The Korân (ch. xxvii.) tells us that Solomon summoned before him all the birds to the valley of ants, but the lapwing did not put in an appearance. Solomon was angry, and was about to issue an order of death, when the bird presented itself, saying, “I come from Saba, where I found a queen reigning in great magnificence, but she and her subjects worship the sun.” On hearing this, Solomon sent back the lapwing to Saba with a letter, which the bird was to drop at the foot of the queen, commanding her to come at once, submit herself unto him, and accept from him the “true religion.” So she came in great state, with a train of 500 slaves of each sex, bearing 500 “bricks of solid gold,” a crown, and sundry other presents.
Sabbath-Breakers. The fish of the Red Sea used to come ashore on the eve of the Sabbath, to tempt the Jews to violate the day of rest. The offenders at length became so numerous that David, to deter others, turned the fish into apes.—Jallâlo´ddin.—Al Zamakh.
Sabellan Song, incantation. The Sabelli or Samnites were noted for their magic art and incantations.
Sabine (The). Numa, the Sabine, was taught the way to govern by Egĕrĭe, one of the Camēnæ (prophetic nymphs of ancient Italy). He used to meet her in a grove, in which was a well, afterwards dedicated by him to the Camenæ.
Our statues—she
That taught the Sabine how to rule.
Tennyson, The Princess, ii. (1830).
Sablonnière (La), the Tuilleries. The word means the “sand-pit.” The tuilleries means the “tile-works.” Nicolas de Neuville, in the fifteenth century, built a mansion in the vicinity, which he called the “Hotel des Tuilleries,” and François I. bought the property for his mother in 1518.
Sabra, daughter of Ptolemy, king of Egypt. She was rescued by St. George from the hands of a giant, and ultimately married her deliverer. Sabra had three sons at a birth: Guy, Alexander, and David.
Here come I, St. George, the valiant man,
With naked sword and spear in han’,
Who fought the dragon and brought him to slaughter,
And won fair Sabra thus, the king of Egypt’s daughter.
Notes and Queries, December 21, 1878.
Sabreur (Le Beau), Joachim Murat (1767-1815).
Sab´rin, Sabre, or Sabri´na, the Severn, daughter of Locrine (son of Brute) and his concubine, Estrildis. His queen, Guendolen, vowed vengeance, and, having assembled an army, made war upon Locrine, who was slain. Guendolen now assumed the government, and commanded Estrildis and Sabrin to be cast into a river, since then called the Severn.—Geoffrey of Monmouth, British History, ii. 5 (1142).