fervid heat even the angels in the high Heaven
of pure knowledge have no name. Thus ended
all."—Edgar Allen Poe,
Conversation of Eiros and
Charmion
(1849).
Elvir, a Danish maid, who assumes boy's clothing, and waits on Harold "the Dauntless," as his page! Subsequently her sex is discovered, and Harold marries her.—Sir. W. Scott, Harold the Dauntless (1817).
Elain, sister of King Arthur by the same mother. She married Sir Nentres of Carlot, and was by King Arthur the mother of Mordred. (See ELEIN)—Sir T. Malory, History of Prince Arthur, i. (1470).
In some of the romances there is great confusion between Elain (the sister) and Morgause (the half-sister) of Arthur. Both are called the mother of Mordred, and both are also called the wife of Lot. This, however, is a mistake. Elain was the wife of Sir Nentres, and Morgause of Lot; and if Gawain, Agrawain, Gareth and Gaheris were [half] brothers of Mordred, as we are told over and over again, then Morgause and not Elain was his mother. Tennyson makes Bellicent the wife of Lot, but this is not in accordance with any of the legends collected by Sir T. Malory.
Elaine (Dame), daughter of King Pelles (2 syl.) "the foragn country," and the unwedded mother of Sir Galahad by Sir Launcelot du Lac.—Sir T. Malory, History of Prince Arthur, iii. 1 (1470).