BASSANIO, a youth of noble birth but crippled fortunes, whose desire to win the hand of Portia, a rich heiress, is the moving spring of the action of Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice.  Portia’s father has left three caskets, and has ordered in his will that his daughter is to marry only the man who chooses the casket that holds her portrait.  That Bassanio may enter the list of Portia’s suitors, his friend Antonio borrows money of Shylock, a Jew, who, out of hatred to the merchant, entraps him into pledging a pound of his flesh as surety for the loan.  Bassanio marries Portia, but misfortune overtakes Antonio, he forfeits his bond, and his life is only saved by a quibble devised by Portia.

BASTARD OF ORLEANS, in Shakespeare’s Henry VI Part 1, is Jean Dunois a natural son of Louis of Orleans, brother of Charles VI.

BAT (Dr.), naturalist in Cooper’s Prairie, who mistakes his ass at night for a monster described in his note-book.

BATES (1 syl.), a soldier in the army of Henry V. He with Court and Williams are sentinals before the English camp at Agincourt, and the king disguised comes to them during the watch, and talks with them respecting the impending battle,—­Shakespeare, Henry V.

Bates (Charley), generally called “Master Bates,” one of Fagin’s “pupils,” training to be a pickpocket.  He is always laughing uproariously, and is almost equal in artifice and adroitness to “The Artful Dodger” himself.—­C.  Dickens, Oliver Twist (1837).

Bates (Frank), the friend of Whittle.  A man of good plain sense, who tries to laugh the old beau out of his folly.—­Garrick, The Irish Widow (1757).

BATH (King of), Richard Nash, generally called Beau Nash, master of-the ceremonies for fifteen years in that fashionable city (1674-1761).

Bath (The Maid of), Miss Linley, a beautiful and accomplished singer, who married Richard B. Sheridan, the statesman and dramatist.

Bath (The Wife of), one of the pilgrims travelling from Southwark to Canterbury, in Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales.  She tells her tale in turn, and chooses “Midas” for her subject (1388).

BATHSHEBA in Dryden’s Absalom and Achitophel is Louisa de Queronailles, a young French lady brought into England by the Duchess of Orleans, and who became the mistress of Charles II.  The King made her Duchess of Portsmouth.

  My father [Charles II.] whom with reverence I name ... 
  Is grown in Bathsheba’s embraces old.

  Dryden, Absalom and Achitophel, ii.

BATHSHEBA EVERDEIIE, handsome heiress of an English farmstead, beloved by two honest men and one knave.  She marries the knave in haste, and repents it at leisure for years thereafter.  Released by his death, she marries Gabriel Oak.—­Thomas Hardy, Far from the Madding Crowd (1874).