Melvil (Sir John), a young baronet, engaged to be married to Miss Sterling, the elder daughter of a City merchant, who promises to settle on her £800,000. A little before the marriage, Sir John finds that he has no regard for Miss Sterling, but a great love for her younger sister, Fanny, to whom he makes a proposal of marriage. His proposal is rejected; and it is soon brought to light that Miss Fanny had been clandestinely married to Lovewell for four months.—Colman and Garrick, The Clandestine Marriage (1766).
Melville (Major), a magistrate at Cairnvreckan village.—Sir W. Scott, Waverley (time, George II.).
Melville (Sir Robert), one of the embassy from the privy council to Mary queen of Scots.—Sir W. Scott, The Abbot (time, Elizabeth).
Melville, the father of Constantia.—C. Macklin, The Man of the World (1764).
Melville (Julia), a truly noble girl, in love with Faulkland, who is always jealous of her without a shadow of cause. She receives his innuendos without resentment, and treats him with sincerity and forbearance (see act i. 2).—Sheridan, The Rivals (1775).
Melyhalt (The Lady), a powerful subject of King Arthur, whose domains Sir Galiot invaded; notwithstanding which the lady chose Sir Galiot as her fancy knight and chevalier.
Memnon, king of the Ethiopians. He went to the assistance of his uncle, Priam, and was slain by Achillês. His mother, Eos, inconsolable at his death, weeps for him every morning, and her tears constitute what we call dew.
Memnon, the black statue of King Amen´ophis III., at Thebes, in Egypt, which, being struck with the rays of the morning sun, gives out musical sounds. Kircher says these sounds are due to a sort of clavecin or Æolian harp enclosed in the statue, the cords of which are acted upon by the warmth of the sun. Cambyses, resolved to learn the secret, cleft the statue from head to waist; but it continued to utter its morning melody notwithstanding.
Memnon, “the mad lover,” general of As´torax, king of Paphos.—Beaumont and Fletcher, The Mad Lover (1617).
Memnon, the title of a novel by Voltaire, the object of which is to show the folly of aspiring to too much wisdom.