Ras´selas, prince of Abyssina, fourth son of the emperor. According to the custom of the country, he was confined in a private paradise, with the rest of the royal family. This paradise was in the valley of Amhara, surrounded by high mountains. It had only one entrance, which was by a cavern under a rock concealed by woods, and closed by iron gates. He escaped with his sister, Nekayah, and Imlac, the poet, and wandered about to find out what condition or rank of life was the most happy. After careful investigation he found no lot without its drawbacks, and resolved to return to the “happy valley.”—Dr. Johnson, Rasselas (1759).
Rats (Devoured by). Archbishop Hatto, Count Graaf, Bishop Widerolf of Strasburg, Bishop Adolph of Cologne, Freiherr von Güttingen were all devoured by rats. (See Hatto.)
Ratcliffe (James), a notorious thief.—Sir W. Scott, Heart of Midlothian (time, George II.).
Ratcliffe (Mr. Hubert), a friend of Sir Edward Mauley, “the Black Dwarf.”—Sir W. Scott, The Black Dwarf (time, Anne).
Ratcliffe (Mrs.), the widow of “Don Carlos,” who rescued Sheva at Cadiz from an auto da fe.
Charles Ratcliffe, clerk of Sir Stephen Bertram, discharged because he had a pretty sister, and Sir Stephen had a young son. Charles supported his widowed mother and his sister by his earnings. He rescued Sheva, the Jew, from a howling London mob, and was left the heir of the old man’s property.
Miss [Eliza] Ratcliffe, sister of Charles, clandestinely married to Charles Bertram, and given £10,000 by the Jew to reconcile Sir Stephen Bertram to the alliance. She was handsome, virtuous and elegant, mild, modest and gentle.—Cumberland, The Jew (1776).
Rath´mor, chief of Clutha (the Clyde), and father of Calthon and Colmar. Dunthalmo, lord of Teutha, “came in his pride against him,” and was overcome, whereupon his anger rose, and he went by night with his warriors and slew Rathmor in his own halls, where his feasts had so often been spread for strangers.—Ossian, Calthon and Colmal.
Rattlin (Jack), a famous naval character in Smollett’s Roderick Random. Tom Bowling is in the same novel (1749).
Rattray (Sir Runnion), of Runnagullion; the duelling friend of Sir Mungo Malagrowther.—Sir W. Scott, Fortunes of Nigel (time, James I.).