Lycome´des (4 syl.), king of Scyros, to whose court Achillês was sent, disguised as a maiden, by his mother Thetis, who was anxious to prevent his going to the Trojan war.
Lydia, daughter of the king of Lydia, was sought in marriage by Alcestês, a Thracian knight. His suit being rejected, he repaired to the king of Armenia, who gave him an army, with which he beseiged Lydia. He was persuaded to raise the siege, and the lady tested the sincerity of his love by a series of tasks, all of which he accomplished. Lastly, she set him to put to death his allies, and, being powerless, mocked him. Alcestês pined and died, and Lydia was doomed to endless torment in hell.—Ariosto, Orlando Furioso, xvii. (1516).
Lydia, lady’s-maid to Widow Green. She was the sister of Trueworth, ran away from home to avoid a hateful marriage, took service for the nonce, and ultimately married Waller. She was “a miracle of virtue, as well as beauty,” warm-hearted, and wholly without artifice.—S. Knowles, The Love-Chase (1837).
Lydia Blood. (See The Lady of the Aroostook.)
Lydia Languish, niece and ward of Mrs. Malaprop. She had a fortune of £30,000, but, if she married without her aunt’s consent, forfeited the larger part thereof. She was a great novel reader and was courted by two rival lovers—Bob Acres and Captain Absolute, whom she knew only as ensign Beverley. Her aunt insisted that she should throw over the ensign and marry the son of Sir Anthony Absolute, and great was her joy to find that the man of her own choice was that of her aunt—nomine mutato. Bob Acres resigned all claim on the lady to his rival.—Sheridan, The Rivals (1775).
Lydian Poet (The), Alcman of Lydia (fl. B.C. 670).
Lyddy Russell. The last New England witch of whom we have authentic record. She followed a schooner out to sea and raised a terrible storm, she riding the highest waves, shrieking with laughter. The captain, Ezra Coffin, saw her, and charging his gun with a silver bullet, shot her dead. The storm subsided at once and old Lyddy was washed ashore, clutching a bit of sail cloth, and with the silver bullet in her breast.—Clara Florida Guernsey, Old and New (1873).
Lygo´nes, father of Spaco´nia.—Beaumont and Fletcher, A King or no King (1611).
Lying Traveller (The), Sir John Mandeville (1300-1372).
Lying Valet (The), Timothy Sharp, the lying valet of Charles Gayless. He is the Mercury between his master and Melissa, to whom Gayless is about to be married. The object of his lying is to make his master, who has not a sixpence in the world, pass for a man of fortune.—D. Garrick, The Lying Valet (1741).