No less praiseworthy is Marsilia,
Best known by bearing up great Cynthia’s train.
She is the pattern of true womanhead....
Worthy next after Cynthia [queen Elizabeth] to tread,
As she is next her in nobility.
Spenser, Colin Clout’s Come Home Again (1595).
Mar´syas, the Phrygian flute-player. He challenged Apollo to a contest of skill, but being beaten by the god, was flayed alive for his presumption.
Mar´tafax and Ler´mites (3 syl.), two famous rats brought up before the White Cat for treason, but acquitted.—Comtesse D’Aunoy, Fairy Tales (“The White Cat,” 1682).
Marta´no, a great coward, who stole the armor of Gryphon, and presented himself in it before King Norandi´no. Having received the honors due to the owner, Martano quitted Damascus with Origilla; but Aquilant unmasked the villain, and he was hanged (bks. viii., ix.).—Ariosto, Orlando Furioso (1516).
Marteau des Heretiques, Pierre d’Ailly; also called L’Aigle de la France (1350-1420).
Martel (Charles), Charles, natural son of Pépin d’Héristal.
M. Collin de Plancy says that this “palace mayor” of France was not called “Martel” because he martelé (“hammered”) the Saracens under Abd-el-Rahman in 732, but because his patron saint was Martellus (or St. Martin).—Bibliothèque des Légendes.
Thomas Delf, in his translation of Chevreuil’s Principles of Harmony, etc., of Colors (1847), signs himself “Charles Martel.”
Martext (Sir Oliver), a vicar in Shakespeare’s comedy of As You Like It (1600).
Martha: