Francisco, younger brother of Valentine (the gentleman who will not be persuaded to keep his estate). (See Francesco.)—Beaumont and Fletcher, Wit Without Money (1639).
Frank, sister to Frederick; passionately in love with Captain Jac´omo the woman-hater.—Beaumont and Fletcher, The Captain (1613).
Frankenstein (3 syl.), a student, who constructed, out of the fragments of bodies picked from churchyards and dissecting-rooms, a human form without a soul. The monster had muscular strength, animal passions, and active life, but “no breath of divinity.” It longed for animal love and animal sympathy, but was shunned by all. It was most powerful for evil, and being fully conscious of its own defects and deformities, sought with persistency to inflict retribution on the young student who had called it into being,—Mrs. Shelley, Frankenstein (1817).
In the summer of 1816, Lord Byron and Mr. and Mrs. Shelley resided on the banks of the lake of Geneva ... and the Shelleys often passed their evenings with Byron, at his house at Diodati. During a week of rain, having amused themselves with reading German ghost stories, they agreed to write something in imitation of them. “You and I,” said Lord Byron to Mrs. Shelley. “will publish ours together.” He then began his tale of the Vampire ... but the most memorable part of this story-telling compact was Mrs. Shelley’s wild and powerful romance of Frankenstein.—T. Moore, Life of Byron.
Frankford (Mr. and Mrs.). Mrs. Frankford proved unfaithful to her marriage vow, and Mr. Frankford sent her to reside on one of his estates. She died of grief; but on her death-bed her husband went to see her, and forgave her.—John Heywood, A Woman Killed by Kindness (1576-1645).
Frankland (Harry), Englishman saved from death, when buried in the ruins of Lisbon, by the exertions of the woman he has wronged and deserted.—Edwin Lasseter Bynner, Agnes Surriage (1886).
Franklin (Lady), the half-sister of Sir John Vesey, and a young widow. Lady Franklin had an angelic temper, which nothing disturbed, and she really believed that “whatever is is best.” She could bear with unruffled feathers even the failure of a new cap or the disappointment of a new gown. This paragon of women loved and married Mr. Graves, a dolorous widower, for ever sighing over the superlative excellences of his “sainted Maria,” his first wife.—Lord E. Bulwer Lytton, Money (1840).
Frank´lin (The Polish), Thaddeus Czacki (1765-1813).
Franklin’s Tale (The), in Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, is that of “Dorigen and Arvir´agus.” Dorigen, a lady of rank, married Arviragus, out of pity for his love and meekness. One Aurelius tried to corrupt her, but she said she would never listen to his suit till “on these coasts there n’is no stone y-seen.” Aurelius contrived by magic to clear the coast of stones, and Arviragus insisted that Dorigen should keep troth with him. When Aurelius heard thereof, and saw the deep grief of the lady, he said he would rather die than injure so true a wife and so noble a gentleman.
⁂ This tale is taken from The Decameron, x. 5. (See Dianora.) There is also a similar one in Boccaccio’s Filocopo.