MacWheeble (Duncan), bailie at Tully Veolan, to the baron of Bradwardine.—Sir W. Scott, Waverley (time, George II.).
Mad. The Bedlam of Belgium is Gheel, where madmen reside in the houses of the inhabitants, generally one in each family.
Dymphna was a woman of rank, murdered by her father for resisting his incestuous passion, and became the tutelar saint of those stricken in spirit. A shrine in time rose in her honor, which for ten centuries has been consecrated to the relief of mental diseases. This was the origin of the insane colony of Gheel.
Mad Cavalier (The), Prince Rupert, of Bavaria, nephew of Charles I. He was noted for his rash courage and impetuosity (1619-1682).
Mad Lover (The), a drama by Beaumont and Fletcher (before 1618). The name of the “mad lover” is Memnon, who is general of Astorax, king of Paphos.
Mad Poet (The), Nathaniel Lee (1657-1690).
Madasi´ma (Queen), an important character in the old romance called Am´adis de Gaul; her constant attendant was Elis´abat, a famous surgeon, with whom she roamed in solitary retreats.
Mad´elon, cousin of Cathos, and daughter of Gor´gibus, a plain citizen of the middle rank of life. These two silly girls have had their heads turned by novels, and, thinking their names commonplace, Madelon calls herself Polixĕna, and Cathos calls herself Aminta. Two gentlemen wish to marry them, but the girls fancy their manners are too easy to be “stylish;” so the gentlemen send their valets to them, as the “marquis of Mascarille” and the “viscount of Jodelot.” The girls are delighted with these “real gentlemen;” but when the farce has been carried far enough, the masters enter and unmask the trick. The girls are thus taught a useful lesson, but are not subjected to any serious ill consequences.—Molière, Les Précieuses Ridicules (1659).
Mademoiselle. What is understood by this word when it stands alone is Mdlle. de Montpensier, daughter of Gaston, duc d’Orléans, and cousin of Louis XIV.
Anne Marie Louis d’Orléans, duchesse de Montpensier, connue sous le nom de mademoiselle, née à Paris, 1627; m. 1693; était fille de Gaston d’Orléans frère de Louis XIII.—Bouillet.