Longfellow, St. Filomena.
⁂ Longfellow calls Florence Nightingale “St. Filomena” (born at Florence, 1820).
Finality John, Lord John Russell (afterwards “Earl Russell”), who maintained that the Reform Bill of 1832 was a finality (1792-1878).
Finch (Margaret), queen of the gypsies, who died aged 109, a.d. 1740. She was born at Sutton, in Kent, and was buried at Beckenham, in the same county.
Finch (Lucilla). Blind girl whose sight is restored for a little while. The man she has loved while blind has received injuries that make him repulsive to the eye. His crafty brother contrives that the girl shall mistake him for her betrothed. A series of complications has a climax in the return of Miss Finch’s blindness, after which matters resume the former course and she marries the right man.—Wilkie Collins, Poor Miss Finch.
Fine-ear, one of the seven attendants of Fortunio. He could hear the grass grow, and even the wool on the sheep’s back.—Comtesse D’Aunoy, Fairy Tales (“Fortunio,” 1682).
⁂ In Grimm’s Goblin’s is the same fairy tale (“Fortunio”).
Fin´etor, a necromancer, father of the Enchantress Damsel.—Vasco de Lobeira, Amadis de Gaul (thirteenth century).
Finetta, “the cinder girl,” a fairy tale by the Comtesse D’Aunoy (1682). This is merely the old tale of Cinderella slightly altered. Finetta was the youngest of three princesses, despised by them, and put to all sorts of menial work. The two sisters went to balls, and left Finetta at home in charge of the house. One day she found a gold key, which opened a wardrobe full of most excellent dresses; so arraying herself in one, she followed her sisters to the ball, but she was so fine that they knew her not, and she ran home before them. This occurred two or three times, but at last, in running home, she lost one of her slippers. The young prince resolved to marry her whose foot fitted the slipper, and Finetta became his wife. Finetta was also called Auricula or “Fine-ear.”
Fingal (or Fion na Gael).