Sempronius, a treacherous friend of Cato while in Utĭca. Sempronius tried to mask his treason by excessive zeal and unmeasured animosity against Cæsar, with whom he was acting in alliance. He loved Marcia, Cato’s daughter, but his love was not honorable love; and when he attempted to carry off the lady by force, he was slain by Juba, the Numidian prince.—J. Addison, Cato (1713).
I’ll conceal
My thoughts in passion, ’tis the surest way.
I’ll bellow out for Rome, and for my country,
And mouth at Cæsar till I shake the senate.
Your cold hypocrisy’s a stale device,
A worn-out trick.
Act i. 1.
Sena´nus (St.), the saint who fled to the island of Scattery, and resolved that no woman should ever step upon the isle. An angel led St. Can´ara to the isle, but Senanus refused to admit her.—T. Moore, Irish Melodies (“St. Senanus and the Lady,” 1814).
Sen´eca (The Christian), Bishop Hall, of Norwich (1574-1656).
Sene´na (3 syl.), a Welsh maiden, in love with Car´adoc. She dressed in boy’s clothes, and, under the assumed name of Mervyn, became the page of the Princess Goervyl, that she might follow her lover to America, when Madoc colonized Caer-Madoc. Senena was promised in marriage to another; but when the wedding day arrived and all was ready, the bride was nowhere to be found.
... she doffed
Her bridal robes, and clipt her golden locks,
And put on boy’s attire, thro’ wood and wild
To seek her own true love; and over sea,
Forsaking all for him, she followed him.
Southey, Madoc, ii. 23 (1805).
Sennac´herib, called by the Orientals King Moussal.—D’Herbelot, Notes to the Korân (seventeenth century).
Sennamar, a very skilful architect, who built at Hirah, for Nôman-al-Aôuar, king of Hirah, a most magnificent palace. In order that he might not build another equal or superior to it, for some other monarch, Nôman cast him headlong from the highest tower of the building.—D’Herbelot, Bibliothèque Orientale (1697).
*** A parallel tale is told of Neim´heid (2 syl.), who employed four architects to build for him a palace in Ireland, and then, jealous lest they should build one like it, or superior to it, for another monarch, he had them all privately put to death.—O’Halloran, History of Ireland.
Sensitive (Lord), a young nobleman of amorous proclivities, who marries Sabīna Rosny, a French refugee, in Padua, but leaves her, more from recklessness than wickedness. He comes to England and pays court to Lady Ruby, a rich young widow; but Lady Ruby knows of his marriage to the young French girl, and so hints at it that his lordship, who is no libertine, and has a great regard for his honor, sees that his marriage is known, and tells Lady Ruby he will start without delay to Padua, and bring his young wife home. This, however, was not needful, as Sabina was at the time the guest of Lady Ruby. She is called forth, and Lord Sensitive openly avows her to be his wife.—Cumberland, First Love (1796).