Wisheart (The Rev. Dr.), chaplain to the earl of Montrose.--Sir W. Scott, Legend of Montrose (time, Charles I.).
Wishfort (Lady), widow of Sir Jonathan Wishfort; an irritable, impatient, decayed beauty, who painted and enamelled her face to make herself look blooming, and was afraid to frown lest the enamel might crack. She pretended to be coy, and assumed, at the age of 60, the airs of a girl of 16. A trick was played upon her by Edward Mirabell, who induced his lackey, Waitwell, to personate Sir Rowland, and make love to her; but the deceit was discovered before much mischief was done. Her pet expression was, “As I’m a person.”--W. Congreve, The Way of the World (1700).
Wishing-Cap (The), a cap given to Fortunatus. He had only to put the cap on and wish, and whatever he wished he instantly obtained.--Straparola, Fortunatus.
Wishing-Rod (The), a rod of pure gold, belonging to the Nibelungs. Whoever possessed it could have anything he desired to have, and hold the whole world in subjection.--The Nibelungen Lied, 1160 (1210).
Wishing-Sack (The), a sack given by our Lord to a man named “Fourteen,” because he was as strong as fourteen men. Whatever he wished to have he had only to say, “Come into my sack,” and it came in.
⁂ This is a Basque legend. In Gascoigne it is called Le Sac de la Ramée (“Ramée’s Sack”).
Wit--Simplicity. It was said of John Gay that he was
In wit a man, simplicity a child.
⁂ The line is often flung at Oliver Goldsmith, to whom, indeed, it equally applies.
Witch. The last person prosecuted before the lords or justiciary (in Scotland) for witchcraft was Elspeth Rule. She was tried May 3, 1709, before Lord Anstruther, and condemned to be burned on the cheek, and banished from Scotland for life.--Arnot, History of Edinburgh, 366, 367.