⁂ There is a Basque tale the exact counterpart of this.
Vamp, bookseller and publisher. His opinion of books was that the get-up and binding were of more value than the matter. “Books are like women; to strike, they must be well dressed. Fine feathers make fine birds. A good paper, an elegant type, a handsome motto, and a catching title, have driven many a dull treatise through three editions.”--Foote, The Author (1757).
Van (The Spirit of the), the fairy spirit of the Van Pools, in Carmarthen. She married a young Welsh farmer, but told him that if he struck her thrice, she would quit him forever. They went to a christening, and she burst into tears, whereupon her husband struck her as a marjoy; but she said, “I weep to see a child brought into this vale of tears.” They next went to the child’s funeral, and she laughed, whereupon her husband struck her again; but she said, “I truly laugh to think what a joy it is to change this vale of tears for that better land, where there is no more sorrow, but pleasures for evermore.” Their next visit was to a wedding, where the bride was young, and the man old, and she said aloud, “It is the devil’s compact. The bride has sold herself for gold.” The farmer again struck her, and bade her hold her peace; but she vanished away, and never again returned.--Welsh Mythology.
Vanbeest Brown (Captain) alias Dawson, alias Dudley, alias Harry Bertram, son of Mr. Godfrey Bertram, laird of Ellangowan.
Vanbeest Brown, lieutenant of Dirk Hatteraick.--Sir W. Scott, Guy Mannering (time, George II.).
Vanberg (Major), in Charles XII., by J. R. Planché (1826).
Vanda, wife of Baldric. She is the spirit with the red hand, who appears in the haunted chamber to the Lady Eveline Berenger, “the betrothed.”--Sir W. Scott, The Betrothed (time, Henry II.).
Van´dunke (2 syl.), burgomaster of Bruges, a drunken merchant, friendly to Gerrard, king of the beggars, and falsely considered to be the father of Bertha. His wife’s name is Margaret. (Bertha is in reality the daughter of the duke of Brabant.)--Beaumont and Fletcher, The Beggars’ Bush (1622).
Vandyck (The English), William Dobson, painter (1610-1647).
Vandyck in Little, Samuel Cooper. In his epitaph in old St. Pancras Church he is called “the Apellês of his age” (1609-1672).