Russian History (The Father of), Nestor, a monk of Kiev. His Chronicle includes the years between 862 and 1116 (twelfth century).
Russian Murat (The), Michael Miloradowith (1770-1820).
Rust (Martin), an absurd old antiquary. “He likes no coins but those which have no head on them.” He took a fancy to Juliet, the niece of Sir Thomas Lofty, but preferred his “Ænēas, his precious relic of Troy,” to the living beauty; and Juliet preferred Richard Bever to Mr. Rust; so matters were soon amicably adjusted.—Foote, The Patron (1764).
Rustam, chief of the Persian mythical heroes, son of Zâl “the Fair,” king of India, and regular descendant of Benjamin, the beloved son of Jacob, the patriarch. He delivered King Caïcāus (4 syl.) from prison, but afterwards fell into disgrace because he refused to embrace the religious system of Zoroaster. Caïcaus sent his son, Asfendiar (or Isfendiar) to convert him, and, as persuasion availed nothing, the logic of single combat was resorted to. The fight lasted two days, and then Rustam discovered that Asfendiar bore a “charmed life,” proof against all wounds. The valor of these two heroes is proverbial, and the Persian romances are full of their deeds of fight.
Rustam’s Horse, Reksh.—Chardin, Travels (1686-1711).
In Matthew Arnold’s poem, Sohrab and Rustum, Rustum fights with and overcomes Sohrab, and finds too late that he has slain his own son.
Rustam, son of Tamur, king of Persia. He had a trial of strength with Rustam, son of Zâl, which was to pull away from his adversary an iron ring. The combat was never decided, for Rustam could no more conquer Rustam than Roland could overcome Oliver.—Chardin, Travels (1686-1711).
Rusticus’s Pig, the pig on which Rusticus fed daily, but which never diminished.
Two Christians, travelling in Poland, ... came to the door of Rustĭcus, a heathen peasant, who had killed a fat hog to celebrate the birth of a son. The pilgrims, being invited to partake of the feast, pronounced a blessing on what was left, which never diminished in size or weight from that moment, though all the family fed on it freely every day.—J. Brady, Clavis Calendaria, 183.
This, of course, is a parallelism to Elijah’s miracle (1 Kings xvii. 11-16).