Leon, son of Constantine, the Greek emperor. Amon and Beatrice, the parents of Bradamant, promise to him their daughter Bradamant in marriage; but the lady is in love with Roge´ro. When Leon discovers this attachment, he withdraws his suit, and Bradamant marries Rogero.—Ariosto, Orlando Furioso (1516).
Leon, the hero who rules Margaritta, his wife, wisely, and wins her esteem and wifely obedience. Margaritta is a wealthy Spanish heiress, who married in order to indulge in wanton intrigues more freely. She selected Leon because he was supposed to be a milksop whom she could bend to her will; but no sooner is she married than Leon acts with manly firmness and determination, but with great affection also. He wins the esteem of every one, and Margaritta becomes a loving, devoted, virtuous, and obedient wife.—Beaumont and Fletcher, Rule a Wife and Have a Wife (1640).
Edward Kynaston [1619-1687] executed the part of “Leon” with a determined manliness, well worth the best actor’s imitation. He had a piercing eye, and a quick, imperious vivacity of voice.—Colley Cibber.
Leonard, a real scholar, forced for daily bread to keep a common school.—Crabbe, Borough, xxiv. (1810).
Leonardo [Gonzaga], duke of Mantua, travelling in Switzerland, an avalanche fell on him, and he was nursed through a severe illness by Mariana, the daughter of a Swiss burgher and they fell in love with each other. On his return home he was entrapped by brigands, and kept prisoner for two years. Mariana, seeking him, went to Mantua, where Count Florio fell in love with her, and obtained her guardian’s consent to their union; but Mariana refused to comply. The case was referred to the duke (Ferrardo), who gave judgment in favor of the count. Leonardo happened to be present, and throwing off his disguise, assumed his rank as duke, and married Mariana; but being called away to the camp, left Ferrardo regent. Ferrardo laid a most villainous scheme to prove Mariana guilty of adultery with Julian St. Pierre; but Leonardo refused to credit her guilt. Julian turned out to be her brother, exposed the whole plot, and amply vindicated Mariana of the slightest[slightest] indiscretion.—S. Knowles, The Wife (1833).
Leona´to, governor of Messina, father of Hero and uncle of Beatrice.—Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing (1600).
Leonesse (3 syl.) Leonesse, Leonnais, Leones, Leonnoys, Lyonnoys, etc., a mythical country belonging to Cornwall, supposed to have been sunk under the sea since the time of King Arthur. It is very frequently mentioned in the Arthurian romances.
Leonidas of Modern Greece, Marco Bozzaris, a Greek patriot, who with 1200 men, put to rout 4000 Turco-Albanians, at Kerpenisi, but was killed in the attack (1823). He was buried at Mesolonghi.
Leonilla Lynmore. Artless girl brought up by her mother in ignorance of all sorts of superstitious fancies. At eighteen, she visits the Rookleys, an old Boston family, with whom belief in portents and apparitions is a part of religious belief. The result of signs and wonders, apparently accomplished is a brain fever. She recovers, shaken in nerve, but sane, and shows it by marrying Captain Seaforth. Eliza Leslie, Leonilla Lynmore (1840).
Le´onine (3 syl.), servant to Dionyza.—Shakespeare, Pericles, Prince of Tyre (1608).