_Miranda_, an heiress, the ward of Sir Francis Gripe. As she must obtain his consent to her marriage before she could obtain possession of her fortune, she pretended to love him, although he was 64 years old; and the old fool believed it. When, therefore, Miranda asked his consent to marry, he readily gave it, thinking himself to be the man of her choice; but the sly little hussy laughed at her old guardian, and plighted her troth to Sir George Airy, a man of 24.--Mrs. Centlivre, _The Busy Body_ (1709). =Mir´ja=, one of the six Wise Men of the East, led by the guiding star to Jesus. Mirja had five sons, who followed his holy life.--Klopstock, _The Messiah_, v. (1771). =Mirror= (_Alasnam’s_), a mirror which showed Alasnam if “a beautiful girl was also chaste and virtuous.” The mirror was called “the touchstone of virtue.”--_Arabian Nights_ (“Prince Zeyn Alasnam”). _Mirror_ (_Cambuscan’s_), a mirror sent to Cambuscan´, king of Tartary, by the king of Araby and Ind. It showed those who consulted it if any adversity were about to befall them; if any one they loved were friend or foe.--Chaucer, _Canterbury Tales_ (“The Squire’s Tale,” unfinished.) “Or call up him who left half-told, The story of Cambuscan bold. * * * * * That owned the virtuous ring and glass.” Milton, _Il Penseroso_. _Mirror_ (_Kelly’s_), Dr. Dee’s speculum. Kelly was the doctor’s speculator or seer. The speculum resembled a “piece of polished cannel coal.” Kelly did all his feats upon The devil’s looking-glass, a stone. S. Butler, _Hudibras_ (1663-78). _Mirror_ (_Lao’s_), a looking-glass which reflected the mind as well as the outward form.--Goldsmith, _Citizen of the World_, xlv. (1759). _Mirror_ (_Merlin’s Magic_) or Venus’s looking-glass, fabricated in South Wales, in the days of King Ryence. It would show to those that looked therein anything which pertained to them, anything that a friend or foe was doing. It was round like a sphere, and was given by Merlin to King Ryence. That never foe his kingdom might invade But he it knew at home before he heard Tidings thereof. Britomart, who was King Ryence’s daughter and heiress, saw in the mirror her future husband and also his name, which was Sir Artegal.--Spenser, _Faëry Queen_, iii. 2 (1590). _Mirror_ (_Prester John’s_), a mirror which possessed similar virtues to that made by Merlin. Prester John could see therein whatever was taking place in any part of his dominions. ⁂ Dr. Dee’s speculum was also spherical, and possessed a similar reputed virtue. _Mirror_ (_Reynard’s Wonderful_). This mirror existed only in the brain of Master Fox. He told the queen lion that whoever looked therein could see what was being done a mile off. The wood of the frame was part of the same block out of which Crampart’s magic horse was made.--_Reynard the Fox_, xii. (1498).