BUR'BON (_i.e. Henri IV. of France_). He is betrothed to Fordelis _(France)_, who has been enticed from him by Grantorto (_rebellion_). Being assailed on all sides by a rabble rout, Fordelis is carried off by "hell-rake hounds." The rabble batter Burbon's shield (_protestantism_), and compel him to throw it away. Sir Ar´tegal (_right_ or _justice_) rescues the "recreant knight" from the mob, but blames him for his unknightly folly in throwing away his shield (of faith). Talus (_the executive_) beats off the hellhounds, gets possession of the lady, and though she flouts Burbon, he catches her up upon his steed and rides off with her.--Spenser, _Faëry Queen_, v. 2 (1596). BURCHELL (_Mr._), _alias_ sir William Thornhill, about thirty years of age. When Dr. Primrose, the vicar of Wakefield, loses £1400, Mr. Burchell presents himself as a broken-down gentleman, and the doctor offers him his purse. He turns his back on the two flash ladies who talked of their high-life doings, and cried "Fudge!" after all their boastings and remarks. Mr. Burchell twice rescues Sophia Primrose, and ultimately marries her.--Goldsmith, _Vicar of Wakefield_ (1765). BURGUNDY (_Charles the Bold, duke of_) introduced by sir W. Scott in _Quentin Durward_ and in _Anne of Geierstein_. The latter novel contains the duke's defeat at Nancy´, and his death (time, Edward IV.). BU´RIDAN'S ASS. A man of indecision is so called from the hypothetical ass of Buridan, the Greek sophist. Buridan maintained that "if an ass could be placed between two hay-stacks in such a way that its choice was evenly balanced between them, it would starve to death, for there would be no motive why he should choose the one and reject the other." BURLEIGH (_William Cecil, lord_), lord treasurer to queen Elizabeth (1520-1598), introduced by sir W. Scott in his historical novel called _Kenilworth_ (time, Elizabeth). He is one the principal characters in _The Earl of Essex_, a tragedy by Henry Jones (1745). _Burleigh (Lord)_, a parliamentary leader in _The Legend of Montrose_, a novel by sir W. Scott (time, Charles I.). _A lord Burleigh shake of the head_, a great deal meant by a look or movement, though little or nothing is said. Puff, in his tragedy of the "Spanish Armada," introduces lord Burleigh, "who has the affairs of the whole nation in his head, and has no time to talk;" but his lordship comes on the stage and shakes his head, by which he means far more than words could utter. Puff says: Why, by that shake of the head he gave you to understand that even though they had more justice in their cause and wisdom in their measures, yet, if there was not a greater spirit shown on the part of the people, the country would at last fall a sacrifice to the hostile ambition of the Spanish monarchy. _Sneer_. Did he mean all that by shaking his head? _Puff_. Every word of it.--Sheridan, _The Critic_, ii. 1 (1779).