Drayton, Polyolbion, viii. (1612).
Galia´na, a Moorish princess, daughter of Gadalfe, king of Tolēdo. Her father built for her a palace on the Tagus, so splendid that “a palace of Galiana” has become a proverb in Spain.
Galien Restored, a mediæval romance of chivalry. Galien was the son of Jaqueline (daughter of Hugh, king of Constantinople). His father was Count Oliver of Vienne. Two fairies interested themselves in Jaqueline’s infant son; one, named Galienne, had the child named after her, Galien; and the other insisted that he should be called “Restored,” for that the boy would restore the chivalry of Charlemagne.—Author unknown.
Galile´o [Galilei], born at Pisa, but lived chiefly in Florence. In 1633 he published his work on the Copernican system, showing that “the earth moved and the sun stood still.” For this he was denounced by the Inquisition of Rome, and accused of contradicting the Bible. At the age of 70 he was obliged to abjure his system, in order to gain his liberty. After pronouncing his abjuration, he said, in a stage whisper, E pur si muove (“It does move, though”). This is said to be a romance (1564-1642).
Galinthia, daughter of Prœtus, king of Argos. She was changed by the Fates into a cat, and in that shape was made by Hecate her high priestess.—Antonius Liberalis, Metam, xxix.
Gallegher, audacious errand-boy in the office of a daily newspaper. He outwits police and sporting-men, and shows detective genius unequalled by a “professional,” becoming the means of arresting a noted murderer, and driving into town after midnight with the news of this event and of a big prize-fight, sinking exhausted on the office floor with the exclamation, “I beat the town!”—Richard Harding Davis, Gallegher (1890).
Gallegos [Gal´.le.goze], the people of Galacia (once a province of Spain).
Gallice´næ, priestesses of Gallic mythology, who had power over the winds and waves. There were nine of them, all virgins.
Galligan´tus, the giant who lived with Hocus-Pocus, the conjuror. When Jack the Giant-killer blew the magic horn, both the giant and conjuror were overthrown.—Jack the Giant-killer.
Gallo-ma´nia, a furor for everything French. Generally applied to that vile imitation of French literature and customs which prevailed in Germany in the time of Frederick II. of Prussia. It is very conspicuous in the writings of Wieland (1733-1813).