trate at the foot of her throne.--W.
Beckford, _Vathek_.

_Balkis queen of Sheba_ or _Saba_. Solomon being told that her
legs were covered with hair "like those of an ass," had the
presence-chamber floored with glass laid over running water filled
with fish. When Balkis approached the room, supposing the floor to be
water, she lifted up her robes and exposed her hairy ankles, of which
the king had been rightly informed.--_Jallalo'dinn_.

BALLENKEIROCH (_Old_), a Highland chief and old friend of Fergus
M'Ivor.--Sir W. Scott, _Waverley_ (time, Greorge II.).

BALMUNG, the sword of Siegfried forged by Wieland the smith of the
Scandinavian gods. In a trial of merit Wieland cleft Amilias (a
brother smith) to the waist; but so fine was the cut that Amilias
was not even conscious of it till he attempted to move, when he fell
asunder into two pieces.--_Niebelungen Lied_.

BALRUDDERY (_The laird of_), a relation of Godfrey Bertram, laird of
Ellangowan.--Sir W. Scott, _Guy Mannering_ (time, George II.).

BALTHAZAR, a merchant, in Shakespeare's _Comedy of Errors_ (1593).

_Balthazar_, a name assumed by Portia, in Shakespeare's _Merchant of
Venice_ (1598).

_Balthazar_, servant to Romeo, in Shakespeare's _Romeo and Juliet_
(1597).

_Balthazar_, servant to don Pedro, in Shakespeare's _Much Ado about
Nothing_ (1600).

_Balthazar_, one of the three "kings" shown in Cologne Cathedral as
one of the "Magi" led to Bethlehem by the guiding star. The word means
"lord of treasures." The names of the other two are Melchior ("king of
light"), and Gaspar or Caspar ("the white one"). Klopstock, in _The
Messiah_, makes six "Wise Men," and none of the names are like these
three.

_Balthazar_, father of Juliana, Volante, and Zamora. A proud,
peppery, and wealthy gentleman. His daughter Juliana marries the duke
of Aranza; his second daughter the count Montalban; and Zamora marries
signor Rinaldo.--J. Tobin, _The Honeymoon_ (1804).

BALUE (_Cardinal_), in the court of Louis XI. of France (1420-1491),
introduced by sir W. Scott in _Quentin Durward_ (time, Edward IV.).

BALUGANTES (4 _syl._), leader of the men from Leon, in Spain, and in
alliance with Agramant.--Ariosto, _Orlando Furioso_ (1516).

BALVENY (_Lord_), kinsman of the earl of Douglas.--Sir W. Scott, _Fair
Maid of Perth_ (time, Henry IV.).

BALWHIDDER [_Balwither_], a Scotch presbyterian pastor, filled with
all the old-fashioned national prejudices, but sincere, kind-heart