Lance (1 syl.), falconer and ancient servant to the father of Valentine, the gallant, who would not be persuaded to keep his estate.—Beaumont and Fletcher, Wit Without Money (1622).
Lancelot or Launcelot Gobbo, servant of Shylock. He assists Jessica, Shylock’s daughter, in running away from her father, and accompanies her in her flight.—Shakespeare, Merchant of Venice (1598).
Lancelot du Lac, by Ulrich of Zazikoven, the most ancient poem of the Arthurian series. It tells the adventures of a young knight, gay and joyous, with animal spirits and light-heartedness. (See Launcelot.)—One of the minnesongs of Germany (twelfth century).
Lancelot du Lac and Tarquin. Sir Lancelot, seeking adventures, met with a lady who prayed him to deliver certain knights of the Round Table from the power of Tarquin. Coming to a river, he saw a copper basin hung on a tree for gong, and he struck it so hard that it broke. This brought out Tarquin, and a furious combat ensued, in which Tarquin was slain. Sir Lancelot then liberated three score and four knights, who had been made captives by Tarquin. (See Launcelot.)—Percy, Reliques, I. ii. 9.
Lancelot of the Laik, a Scotch metrical romance, taken from the French Launcelot du Lac. Galiot, a neighboring king, invaded Arthur’s territories, and captured the castle of Lady Melyhalt among others. When Sir Lancelot went to chastise Galiot, he saw Queen Guinevere, and fell in love with her. The French romance makes Galiot submit to King Arthur; but the Scotch tale terminates with his capture. (See Launcelot.)
Lanciotto Da Rimini. The brave, deformed victim of a state-marriage. Loving his wife and brother best of created things, he is deceived by both, and goaded to fury by the discovery and the taunts of the spy, Pepe, seeks to wash out his dishonor in blood.—George Henry Boker, Francesca Da Rimini; A Tragedy (1856).
Landois (Peter), the favorite minister of the Duc de Bretagne.—Sir. W. Scott, Anne of Geierstein (time, Edward IV.).
Landscape Gardening (Father of), Lenôtre (1613-1700).
Lane (Mr.). The victim of another man’s dishonesty. Retires from the world and lives in Ivy Lane, London, in rags and poverty, lamenting “a lost life.” Meeting him to whom he owes his ruin, he pursues him, overtakes him at the river, seizes him and sinks with him to rise no more.
“When the victim recovered his life, what did his tempter and oppressor recover?”—Walter Besant; Children of Gibeon, (1890).