Lucrezia di Borgia, daughter of Pope Alexander VI. She was thrice married, her last husband being Alfonso, duke of Ferra´ra. Before this marriage, she had a natural son, named Genna´ro, who was brought up by a Neapolitan fisherman. When grown to manhood, Gennaro had a commission given him in the army, and in the battle of Rim´ini he saved the life of Orsini. In Venice he declaimed freely against the vices of Lucrezia di Borgia, and on one occasion[occasion] he mutilated the escutcheon of the duke, by knocking off the B, thus converting Borgia into Orgia. Lucrezia insisted that the perpetrator of this insult should suffer death by poison; but when she discovered that the offender was her own son, she gave him an antidote, and released him from jail. Scarcely, however, was he liberated, than he was poisoned at a banquet given by the Princess Neg´roni. Lucrezia now told Gennaro that he was her own son, and died as her son expired.—Donizetti, Lucrezia di Borgia (an opera, 1834).
⁂ Victor Hugo has a drama entitled Lucrèce Borgia.
Lucullus, a wealthy Roman, noted for his banquets and self-indulgence. On one occassion, when a superb supper had been prepared, being asked who were to be his guests, he replied, “Lucullus will sup to-night with Lucullus” (B.C. 110-57).
Ne’er Falernian threw a richer
Light upon Lucullus’ tables.
Longfellow, Drinking Song.
Luc´umo, a satrap, chieftain, or khedive among the ancient Etruscans. The over-king was called lars. Servius, the grammarian says: “Lŭcŭmo rex sonat linguâ Etruscâ;” but it was such a king as that of Bavaria in the empire of Germany, where the king of Prussia is the lars.
And plainly and more plainly
Now might the burghers know,
By port and vest, by horse and crest,