Silly Billy, William IV. (1765, 1830-1837).
Silva (Don Ruy Gomez de), an old Spanish grandee, to whom Elvīra was betrothed; but she detested him, and loved Ernani, a bandit-captain. Charles V. tried to seduce her, and Silva, in his wrath, joined Ernani to depose the king. The plot being discovered, the conspirators were arrested, but, at the intercession of Elvira, were pardoned. The marriage of Ernani and Elvira was just about to be consummated, when a horn sounded. Ernani had bound himself, when Silva joined the bandit, to put an end to his life whenever summoned so to do by Silva; and the summons was to be given by the blast of a horn. Silva being relentless, Ernani kept his vow, and stabbed himself.—Verdi, Ernani (1841).
Silver-Fork School (The), a name given to a class of English novelists who gave undue importance to etiquette and the externals of social intercourse. The most distinguished are: Lady Blessington (1789-1849), Theodore Hook (1716-1796), Lord Lytton (1804-1873), and Mrs. Trollope (1790-1863).
Silver Pen. Eliza Meteyard was so called by Douglas Jerold, and she adopted the pseudonym (1816-1879).
Silver Star of Love (The), the star which appeared to Vasco da Gama, when his ships were tempest-tossed, through the malice of Bacchus. Immediately the star appeared, the tempest ceased, and there was a great calm.
The sky and ocean blending, each on fire,
Seemed as all Nature struggled to expire;
When now the Silver Star of Love appeared,
Bright in the east her radiant front she reared.
Camoens, Lusiad, vi. (1572).
Silver Tongued (The), Joshua Sylvester, translator of Du Bartas’s Divine Weeks and Works (1563-1618).
William Bates, a puritan divine (1625-1699).
Henry Smith, preacher (1550-1600).
Anthony Hammond, the poet, called “Silver Tongue” (1668-1738).