ELF’THRYTH or AELF’THRYTH, daughter of Ordgar, noted for her great beauty.  King Edgar sent Aethelwald, his friend, to ascertain if she were really as beautiful as report made her out to be.  When AEthelwald saw her he fell in love with her, and then, returning to the king, said she was not handsome enough for the king, but was rich enough to make a very eligible wife for himself.  The king assented to the match, and became godfather to the first child, who was called Edgar.  One day the king told his friend he intended to pay him a visit, and Aethelwald revealed to his wife the story of his deceit, imploring her at the same time to conceal her beauty.  But Elfthryth, extremely indignant, did all she could to set forth her beauty.  The king fell in love with her, slew Aethelwald, and married the widow.

A similar story is told by Herodotus; Prexaspes being the lady’s name, and Kambyses the king’s.

EL’GITHA, a female attendant at Rotherwood on the Lady Rowe’na.—­Sir W. Scott, Ivanhoe (time, Richard I.).

E’LIA, pseudonym of Charles Lamb, author of the Essays of Elia (1823).—­London Magazine.

ELI’AB, in the satire of Absalom and Achitophel, by Dry den and Tate, is Henry Bennet, earl of Arlington.  As Eliab befriended David (1 Chron. xii. 9), so the earl befriended Charles II.

  Hard the task to do Eliab right;
  Long with the royal wanderer he roved,
  And firm in all the turns of fortune proved.

  Absalom and Achitophel, ii. (1682).

E’LIAN GOD (The), Bacchus.  An error for ’Eleuan, i.e. “the god Eleleus” (3 syl).  Bacchus was called El’eleus from the Bacchic cry, eleleu!

  As when with crowned cups unto the Elian god
  Those priests high orgies held.

Drayton, Polyolbion, vi. (1612).  EL’IDURE (3 syl.), surnamed “the Pious,” brother of Gorbonian, and one of the five sons of Morvi’dus (q.v.).  He resigned the crown to his brother Arthgallo, who had been deposed.  Ten years afterwards, Arthgallo died, and Elidure was again advanced to the throne, but was deposed and imprisoned by his two younger brothers.  At the death of these two brothers, Elidure was taken from prison, and mounted the British throne for the third time.—­Geoffrey, British History, iii. 17,18 (1470).

  Then Elidure again, crowned with applausive praise,
  As he a brother raised, by brothers was deposed
  And put into the Tower ... but, the usurpers dead,
  Thrice was the British crown set on his reverend head.

  Drayton, Polyolbion, viii. (1612).

[Illustration] Wordsworth has a poem on this subject.

ELIJAH FED BY RAVENS.  While Elijah was at the brook Cherith, in concealment, ravens brought him food every morning and evening.—­1 Kings xvii. 6.

A strange parallel is recorded of Wyat, in the reign of Richard III.  The king cast him into prison, and when he was nearly starved to death, a cat appeared at the window-grating, and dropped into his hand a pigeon, which the warder cooked for him.  This was repeated daily.