Margheri´ta, a simple, uncultured girl, of great fascination, seduced by Faust. Margherita killed the infant of her shame, and was sent to jail for so doing. In jail she lost her reason, and was condemned to death. When Faust visited her in prison, and tried to persuade her to flee with him, she refused. Faust was carried off by demons, and Margherita was borne by angels up to heaven; the intended moral being, that the repentant sinner is triumphant.—Gounod, Faust e Margherita (1859).
Margheri´ta di Valois, daughter of Catherine de Medicis and Henri II. of France. She marries Henri le Bearnais (afterwards Henri IV. of France). It was during the wedding solemnities of Margherita and Henri that Catherine de Medicis carried out the massacre of the French Huguenots. The bride was at a ball during this horrible slaughter.—Meyerbeer, Les Huguenots or Gli Ugonotti (1836).
⁂ François I. used to call her La Marguerite des Marguerites (“The Pearl of Pearls”).
Margia´na (Queen), a Mussulman, and mortal enemy of the fire-worshippers. Prince Assad became her slave, but, being stolen by the crew of Behram, was carried off. The queen gave chase to the ship; Assad was thrown overboard, and swam to shore. The queen with an army demanded back her slave, discovered that Assad was a prince, and that his half-brother was king of the city to which she had come, whereupon she married him, and carried him home to her own dominions.—Arabian Nights (“Amgiad and Assad”).
Marjorie (Pet), child of singular promise, a great pet with Sir Walter Scott. She died under the age of ten. Her story is written by Dr. John Brown, author of Rab and His Friends.
Margutte (3 syl.), a low-minded, vulgar giant, ten feet high, with enormous appetite and of the grossest sensuality. He died of laughter on seeing a monkey pulling on his boots.—Pulci, Morgantê Maggiorê (1488).
Chalchas, the Homeric soothsayer, died of laughter. (See Laughter.)
Marguerite, French exile and maid-servant lies dying, nursed by a hard, cold mistress. The son of the house steals into the room and avows his love for the alien.
“He called back the soul that was passing,
‘Marguerite! do you hear,’”