MANDRICARDO, son of Agrican MANTUA, in Italy, birthplace of Virgil MANU, ancestor of mankind MARATHON, where Theseus and Pirithous met MARK, King of Cornwall, husband of Isoude the Fair MARO See VIRGIL MARPHISA, sister of Rogero MARSILIUS, Spanish king, treacherous foe of Charlemagne MARSYAS, inventor of the flute, who challenged Apollo to musical competition, and, defeated, was flayed alive MATSYA, the Fish, first avatar of Vishnu MEANDER, Grecian river MEDE, A, princess and sorceress who aided Jason MEDORO, a young Moor, who wins Angelica MEDUSA, one of the Gorgons MEGAERA, one of the Furies MELAMPUS, a Spartan dog, the first mortal endowed with prophetic powers MELANTHUS, steersman for Bacchus MELEAGER, one of the Argonauts (See Althaea) MELIADUS, King of Lionesse, near Cornwall MELICERTES, infant son of Ino. changed to Palaemon (See Ino, Leucothea, and Palasmon) MELISSA, priestess at Merlin's tomb MELISSEUS, a Cretan king MELPOMENE, one of the Muses MEMNON, the beautiful son of Tithonus and Eos (Aurora), and king of the Ethiopians, slain in Trojan War MEMPHIS, Egyptian city MENELAUS, son of King of Sparta, husband of Helen MENOECEUS, son of Creon, voluntary victim in war to gain success for his father MENTOR, son of Alcimus and a faithful friend of Ulysses MERCURY (See HERMES) MERLIN, enchanter MEROPE, daughter of King of Chios, beloved by Orion MESMERISM, likened to curative oracle of Aesculapius at Epidaurus METABUS, father of Camilla METAMORPHOSES, Ovid's poetical legends of mythical transformations, a large source of our knowledge of classic mythology METANIRA, a mother, kind to Ceres seeking Proserpine METEMPSYCHOSIS, transmigration of souls--rebirth of dying men and women in forms of animals or human beings METIS, Prudence, a spouse of Jupiter MEZENTIUS, a brave but cruel soldier, opposing Aeneas in Italy MIDAS MIDGARD, the middle world of the Norsemen MIDGARD SERPENT, a sea monster, child of Loki MILKY WAY, starred path across the sky, believed to be road to palace of the gods MILO, a great athlete MLON, father of Orlando MILTON, John, great English poet, whose History of England is here largely used MIME, one of the chief dwarfs of ancient German mythology MINERVA (Athene), daughter of Jupiter, patroness of health, learning, and wisdom MINOS, King of Crete MINO TAUR, monster killed by Theseus MISTLETOE, fatal to Baldur MNEMOSYNE, one of the Muses MODESTY, statue to MODRED, nephew of King Arthur MOLY, plant, powerful against sorcery MOMUS, a deity whose delight was to jeer bitterly at gods and men MONAD, the "unit" of Pythagoras MONSTERS, unnatural beings, evilly disposed to men MONTALBAN, Rinaldo's castle MONTH, the, attendant upon the Sun MOON, goddess of, see DIANA MORAUNT, knight, an Irish champion MORGANA, enchantress, the Lady of the Lake in "Orlando Furioso," same as Morgane Le Fay in tales of Arthur