Torquato, that is, Torquato Tasso, the Italian poet, author of Jerusalem Delivered (1544-1595). After the publication of his great epic, Tasso lived in the court of Ferrara, and conceived a violent passion for Leonora, one of the duke’s sisters, but fled, in 1577, to Naples.
Torquato’s tongue
Was tuned for slavish pæans at the throne
Of tinsel pomp.
Akenside, Pleasures of Imagination, ii. (1744).
Torquil of the Oak, foster-father of Eachin M’Ian. He was chief of the clan Quhele, and had eight sons, the finest men in the clan. Torquil was a seer, who was supposed to have communication with the invisible world, and he declared a demon had told him that Eachin or Hector M’Ian, was the only man in the two hostile clans of Chattan and Quhele who would come off scathless in the approaching combat (ch xxvi.).--Sir W. Scott, Fair Maid of Perth (time, Henry IV.).
A parallel combat is described in The Cid. When Sancho of Castile was stabbed by Bellĭdo of Zamora, Diego Ordoñez, of the house of Lara, challenged five of the knights of Zamora to a single combat. Don Arias Gonzalo and his four sons accepted the challenge. Pedro Arias was first slain, then his brother, Diego. Next came Herman, who received a mortal wound, but struck the charger of Diego Ordoñez. The charger, furious with pain, carried its rider beyond the lists, and the combat was declared to be drawn.
Torralba (Dr.), carried by the spirit Cequiel from Valladŏlid to Rome and back again in an hour and a half. He was tried by the Inquisition for sorcery (time, Charles V.).--Joseph de Ossau Pellicer (seventeenth century). (See Toralva.)
Torre (Sir), son of Sir Bernard, baron of Astolat. His brother was Sir Lavaine, and his sister Elaine “the lily maid of Astolat.” He was blunt-mannered, but not without kindness of heart.--Tennyson, Idylls of the King (“Elaine”).
The word “Torre” is a blunder for Tirre. Sir Torre or Tor, according to Arthurian legend, was the natural son of Pellinore, king of Wales, “begotten of Aries’ wife, the cowherd” (pt. ii. 108). It was Sir Tirre who was the brother of Elaine (pt. iii. 122).--Sir T. Malory, History of Prince Arthur (1470).