DAVID SWAN.  A native of New Hampshire, born of respectable parents who has had a “classic finish” by a year at Grilmanton Academy.  He lies down to sleep at noon of a Summer’s day, pillowing his head on a bundle of clothing.  While sound asleep in the shade, he is passed by many people on the road.  Five or six pause to survey the youth and comment upon him.  Awakened by the stage-coach, he mounts to the top, and bowls away, unconscious that a phantom of Wealth, of Love and of Death had visited him in the brief hour since he lay down to sleep.—­Nathaniel Hawthorn, Twice-told Tales, (1851.)

David (St.), son of Xantus, prince of Cereticu (Cardiganshire) and the nun Malearia.  He was the uncle of King Arthur.  St. David first embraced the ascetic life in the Isle of Wight, but subsequently removed to Menevia, in Pembrokeshire, where he founded twelve convents.  In 577 the archbishop of Caerleon resigned his see to him, and St. David removed the seat of it to Menevia, which was subsequently called St. David’s and became the metropolis of Wales.  He died at the age of 146, in the year 642.  The waters of Bath “owe their warmth and salutary qualities to the benediction of this saint.”  Drayton says he lived in the valley of Ewias (2 syl.), between the hills of Hatterill, in Monmouthshire.

  Here in an aged cell with moss and ivy grown,
  In which not to this day the sun hath ever shown. 
  That reverend British saint in zealous ages past,
  To contemplation lived.

Polyolbion, iv. (1612.)

DAVID AND JONATHAN, inseparable friends.  The allusion is to David the Psalmist and Jonathan the son of Saul.  David’s lamentation at the death of Jonathan was never surpassed in pathos and beauty.—­2 Samuel, i. 19-27.

DAVIE DEBET, debt.

  So ofte thy neighbors banquet in thy hall,
  Till Davie Debet in thy parler stand,
  And bids thee welcome to thine own decay.

G. Gascoigne, Magnum Vectigal, etc. (died 1775).

DAVIE OF STENHONSE, a friend of Hobbie Elliott.—­Sir W. Scott, The
Black Dwarf (time, Anne).

DAVIES (John), an old fisherman employed by Joshua Geddes the quaker.—­Sir W. Scott, Redgauntlet (time, George III).

DA’VUS, a plain, uncouth servitor; a common name for a slave in Greek and Roman plays, as in the Andria of Terence.

  His face made of brass, like a vice in a game. 
  His gesture like Davus, whom Terence doth name.

T. Tusser, Five Hundred Points of Good Husbandry, liv. (1557).

Davus sum, non Oedipus. I am a homely man, and do not understand hints, innuendoes, and riddles, like Oedipus.  Oedipus was the Theban who expounded the riddle of the Sphinx, that puzzled all his countrymen.  Davus was the stock name of a servant or slave in Latin comedies.  The proverb is used by Terence, Andria, 1, 2, 23.