Soldier’s Daughter (The), a comedy by A. Cherry (1804). Mrs. Cheerly, the daughter of Colonel Woodley, after a marriage of three years, is left a widow, young, rich, gay, and engaging. She comes to London, and Frank Heartall, a generous-minded young merchant, sees her at the opera, falls in love with her, and follows her to her lodging. Here he meets with the Malfort family, reduced to abject poverty by speculation, and relieves them. Ferret, the villain of the piece, spreads a report that Frank gave the money as hush-money, because he had base designs on Mrs. Malfort; but his character is cleared, and he leads to the altar the blooming young widow, while the return of Malfort’s father places his son again in prosperous circumstances.
Soldiers’ Friend (The), Frederick, duke of York, second son of George III., and commander of the British forces in the Low Countries during the French Revolution (1763-1827).
Solarion, a dog, selected from the finest and purest breeds, and endowed with intellect and soul by means of electricity. He is his master’s favorite companion and fellow-student until master and dog love the same woman. They quarrel, the man strikes the dog, and the dog, leaping upon his former friend, tears him horribly. The master shoots him dead, and bears for the rest of his life in frightful disfigurement of visage tokens of his folly and madness.--Edgar Fawcett, Solarion (1890).
Solemn Doctor (The). Henry Goethals was by the Sorbonne given the honorary title of Doctor Solemnis (1227-1293).
Solemn League and Covenant, a league to support the Church of Scotland, and exterminate popery and prelacy. Charles II. signed it in 1651, but declared it null and void at his restoration.
Soles, a shoemaker, and a witness at the examination of Dirk Hatteraick.--Sir W. Scott, Guy Mannering (time, George II.).
Solid Doctor (The), Richard Middleton (*-1304).
Soliman the Magnificent, Charles Jennens, who composed the libretto for Handel’s Messiah (*-1773).
Soli´nus, duke of Ephesus, who was obliged to pass the sentence of the law on Æge´on, a merchant, because, being a Syracusan, he had dared to set foot in Ephesus. When, however, he discovered that the man who had saved his life, and whom he best loved, was the son of Ægeon, the prisoner was released, and settled in Ephesus.--Shakespeare, Comedy of Errors (1593).
Solomon, an epic poem in three books, by Prior (1718). Bk. i. Solomon seeks happiness from wisdom, but comes to the conclusion that “All is vanity;” this book is entitled Knowledge. Bk. ii. Solomon seeks happiness in wealth, grandeur, luxury, and ungodliness, but comes to the conclusion that “All is vanity and vexation of spirit;” this book is entitled Pleasure. Bk. iii., entitled Power, consists of the reflections of Solomon upon human life, the power of God, life, death, and a future state. An angel reveals to him the future lot of the Jewish race, and Solomon concludes with this petition: