Part 101 (2/2)

=Queen of the South=, Maqueda, or Balkis, queen of Sheba, or Saba.

The queen of the south ... came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon.--_Matt._ xii. 42; see also 1 _Kings_ x. 1.

? According to tradition, the queen of the south had a son by Solomon, named Melech, who reigned in Ethiopia or Abyssinia, and added to his name the words Belul Gian (”precious stone”), alluding to a ring given to him by Solomon. Belul Gian translated into Latin, became _pretiosus Joannes_, which got corrupted into Prester John (_presbyter Johannes_), and has given rise to the fables of this ”mythical king of Ethiopia.”

=Queen of the Swords.= Minna Troil was so called, because the gentlemen, formed into two lines, held their swords so as to form an arch or roof under which Minna led the ladies of the party.--Sir W. Scott, _The Pirate_ (time, William III.).

? In 1877, W. Q. Orchardson, R. A., exhibited a picture in ill.u.s.tration of this incident.

=Queen= (_My_).

But thou thyself shall not come down From that pure region far above, But keep thy throne and wear thy crown, Queen of my heart and queen of love!

A monarch in thy realm complete, And I a monarch--at thy feet!

William Winter, _Wanderers_ (1889).

=Queens= (_Four Daughters_). Raymond Ber'enger, count of Provence, had four daughters, all of whom married kings; Margaret married Louis IX. of France; Eleanor married Henry III. of England; Sancha married Henry's brother, Richard, king of the Romans; and Beatrice married Charles I. of Naples and Sicily.

Four daughters were there born To Raymond Ber'enger, and every one Became a queen.

Dante, _Paradise_, vi. (1311).

=Quentin= (_Black_), groom of Sir John Ramorny.--Sir W. Scott, _Fair Maid of Perth_ (time, Henry IV.).

=Quentin Durward=, a novel by Sir W. Scott (1823). A story of French history. The delineations of Louis XI., and Charles the Bold, of Burgundy, will stand comparison with any in the whole range of fiction or history.

=Quern-Biter=, the sword of Haco I. of Norway.

Quern-biter of Hacon the Good Wherewith at a stroke he hewed The millstone thro' and thro'.

Longfellow.

=Querno= (_Camillo_), of Apulia, was introduced to Pope Leo X., as a buffoon, but was promoted to the laurel. This laureate was called the ”Antichrist of Wit.”

Rome in her capitol saw Querno sit, Throned on seven hills, the antichrist of wit.

Pope, _The Dunciad_, ii. (1728).

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