Grantam (Miss), a friend of Miss Godfrey, engaged to Sir James Elliot.—Sam. Foote, The Liar (1761).
Grant´mesnil (Sir Hugh de), one of the knights challengers at the tournament.—Sir W. Scott, Ivanhoe (time, Richard I.).
Grantorto, the personification of rebellion in general, and of the evil genius of the Irish rebellion of 1580 in particular. Grantorto is represented as a huge giant, who withheld from Irēna [i.e. Iernê or Ireland] her inheritance. Sir Artĕgal [Arthur, Lord Grey of Wilton], being sent to destroy him, challenged him to single combat, and having felled him to the earth with his sword Chrysa´or, “reft off his head to ease him of his pain.”—Spenser, Faëry Queen, v. 12 (1596).
Grass (Cronos), a grass which gives those who taste it an irresistible desire for the sea. Glaucus, the Bœo´tian fisherman, observed that all the fishes which he laid on the grass instantly leaped back into the water, whereupon he also tasted the grass, and was seized with the same irresistible desire. Leaping into the sea, he became a minor sea-god, with the gift of prophecy.
Gra´tian (Father), the begging friar at John Mengs’s inn at Kirchhoff.—Sir W. Scott, Anne of Geierstein (time, Edward IV.).
Gratia´no, one of Antonio’s friends. He “talked an infinite deal of nothing, more than any man in all Venice.” Gratiano married Nerissa, the waiting-gentlewoman of Portia.—Shakespeare, Merchant of Venice (1598).
Gratiano, brother of Brabantio, and uncle of Desdemona.—Shakespeare, Othello (1611).
Graunde Amoure (Sir), walking in a meadow, was told by Fame of a beautiful lady named La belle Pucell, who resided in the Tower of Musyke. He was then conducted by Gouvernance and Grace to the Tower of Doctrine, where he received instruction from the seven Sciences:—Gramer, Logyke, Rethorike, Arismetricke, Musyke, Geometry, and Astronomy. In the Tower of Musyke he met La belle Pucell, with whom he fell in love, but they parted for a time. Graunde Amoure went to the Tower of Chivalry to perfect himself in the arts of knighthood, and there he received his degree from King Melyz´yus. He then started on his adventures, and soon encountered False Report, who joined him and told him many a lying tale; but Lady Correction, coming up, had False Report soundly beaten, and the knight was entertained at her castle. Next day he left, and came to a wall where hung a shield and horn. On blowing the horn, a three-headed monster came forth, with whom he fought, and cut off the three heads, called, Falsehood, Imagination, and Perjury. He passed the night in the house of Lady Comfort, who attended to his wounds; and next day he slew a giant fifteen feet high and with seven heads. Lastly, he slew the monster Malyce, made by enchantment of seven metals. His achievements over, he married La belle Pucell, and lived happily till he was arrested by Age, having for companions Policye and Avarice. Death came at last to carry him off, and Remembrance wrote his epitaph.—Stephen Hawes, The Passe-tyme of Plesure (1515).
Graunde Amoure’s Steed, Galantyse, the gift of King Melyz´yus when he conferred on him the degree of knighthood.
I myselfe shall give you a worthy stede,