Mademoiselle, the French lady’s-maid, waiting on Lady Fanciful; full of the grossest flattery, and advising her ladyship to the most unwarrantable intrigues. Lady Fanciful says, “The French are certainly the prettiest and most obliging people. They say the most acceptable, well-mannered things, and never flatter.” When induced to do what her conscience and education revolted at, she would playfully rebuke Mdlle. with, “Ah! la méchante Françoise!” to which Mdlle. would respond, “Ah! la belle Anglaise!”—Vanbrugh, The Provoked Wife (1697).
Madge Wildfire, the insane daughter of old Meg Murdochson, the gypsy thief. Madge was a beautiful, but giddy girl, whose brain was crazed by seduction and the murder of her infant.—Sir W. Scott, Heart of Midlothian (time, George II.).
Madman (Macedonia’s), Alexander, the Great (B.C. 356, 336-323).
Heroes are much the same, the points agreed,
From Macedonia’s Madman, to the Swede [Charles XII.].
Pope, Essay on Man, iv. 219 (1733).
How vain, how worse than vain, at length appear
The madman’s wish, the Macedonian tear!
He wept for worlds to conquer; half the earth
Knows not his name, or but his death and birth.