Dictionary of English literature, being a comprehensive guide to English authors and their works / [William Davenport Adams].

  • William Davenport Adams
Date:
[1879?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Dictionary of English literature, being a comprehensive guide to English authors and their works / [William Davenport Adams]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    660/720 (page 652)
    William Caxton (1412—1491), and printed by him at Cologne in 1471; being the first book in the English language ever put to press. Troye, The Hystory, Sege, and De- struccyon of. A poem by John Lydgate (1375—1460), first printed by Pynson in 1513, and styled “ The onely trewe and syncere Chronicle of the Warres betwixt the Grecians and the Troyans.” It is merely a translation or paraphrase of Guido de Colonna’s prose romance entitled Historia Trojana, which is itself founded on Dares Phrygius and Dictys Cretensis. It is “ valuable as a speci- men of the learning, as well as of the credulity, of our ancestors.” The Hystory was begun in 1412, at the request of Prince Henry, afterwards Henry V., and was finished in 1420. “True as the dial to the sun,”—Line 175, canto ii., part iii., of Butler’s Hudioras— “ Although it he not shined upon.” “ True as the needle to the pole.” A simile which occurs in a poem by Barton Booth, an English actor (1681—1733). True Born Englishman, The. A poetical satire by Daniel Defoe (1663—1731), published in 1701, and aimed at those who derided the Dutch origin of William III. Eighty thousand copies of the work are said to have been sold in the streets. True Love Requited: “ or, the Bailiff’s Daughter of Islington.” A ballad, preserved in the Pepys Collection. Islington in N orfolk is pro- bably the locality indicated. The ballad tells how the lover of the bailiff’s daughter, returning from a seven years’ apprenticeship, does not know her at first, but afterwards recognises her, and marries her. “True love’s the gift that God has given.” See stanza 13, canto v., of Scott’s Lay of the Last Minstrel. True Patriot’s Journal, The. A periodical conducted by Henry Fielding (q.v.). “ True patriots we, for be it under- stood.” First line of a witty epigram—ascribed to George Barrington, a superintendent of convicts, and author of A Voyage to New South Wales (1795 and 1800), of which the second line runs— “ We left our country for our country’s good.” “ True to the kindred points of Heaven and home.” See “ Heaven and home.” Trull, Dolly. A character in Gay’s Beggar's Opera (q.v.). Trulliber, Parson. A character in Field- ing’s novel of The Adventures of Joseph Andrews (q.v.). Truman, Joseph, Nonconformist divine (b. 1631, d. 1671), was the author of A Discourse of Moral and Natural Impotency, republished in 1834 Jvith a biographical introduction by Henry Eogers. 7 Trumbull, John. See MacFingall. “ Trumpet-tongued.” — Macbeth, act i., scene 7. Trunnion, Commodore Hawser. A character in Smollett’s novel of The Adventures of Peregrine Tickle (q.v.). “Commodore Trunnion,” says Ilannay, “ is perhaps more amusing than Bowling [q.v.]. He is not such a likeable man, and we are left in doubt whether his wounds were all gained in action. But how irresistibly comic he is ! His beating to windward in the lanes, his involuntary part in the fox-hunt—what capital specimens they are of that fine natural comedy which is good not merely for the spirits and temper of the reader, but for his very lungs and diges- tion !” “ Trust no future, howe’er pleasant.” A line in Longfellow’s poem, A Psalm of Life. Truth Cleared of Calumnies. A work by Bobert Barclay (1648—1690), published in 1670. Truth, Essay on the Nature and Im- mutability of: “in opposition to Sophistry and Scepticism;” by James Beattie (1735—1802); published in 1770. “This work,” says Dr. McCosh, “ was his principal study for four years ; he wrote it three times over, and some parts of it oftener. His object is—first, to trace the several kinds of evidence and reasoning up to their first principles; second, to show that his sentiments are in accord- ance with true philosophy and the principles of the most eminent philosophers ; and, third, to answer sceptical objections. This work is not so profound or original as that of Reid [q.v.].” Gold- smith wrote of it: “ The existence of Dr. Beattie and his book, together, will be forgotten in the space of ten years.” Truth in Rhyme. A poetical epistle, addressed by David Mallet (1700—1765) to Lord Bute, and distinguished by its eulogistic references to that minister and to George III. It appeared in 1761. Chesterfield said of it:— “ It has no faults, or I no faults can spy: It Is all beauty, or all blindness 1.” The reader will probably accept the latter alterna- tive. “ Truth of truth is love, The.”—Bailey, Festus. Truthful James. See James, Truthful. Tryphon. The doctor of the sea-gods in Spenser’s Faerie Queene. Tub, Tale of a. See Tale of a Tub. Tubal. A Jew, and friend of Shylock, in The Merchant of Venice (q.v.). Tuck, Friar. One of the associates of Robin Hood in Sherwood Forest ; introduced by Sir Walter Scott into his romance of Ivanhoe, as the Holy Clerk of Copmanhurst.