BEOWULF, the name of an Anglo-Saxon epic poem of the sixth century.  It received its name from Beowulf, who delivered Hrothgar king of Denmark from the monster Grrendel.  This Grendel was half monster and half man, and night after night stole into the king’s palace called Heorot, and slew sometimes as many as thirty of the sleepers at a time.  Beowulf put himself at the head of a mixed band of warriors, went against the monster and slew it.  This epic is very Ossianic in style, is full of beauties, and is most interesting.—­Kemble’s Translation.

(A.D.  Wackerbarth published in 1849 a metrical translation of this Anglo-Saxon poem, of considerable merit.)

BEPPO.  Byron’s Beppo is the husband of Laura, a Venetian lady.  He was taken captive in Troy, turned Turk, joined a band of pirates, grew rich, and after several years returned to his native land.  He found his wife at a carnival ball with a cavaliero, made himself known to her, and they lived together again as man and wife. (Beppo is a contraction of Guiseppe, as Joe is of Joseph, 1820.)

Beppo, in Fra Diavolo, an opera by Auber (1836).

BERALDE (2 syl.), brother of Argan the malade imaginaire.  He tells Argan that his doctors will confess this much, that the cure of a patient is a very minor consideration with them, “toute l’excellence de leur art consiste en un pompeux galimatias, en un specieux babil, qui vous donne des mots pour des raisons, et des promesses pour des effets.” Again he says, “presque tous les hommes meurent de leur remedes et non pas de leurs maladies.”  He then proves that Argan’s wife is a mere hypocrite, while his daughter is a true-hearted, loving girl; and he makes the invalid join in the dancing and singing provided for his cure.—­Moliere, Le Malade Imaginaire (1673).  BERCH’TA ("the white lady"), a fairy of southern Germany, answering to Hulda ("the gracious lady”) of northern Germany.  After the introduction of Christianity, Berchta lost her first estate and lapsed into a bogie.

BERECYNTHIAN GODDESS (The).  Cybele is so called from mount Berecyntus, in Phrygia, where she was held in especial adoration.  She is represented as crowned with turrets, and holding keys in her hand.

  Her helmed head
  Rose like the Berecynthian goddess crowned
  With towers.

  Southey, Roderick, etc., ii. (1814).

BERECYN’THIAN HERO (The), Midas king of Phyrgia, so called from mount Berecyn’tus (4 syl.), in Phrygia.

BERENGA’RIA, queen-consort of Richard Coeur de Lion, introduced in The Talisman, a novel by sir W. Scott (1825).  Berengaria died 1230.

BERENGER (Sir Raymond), an old Norman warrior, living at the castle of Garde Doloureuse.

The lady Eveline, sir Raymond’s daughter, betrothed to sir Hugo de Lacy.  Sir Hugo cancels his own betrothal in favor of his nephew (sir Damian de Lacy), who marries the lady Eveline, “the betrothed.”—­Sir W. Scott, The Betrothed (time, Henry II.).