Irwin (Hannah), former confidante of Clara Mowbray.—Sir W. Scott, St. Ronan’s Well (time, George III.).
Isaac [Mendoza], a rich Portuguese Jew, short in stature, with a snub nose, swarthy skin, and huge beard; very conceited, priding himself upon his cunning, loving to dupe others but woefully duped himself. He chuckles to himself, “I’m cunning, I fancy; a very cunning dog, ain’t I? a sly little villain, eh? a bit roguish; he must be very wide awake who can take Isaac in.” This conceited piece of goods is always duped by every one he encounters. He meets Louisa, whom he intends to make his wife, but she makes him believe she is Clara Guzman. He meets his rival, Antonio, whom he sends to the supposed Clara, and he marries her. He mistakes Louisa’s duenna for Louisa, and elopes with her. So all his wit is outwitted.—Sheridan, The Duenna (1775).
Isaac of York, the father of Rebecca. When imprisoned in the dungeon of Front de Bœuf’s castle, Front de Bœuf comes to extort money from him, and orders two slaves to chain him to the bars of slow fire, but the party is disturbed by the sound of a bugle. Ultimately, both the Jew and his daughter leave England and go to live abroad.—Sir W. Scott, Ivanhoe (time, Richard I.).
Isaacs (Mr.). A mysterious man, whose majestic beauty, accomplishments, prowess and loves form the staple of the novel bearing his name.—F. Marion Crawford, Mr. Isaacs (1882).
Isabel. A child-love, whose image is recalled by the old man in his wayside musing—
“Poor, unknown,
By the wayside, on a mossy stone.”
Ralph Hoyt, Old (1859).
Isabel. A refined girl, with lofty ideals and aspirations, who marries a widower with one child. She believes him a true man who will uplift her, and finds him a refined voluptuary, coldly calculating upon the advantages to be gained from her fortune. Still faithful to herself, Isabel repels the love of a man who thoroughly appreciates her, and flies from him and temptation.—Henry James, Jr., Portrait of a Lady (1881).
Isabel, called the “She-wolf of France,” the adulterous queen of Edward II., was daughter of Philippe IV. (le bel), of France. According to one tradition, Isabel murdered her royal husband by thrusting a hot iron into his bowels, and tearing them from his body.