Wizard of the North, Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832).
Wobbler (Mr.), of the Circumlocution Office. When Mr. Clennam, by the direction of Mr. Barnacle, in another department of the office, called on this gentleman, he was telling a brother clerk about a rat-hunt, and kept Clennam waiting a considerable time. When at length Mr. Wobbler chose to attend, he politely said, “Hallo, there! What’s the matter?” Mr. Clennam briefly stated his question; and Mr. Wobbler replied, “Can’t inform you. Never heard of it. Nothing at all to do with it. Try Mr. Clive.” When Clennam left, Mr. Wobbler called out, “Mister! Hallo, there! Shut the door after you. There’s a devil of a draught!”--Charles Dickens, Little Dorrit, x. (1857).
Woeful Countenance (Knight of the). Don Quixote was so called by Sancho Panza, but after his adventure with the lions he called himself “The Knight of the Lions.”--Cervantes, Don Quixote, I. iii. 5; II. i. 17 (1605-15).
Wolf. The Neuri, according to Herodŏtus, had the power of assuming the shape of wolves once a year.
One of the family of Antæus, according to Pliny, was chosen annually, by lot, to be transformed into a wolf, in which shape he continued for nine years.
Lyca´on, king of Arcādia, was turned into a wolf because he attempted to test the divinity of Jupiter by serving up to him “human flesh at table.”--Ovid.
Veret´icus, king of Wales, was turned by St. Patrick into a wolf.
Wolf. When Dantê, in the first Canto of the Divina Commedia, describes the ascent of the hill (of fame?) he is met, first by a panther (pleasure?) then by a lion (ambition?) then by a she-wolf (avarice?)
A she-wolf, ... who in her leanness seemed
Full of all wants, ... with such fear