Lazarillo, a humorsome valet, who serves two masters, “Don Felix” and Octavio. Lazarillo makes the usual quota of mistakes, such as giving letters and money to the wrong master; but it turns out that Don Felix is Donna Clara, the fiancée of Octavio, and so all comes right.—Jephson, Two Strings to your Bow (1792).
Joseph Munden [1758-1832] was the original Lazarillo.—Memoir of J.S. Munden (1832).
Lazarillo de Tormes, the hero of a romance of roguery, by Don Diego de Mendo´za (1553). Lazarillo is a compound of poverty and pride, full of stratagems and devices. The “hidalgo” walks the streets (as he says) “like the duke of Arcos,” but is occupied at home “to procure a crust of dry bread, and, having munched it, he is equally puzzled how to appear in public with due decorum. He fits out a ruffle so as to suggest the idea of a shirt, and so adjusts a cloak as to look as if there were clothes under it.” We find him begging bread, “not for food,” but simply for experiments. He eats it to see “if it is digestible and wholesome;” yet he is gay withal, and always rakish.
Lazarus and Dives. Lazarus, a beggar whose fate is contrasted with that of Dives, i.e. a rich man (Latin). At their death Lazarus goes to heaven, the rich man goes to hell and begs that Lazarus may bring him a drop of water to cool his tongue.—Luke, xvi. 19-31.
⁂ Lazarus is the only proper name given in any of the New Testament parables. The rich man is not named.
Lazy Lawrence of Lubber-Land, the hero of a popular tale. He served the schoolmaster, the squire’s cook, the farmer, and his own wife, all which was accounted treason in Lubber-land.
Lea, one of the “daughters of men,” beloved by one of the “sons of God.” The angel who loved her ranked with the least of the spirits of light, whose post around the throne was in the outermost circle. Sent to earth on a message, he saw Lea bathing, and fell in love with her; but Lea was so heavenly minded that her only wish was to “dwell in purity and serve God in singleness of heart.” Her angel lover, in the madness of his passion, told Lea the spell-word that gave him admittance into heaven. The moment Lea uttered it, her body became spiritual, rose through the air, and vanished from sight. On the other hand, the angel lost his ethereal nature, and became altogether earthly, like a child of clay.—T. Moore, Loves of the Angels, i. (1822).
League (The), a league formed at Péronne in 1576, to prevent the accession of Henri IV. to the throne of France, because he was of the reformed religion. This league was mainly due to the Guises. It is occasionally called “The Holy League;” but the “Holy League” strictly so called is quite another thing, and it is better not to confound different events by giving them the same name. (See League, Holy).
League, (The Achæan), B.C. 281-146. The old league consisted of the twelve Achæan cities confederated for self-defence from the remotest times. The league properly so called was formed against the Macedonians.
League (The Ætolian), formed some three centuries B.C., when it became a formidable rival to the Macedonian monarchs and the Achæan League.