Le serpent en mourut.
Gibbon, Decline and Fall, etc., vii. 4 (Milman’s
notes).
Freston, an enchanter, introduced in the romance of Don Belia´nis of Greece.
Freston, the enchanter, who bore Don Quixote especial ill-will. When the knight’s library was destroyed, he was told that some enchanter had carried off the books and the cupboard which contained them. The niece thought the enchanter’s name was Munaton; but the don corrected her, and said, “You mean Freston.” “Yes, yes,” said the niece, “I know the name ended in ton.”
“That Freston,” said the knight, “is doing me all the mischief his malevolence can invent; but I regard him not.”—Ch. 7.
“That cursed Freston,” said the knight, “who stole my closet and books, has transformed the giants into windmills” (ch. 8).—Cervantes, Don Quixote. I. i. (1605).
Friars. The four great religious orders were Dominicans, Franciscans, Augustines, and Car´melites (3 syl.). Dominicans are called black friars, Franciscans grey friars, and the other two white friars. A fifth order was the Trinitarians or Crutched friars, a later foundation. The Dominicans were furthermore called Frates Majores, and the Franciscans Frates Minores.
(For friars famed in fable or story, see under each respective name or pseudonym.)
Friar (Lawrence). Ecclesiastic, who performs the marriage ceremony between Romeo and Juliet in Shakespeare’s play of that name.