libertine of unblushing impudence, who sins without
compunction.--Daumier, _L'Auberge des Adrets._

BERTRAND DU GUESLIN, a romance of chivalry, reciting the adventures of
this connetable de France, in the reign of Charles V.

_Bertrand du Gueslin in prison._ The prince of Wales went to visit his
captive Bertrand, and asking him how he fared, the Frenchman replied,
"Sir, I have heard the mice and the rats this many a day, but it is
long since I heard the song of birds," _i.e._ I have been long a
captive and have not breathed the fresh air.

The reply of Bertrand du Gueslin calls to mind that of Douglas, called
"The Good sir James," the companion of Robert Bruce, "It is better, I
ween, to hear the lark sing than the mouse cheep," _i.e._ It is better
to keep the open field than to be shut up in a castle.

BERTULPHE (2 _syl_.), provost of Bruges, the son of a serf. By his
genius and energy he became the richest, most honored, and most
powerful man in Bruges. His arm was strong in fight, his wisdom swayed
the council, his step was proud, and his eye untamed. He had one
child, most dearly beloved, the bride of sir Bouchard, a knight of
noble descent. Charles "the Good," earl of Flanders, made a law (1127)
that whoever married a serf should become a serf, and that serfs were
serfs till manumission. By these absurd decrees Bertulphe the provost,
his daughter Constance, and his knightly son-in-law were all serfs.
The result was that the provost slew the earl and then himself, his
daughter went mad and died, and Bouchard was slain in fight.--S.
Knowles, _The Provost of Bruges_ (1836).

BER'WINE (2 _syl_.), the favorite attendant of lady Er'mengarde
(3 _syl_.) of Baldringham, great-aunt of lady Eveline "the
betrothed."--Sir W. Scott, _The Betrothed_ (time, Henry II.).

BER'YL MOL'OZANE (3 _syl_.), the lady-love of George Geith. All
beauty, love, and sunshine. She has a heart for every one, is ready
to help every one, and is by every one beloved, yet her lot is most
painfully unhappy, and ends in an early death.--F.G. Trafford [J.H.
Riddell], _George Geith_.

BESO'NIAN (_A_), a scoundrel. From the Italian, _bisognoso_, "a needy
person, a beggar."

Proud lords do tumble from the towers of their high descents; and be
trod under feet of every inferior besonian.--Thomas Nash, _Pierce
Pennylesse, His Supplication, etc._ (1592).

BESS (_Good queen_), Elizabeth (1533, 1558-1603).

_Bess_, the daughter of the "blind beggar