Lucia (St.) Struck on St. Lucia’s thorn, on the rack, in torment, much perplexed and annoyed. St. Lucia was a virgin martyr, put to death at Syracuse, in 304. Her fête-day is December 13. The “thorn” referred to is in reality, the point of a sword, shown in all paintings of the saint, protruding through the neck.
If I don’t recruit ... I shall be struck upon St. Lucia’s thorn.—Cervantes, Don Quixote, II. i. 3 (1615).
Lucia di Lammermoor, called by Sir W. Scott, “Lucy Ashton,” sister of Lord Henry Ashton, of Lammermoor. In order to retrieve the broken fortune of the family, Lord Henry arranged a marriage between his sister and Lord Arthur Bucklaw, alias Frank Hayston, laird of Bucklaw. Unknown to the brother, Edgardo (Edgar), master of Ravenswood, (whose family had long had a feud with the Lammermoors), was betrothed to Lucy. While Edgardo was absent in France, Lucia (Lucy) is made to believe he is unfaithful to her, and in her despair she consents to marry the laird of Bucklaw, but on the wedding night she stabs him, goes mad, and dies.—Donizetti, Lucia di Lammermoor (an opera, 1835); Sir W. Scott, The Bride of Lammermoor (time, William III.).
Luci´ana, sister of Adrian´a. She marries Antipholus, of Syracuse.—Shakespeare, Comedy of Errors (1593).
Lu´cida, the lady-love of Sir Ferramont.—Spenser, Faëry Queen, iv. 5 (1596).
Lucifer is described by Dantê as a huge giant, with three faces: one red, indicative of anger; one yellow, indicative of envy; and one black, indicative of melancholy. Between his shoulders, the poet says, there shot forth two enormous wings, without plumage, “in texture like a bat’s.” With these “he flapped i’ the air,” and “Cocy´tus to its depth was frozen.” “At six eyes he wept,” and at every mouth he champed a sinner.—Dantê, Hell, xxxiv. (1301).
Lucif´era (Pride), daughter of Pluto and Proser´pĭna. Her usher was Vanity. Her chariot was drawn by six different beasts, on each of which was seated one of the queen’s counsellors. The foremost beast was an ass, ridden by Idleness, who resembled a monk; paired with the ass was a swine, on which rode Gluttony, clad in vine leaves. Next came a goat, ridden by Lechery, arrayed in green; paired with the goat was a camel, on which rode Avarice, in threadbare coat and cobbled shoes. The next beast was a wolf, bestrid by Envy, arrayed in a kirtle full of eyes; and paired with the wolf was a lion, bestrid by Wrath, in a robe all blood-stained. The coachman of the team was Satan.
Lo? underneath her scornful feet was lain
A dreadful dragon, with a hideous train;
And in her hand she held a mirror bright,