For´tinbras, prince of Norway.—Shakespeare, Hamlet (1596).
Fortuna´tus, a man on the brink of starvation, on whom Fortune offers to bestow either wisdom, strength, riches, health, beauty, or long life. He chooses riches, and she gives him an inexhaustible purse. Subsequently, the sultan gives him a wishing-cap, which as soon as he puts on his head, will transport him to any spot he likes. These gifts prove the ruin of Fortunatus and his sons.
⁂This is one of the Italian tales called Nights, by Straparo´la. There is a German version, and a French one, as far back as 1535. The story was dramatized in 1553 by Hans Sachs; and in 1600 by Thomas Dekker, under the title of The Pleasant Comedie of old Fortunatus. Ludwig Tieck also had a drama upon the same subject.
The purse of Fortunatus could not supply you.—Holcroft, The Road to Ruin, i. 3.
Fortunatus’s Purse, a purse which was inexhaustible. It was given to Fortunatus by Fortune herself.
Fortunatus’s Wishing-cap, a cap given by the sultan to Fortunatus. He had only to put it on his head and wish, when he would find himself transported to any spot he liked.
Fortune (Emerson). Sharp spinster aunt of Ellen Montgomery in Susan Warner’s Wide, Wide World. She rules her house, her mother and niece with a hand of iron until she marries her farmer, phlegmatic Van Brunt.
Fortune’s Frolic, a farce by Allingham. Lord Lackwit died suddenly, and the heir of his title and estates was Robin Roughhead, a poor laborer, engaged to Dolly, a cottager’s daughter. The object of the farce is to show the pleasure of doing good, and the blessings which a little liberality can dispense. Robin was not spoilt by his good fortune, but married Dolly, and became the good genius of the cottage tenantry.
Fortunes of Nigel, a novel by Sir. W. Scott (1822). This story gives an excellent picture of the times of James I., and the account of Alsatia is wholly unrivalled. The character of King James, poor, proud and pedantic, is a masterly historic sketch.
Fortunio, one of the three daughters of an old lord, who at the age of four-score was called out to join the army levied against the emperor of Matapa´. Fortunio put on military costume, and went in place of her father. On her way, a fairy gave her a horse named Comrade, not only of incredible swiftness, but all-knowing and endowed with human speech; she also gave her an inexhaustible Turkey-leather trunk, full of money, jewels and fine clothes. By the advice of Comrade she hired seven gifted servants, named Strongback, Lightfoot, Marksman, Fine-ear, Boisterer, Trinquet, and Grugeon. After performing several marvelous feats by the aid of her horse and servants, Fortunio married Alfurite (3 syl.), the king of her country. Comtesse D’Aunoy, Fairy Tales (1682).