, _The Pirate_ (time, William III.).

=Merveilleuse= [_Mair.vay.'uze_], the sword of Doolin of Mayence. It was
so sharp that, if placed edge downwards on a block of wood, it would cut
through it of itself.

=Mervett= (_Gustavus de_), in _Charles XII._, an historical drama by J. R.
Planch['e] (1826).

=Mervyn= (_Mr. Arthur_), guardian of Julia Mannering.--Sir W. Scott, _Guy
Mannering_ (time, George II.).

=Messali'na=, wife of the Emperor Claudius of Rome. Her name is a by-word
for incontinency (A.D. *-48).

_Messalina_ (_The Modern_), Catherine II. of Russia (1729-1796).

=Messalina of Germany=, Barbary of Cilley, second wife of Kaiser Sigismund
of Germany (fifteenth century).

=Messala.= Haughty young Roman who feigns friendship for Ben-Hur, and
betrays his confidence. In after years the scheme of revenge nursed by
the ruined youth is fulfilled in the famous chariot-race.--Lew Wallace,
_Ben Hur_, _A Tale of the Christ_ (1880).

=Messiah= (_The_), an epic poem in fifteen books, by F. G. Klopstock. The
first three were published in 1748, and the last in 1773. The subject is
the last days of Jesus, His crucifixion and resurrection. Bk. i. Jesus
ascends the Mount of Olives, to spend the night in prayer. Bk. ii. John
the Beloved, failing to exorcise a demoniac, Jesus goes to his
assistance; and Satan, rebuked, returns to hell, where he tells the
fallen angels his version of the birth and ministry of Christ, whose
death he resolves on. Bk. iii. Messiah sleeps for the last time on the
Mount of Olives; the tutelar angels of the twelve apostles, and a
description of the apostles are given. Satan gives Judas a dream, and
then enters the heart of Caiaphas. Bk. iv. The council in the palace of
Caiaphas decree that Jesus must die; Jesus sends Peter and John to
prepare the Passover, and eats His Last Supper with His apostles. Bk. v.
The three hours of agony in the garden. Bk. vi. Jesus, bound, is taken
before Annas, and then before Caiaphas. Peter denies his Master. Bk.
vii. Christ is brought before Pilate; Judas hangs himself; Pilate sends
Jesus to Herod, but Herod sends Him again to Pilate, who delivers Him to
the Jews. Bk. viii. Christ nailed to the cross. Bk. ix. Christ on the
cross. Bk. x. The Death of Christ. Bk. xi. The vail[TN-10] of the Temple
rent, and the resurrection of many from their graves. Bk. xii. The
burial of the body, and death of Mary, the sister of Lazarus. Bk. xiii.
The resurrection and