Character Sketches of Romance, Fiction, and the Drama, Vol. 2: A Revised American Edition of the Reader's Handbook — John Shaqi
Character Sketches of Romance, Fiction, and the Drama, Vol. 2: A Revised American Edition of the Reader's HandbookBrewer, Ebenezer Cobham
General
Character Sketches of Romance, Fiction, and the Drama, Vol. 2: A Revised American Edition of the Reader's Handbook
Brewer, Ebenezer Cobham
Allusions; Fiction -- Dictionaries; Literature -- Dictionaries
=Fi´ler=, a lean, churlish man, who takes poor Toby Veck’s tripe,
and delivers him a homily on the sinfulness of luxury and
self-indulgence.—C. Dickens, _The Chimes_ (1844).
=Filia Doloro´sa=, the Duchess d’Angoulême, daughter of Louis XVI. Also
called “The Modern Antig´onê” (1778-1851).
=Fillan=, son of Fingal and Clatho, the most highly finished character
in the poem of _Tem´ora_. Fillan was younger than his nephew Oscar, and
does not appear on the scene until after Oscar’s death. He is rash and
fiery, eager for military glory, and brave as a lion. When Fingal
appointed Gaul to command for the day, Fillan had hoped his father’s
choice might have fallen to his own lot. “On his spear stood the son of
Clatho ... thrice he raised his eyes to Fingal; his voice thrice failed
him as he spoke ... He strode away; bent over a distant stream ... the
tear hung in his eye. He struck at times the thistle’s head with his
inverted spear.” Yet showed he no jealousy, for when Gaul was in danger,
he risked his own life to save him. Next day was Fillan’s turn to lead,
and his deeds were unrivalled in dash and brilliancy. He slew Foldath,
the general of the opposing army, but when Cathmor, “Lord of Atha,” the
commander-in-chief, came against him, Fillan fell. His modesty was then
as prominent as his bravery. “Lay me,” he said to Ossian, “in that
hollow rock. Raise no stone above me ... I am fallen in the first of my
fields, fallen without renown.” Every incident of Fillan’s life is
beautiful in the extreme.—Ossian, _Temora_, v.
=Filippo= (_Don_). In love with Camilla, heroine of _Signor Monaldini’s
Niece_. His wife is insane, and he suffers himself to become enamored of
this young girl, who repels him with holy, heroic words. His conscience
comes to his aid when she appeals to him. While he hesitates to speak
the words of parting, she springs into a pool beside them, and is to all
appearance drowned. While she lies unconscious, a telegram is brought,
saying that his wife is dead. Camilla revives, after a long period of
insensibility, and all is well.—Mary Agnes Tincker, _Signor Monaldini’s
Niece_, (1879).
=Fillpot= (_Toby_), a thirsty old soul, who “among jolly topers bore off
the bell.” It chanced as in dog-days he sat boosing in his arbor, that
he died “full as big as a Dorchester butt.” His body turned to clay, and
out of the clay a brown jug was made, sacred to friendship, mirth, and
mild ale.
His body, when long in the ground it had lain,
And time into clay had resolved it again,
A potter found out in its covert so snug,
And with part of fat Toby he formed this brown jug,
Now sacred to friendship, to mirth, and mild ale.
So here’s to my lovely sweet Nan of the vale.
Rev. Francis Fawkes (1721-1777).
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account