Character Sketches of Romance, Fiction and the Drama | Page 9

sister of Gessler, the tyrannical governor of
Switzerland, in love with Arnoldo, a Swiss, who saved her life when it
was imperilled by an avalanche. After the death of Gessler she married
the bold Swiss.--Rossini, Guglielmo Tell (an opera, 1829).
=Mathis=, a German miller, greatly in debt. One Christmas Eve a
Polish Jew came to his house in a sledge, and, after rest and
refreshment, started for Nantzig, "four leagues off." Mathis followed
him, killed him with an axe, and burnt the body in a lime-kiln. He then
paid his debts, greatly prospered, and became a highly respected
burgomaster. On the wedding night of his only child, Annette, he died
of apoplexy, of which he had previous warning by the constant sound
of sledge-bells in his ears. In his dream he supposed himself put into a
mesmeric sleep in open court, when he confessed everything, and was
executed.--J. R. Ware, The Polish Jew.
[Asterism] This is the character which first introduced H. Irving to
public notice.
=Math´isen=, one of the three anabaptists who induced John of Leyden
to join their rebellion; but no sooner was John proclaimed "the
prophet-king" than the three rebels betrayed him to the emperor. When
the villains entered the banquet-hall to arrest their dupe, they all

perished in the flames of the burning palace.--Meyerbeer, Le Prophète
(an opera, 1849).
=Matilda=, wife of the earl of Leicester, in the "first American tragedy
regularly produced" in the United States.
She plans to poison her lord, a plot discovered and thwarted by him. In
shame and remorse she stabs herself to the heart, praying Leicester to
"pity her youthful paramour."--William Dunlap, Leicester, A Tragedy
(1794).
Matilda, sister of Rollo and Otto, dukes of Normandy, and daughter of
Sophia.--Beaumont and Fletcher, The Bloody Brother (1639).
Matilda, daughter of Lord Robert Fitzwalter.
[Asterism] Michael Drayton has a poem of some 650 lines, so called.
Matilda, daughter of Rokeby, and niece of Mortham. Matilda was
beloved by Wilfred, son of Oswald; but she herself loved Redmond,
her father's page, who turned out to be Mortham's son.--Sir W. Scott,
Rokeby (1812).
=Matsys= (Quintin), a blacksmith of Antwerp. He fell in love with Liza,
the daughter of Johann Mandyn, the artist. The father declared that
none but an artist should have her to wife; so Matsys relinquished his
trade, and devoted himself to painting. After a while, he went into the
studio of Mandyn to see his picture of the fallen angel; and on the
outstretehed[TN-6] leg of one of the figures painted a bee. This was so
life-like, that when the old man returned, he proceeded to frighten it off
with his handkerchief. When he discovered the deception, and found
out it was done by Matsys, he was so delighted that he at once gave
Liza to him for wife.
=Matthew Merrygreek=, the servant of Ralph Roister Doister. He is a
flesh-and-blood representative of "vice" in the old
morality-plays.--Nicholas Udall, Ralph Roister Doister (the first
English comedy, 1634).

=Matthias de Monçada=, a merchant. He is the father of Mrs.
Witherington, wife of General Witherington.--Sir W. Scott, The
Surgeon's Daughter (time, George II.).
=Matthias de Silva= (Don), a Spanish beau. This exquisite one day
received a challenge for defamation, soon after he had retired to bed,
and said to his valet, "I would not get up before noon to make one in
the best party of pleasure that was ever projected. Judge, then, if I shall
rise at six o'clock in the morning to get my throat cut."--Lesage, Gil
Blas, iii. 8 (1715).
(This reply was borrowed from the romance of Espinel, entitled Vida
del Escudero Marços de Obregon, 1618).
=Mattie=, maid servant of Bailie Nicol Jarvie, and afterwards his
wife.--Sir W. Scott, Rob Roy (time, George I.).
=Maud Muller=, pretty, shy haymaker, of whom the judge, passing by,
craves a cup of water. He falls in love with the rustic maiden, but dare
not wed her. She, too, recollects him with tenderness, dreaming vainly
of what might have been her different lot.
"Of all sad words of tongue or pen, The saddest are these, 'It might
have been.'"
J. G. Whittier, Maud Muller.
Bret Harte has written a clever parody upon Maud Muller,--"Mrs.
Judge Jenkins."
"There are no sadder words of tongue or pen, Than 'It is, but it hadn't
orter been!'"
=Maude=, (1 syl.), wife of Peter Pratefast, "who loved cleanliness."
She kepe her dishes from all foulenes; And when she lacked clowtes
withouten fayle, She wyped her dishes with her dogges tayll.
Stephen Hawes, The Pastyme of Pleasure, xxix. (1515).

=Maugis=, the Nestor of French romance. He was one of
Charlemagne's paladins, a magician and champion.
[Asterism] In Italian romance he is called "Malagigi" (q.v.).
=Maugis d'Aygremont=, son of Duke Bevis d'Aygremont, stolen in
infancy by a female slave. As the slave rested under