almanac-maker, and subsequently adopted by Steele in _The Tatler_, which was announced as edited by "Isaac Bickerstaff, Esq., astrologer." BICKERTON (_Mrs._), landlady of the Seven Stars inn of York, where Jeanie Deans stops on her way to London, whither she is going to plead for her sister's pardon.--Sir W. Scott, _Heart of Midlothian_ (time, George II.).