Lesly (Ludovic), surnamed Le Balafré, an old archer in the Scotch guard of Louis XI., of France. Uncle of Quentin Durward.—Sir W. Scott, Quentin Durward (time, Edward IV.).
Lesurques (Jerome), a solicitor, who, being in greatly reduced circumstances, holds the White Lion inn, unknown to his son (act i. 2).
Joseph Lesurques (2 syl.), son of the solicitor, and father of Julie. He is so like Dubosc, the highwayman, that he is accused of robbing the night-mail from Lyons, and murdering the courier.
Julie Lesurques, daughter of Joseph Lesurques, in love with Didier. When her father is imprisoned, she offers to release Didier from his engagement; but he remains loyal throughout.—Edward Stirling, The Courier of Lyons (1852).
Letters (Greek). Cadmus, the Phœnician, introduced sixteen; Simonidês and Epicharmos (the poets) introduced six or eight others; but there is the greatest diversity as to what letters, or how many, are to be attributed to them. Aristotle says Epicharmos introduced θ, χ; others ascribe to him ξ, η, ψ, ω. Dr. Smith, in his Classical Dictionary, tells us Simonidês introduced “the long vowels and double letters” (η, ω, θ, χ, φ, ψ). Lempriere, under “Cadmus,” ascribes to him θ, ζ, ψ, χ; and under “Simonides,” η, ω, ξ, ψ. Others maintain that the Simonidês letters are η, ω, ζ, ψ.
Letters (Father of), François I., of France, Père des Lettres (1494, 1515-1547). Lorenzo de Medici, “the Magnificent” (1448-1492).
Leuca´dia’s Rock, a promontory, the south extremity of the island Leucas or Leucadia, in the Ionian Sea. Sappho leapt from this rock when she found her love for Pha´on unrequited. At the annual festival of Apollo, a criminal was hurled from Leucadia’s Rock into the sea; but birds of various sorts were attached to him, in order to break his fall, and if he was not killed he was set free. The leap from this rock is called “The Lovers’ Leap.”
All those may leap who rather would be neuter
(Leucadia’s Rock still overlooks the wave).
Byron, Don Juan, ii. 205 (1819).