Theodo´sius, the hermit of Cappadocia. He wrote the four gospels in letters of gold (423-529).
Theodosius, who of old.
Wrote the gospels in letters of gold.
Longfellow, The Golden Legend (1851).
Theophilus (St.), of Adana, in Cilicia (sixth century). He was driven by slander to sell his soul to the devil, on condition that his character was cleared. The slander was removed, and no tongue wagged against the thin-skinned saint. Theophilus now repented of his bargain, and after a fast of forty days and forty nights, was visited by the Virgin, who bade him confess to the bishop. This he did, received absolution, and died within three days of brain fever.--Jacques de Voragine, The Golden Legends (thirteenth century).
This is a very stale trick, told of many a saint. Southey has poetized one of them in his ballad of St. Basil, or The Sinner Saved (1829). Elĕēmon sold his soul to the devil on condition of his procuring him Cyra for wife. The devil performed his part of the bargain, but Eleemon called off, and St. Basil gave him absolution. (See Sinner Saved.)
Theophras´tus of France (The), Jean de la Bruyère, author of Caractères (1646-1696).
Theresa, the miller’s wife, who adopted and brought up Amīna, the orphan, called “the somnambulist.”--Bellini, La Sonnambula (libretto by Scribe, 1831).
Therēsa, wife of the count palatine of Padōlia, beloved by Mazeppa. Her father, indignant that a mere page should presume to his daughter’s hand, had Mazeppa bound to a wild horse, and set adrift. The future history of Theresa is not related.--Byron, Mazeppa (1819).
Medora [wife of the Corsair], Neuha [in The Island], Leila [in The Giaour], Francesca [in The Siege of Corinth], and Theresa, it has been alleged, are but children of one family, with differences resulting only from climate and circumstances.--Finden, Byron Beauties.