Widow Bedott, relict of Hezekiah, and willing to be consoled. Garrulous, silly and full of sentimental affectations.--Francis M. Whitcher (1856).
Widow Blackacre, a perverse, bustling, masculine, pettifogging, litigious woman.--Wycherly, The Plain Dealer (1677).
Widow Flockhart, landlady at Waverley’s lodgings in the Canongate.--Sir W. Scott, Waverley (time, George II.).
Wieland’s Sword, Balmung. It was so sharp that it cleft Amilias in twain without his knowing it; when, however, he attempted to stir, he fell into two pieces.--Scandinavian Mythology.
Wiever (Old), a preacher and old conspirator.--Sir W. Scott, Peveril of the Peak (time, Charles II.).
Wife (The), a drama by S. Knowles (1833). Mariana, daughter of a Swiss burgher, nursed Leonardo in a dangerous sickness--an avalanche had fallen on him, and his life was despaired of, but he recovered, and fell in love with his young and beautiful nurse. Leonardo intended to return to Mantua, but was kept a prisoner by a gang of thieves, and Mariana followed him, for she found life intolerable without him. Here Count Florio fell in love with her, and obtained her guardian’s consent to marry her; but Mariana refused to do so, and was arraigned before the duke (Ferrardo), who gave judgment against her. Leonardo was at the trial disguised, but, throwing off his mask, was found to be the real duke supposed to be dead. He assumed his rank, and married Mariana; but, being called to the wars, left Ferrardo regent. Ferrardo, being a villain, hatched up a plot against the bride, of infidelity to her lord, but Leonardo would give no credit to it, and the whole scheme of villainy was fully exposed.
⁂ Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure probably gave Knowles some hints for his plot.
Wife for a Month (A), a drama by Beaumont and Fletcher (1624). The “wife” is Evanthê (3 syl.), the chaste wife of Valerio, pursued by Frederick, the licentious brother of Alphonso, king of Naples. She repels his base advances, and, to punish her, he offers to give her to any one for one month, at the end of which time whoever accepts her is to die. No one appears, and the lady is restored to her husband.
Wife of Bath, one of the pilgrims to the shrine of Thomas à Becket.--Chaucer. Canterbury Tales (1388).
Wife of Bath’s Tale. One of King Arthur’s knights[knights] was condemned to death for ill-using a lady, but Guinever interceded for him, and the king gave him over to her to do what she liked. The queen said she would spare his life, if, by that day twelve months, he would tell her “What is that which woman loves best?” The knight seeks far and wide for a solution, but in his despair he meets a hideous old woman who promises to give him the answer if he will grant her one request, which is, to marry her. The knight could not bring himself to embrace so gruesome a bride, but she persuaded him that it was better to have a faithful wife even if she were old and ugly, than one young and beautiful, but untrue. The knight yields, and in the morning he wakes to find a lovely woman by his side, who tells him that what a woman likes best is to have her own way.--Chaucer, Canterbury Tales (“The[(“The] Wife of Bath’s Tale,” 1388).