I have had a long chase after the vicar of Bray, on whom the proverb ... Mr. Fuller, in his Worthies ... takes no notice of him.... I am informed it is Simon Alleyn or Allen who was vicar of Bray about 1540, and died, 1588.--Brome to Rawlins, June 14, 1735. (See Letters from the Bodleian, II. i. 100.)
Vicar of Wakefield (The), Dr. Primrose, a simple-minded, pious clergyman, with six children. He begins life with a good fortune, a handsome house, and wealthy friends, but is reduced to utter poverty without any fault of his own, and, being reduced like Job, like Job he is restored. First, he loses his fortune through the rascality of the merchant who held it. His next great sorrow was the elopement of his eldest daughter, Olivia, with Squire Thornhill. His third was the entire destruction by fire of his house, furniture and books, together with the savings which he had laid by for his daughters’ marriage portions. His fourth was being incarcerated in the county jail by Squire Thornhill for rent, his wife and family being driven out of house and home. His fifth was the announcement that his daughter, Olivia, “was dead,” and that his daughter, Sophia, had been abducted. His sixth was the imprisonment of his eldest son, George, for sending a challenge to Squire Thornhill. His cup of sorrow was now full, and comfort was at hand: (1) Olivia was not really dead, but was said to be so in order to get the vicar to submit to the squire, and thus obtain his release. (2) His daughter, Sophia, had been rescued by Mr. Burchell (Sir William Thornhill), who asked her hand in marriage. (3) His son, George, was liberated from prison, and married Miss Wilmot, an heiress. (4) Olivia’s marriage to the squire, which was said to have been informal, was shown to be legal and binding. (5) The old vicar was released, re-established in his vicarage, and recovered a part of his fortune.--Goldsmith, The Vicar of Wakefield (1766).
⁂ This novel has been dramatized several times: In 1819 it was performed in the Surrey Theatre; in 1823 it was turned into an opera; in 1850 Tom Taylor dramatized it; in 1878 W. G. Wills converted it into a drama of four acts, entitled Olivia.
The real interest of the story lies in the development of the character of the amiable vicar, so rich in heavenly, so poor in earthly wisdom; possessing little for himself, yet ready to make that little less, whenever misery appeals to his compassion. With enough of worldly vanity about him to show that he shares the weakness of our nature; ready to be imposed upon by cosmogonies and fictitious bills of exchange, and yet commanding, by the simple and serene dignity of goodness, the respect even of the profligate.--Encyc. Brit., Art. “Romance.”
Victor Amade´us (4 syl.), king of Sardinia (1665, 1675-1732), noted for his tortuous policy. He was fierce, audacious, unscrupulous and selfish, profound in dissimulation, prolific in resources, and a “breaker of vows both to God and man.” In 1730 he abdicated, but a few months later wanted to regain the throne, which his son, Charles Emmanuel, refused to resign. On again plotting to recover the crown, he was arrested by D’Ormēa, the prime minister, and died.--R. Browning, King Victor and King Charles Emmanuel.
Victoria (Donna), the young wife of Don Carlos. Don Carlos had given to Donna Laura (a courtezan) the deeds of his wife’s estate; and Victoria, to get them back, dressed in man’s apparel, assumed the name of Florio, and made love to Laura. Having secured a footing, she introduced Gasper as the rich uncle of Victoria, and Gasper persuaded Laura that the deeds were wholly worthless, whereupon Laura tore them to pieces. By this manœuvre the estate was saved, and Don Carlos rescued from ruin.--Mrs. Cowley, A Bold Stroke for a Husband (1782).
Victorious (The). Almanzor means “victorious.” The Caliph Almanzor was the founder of Bagdad.
Thou, too, art fallen, Bagdad, city of peace!
Thou, too, hast had thy day!...
Thy founder The Victorious.