Part 225 (1/2)
GRIFFIN or GRIFFON, a chimerical fabulous animal with the body and legs of a lion in symbol of strength, with the wings and beak of an eagle in symbol of swiftness, with the ears of a horse in symbol of watchfulness, and instead of a mane the fin of a fish; figures among heraldic symbols with the significance here indicated.
GRILLPARZER, FRANZ, popular Austrian dramatist, born at Vienna; studied law and then entered the Civil Service, in which he remained from 1813 to 1856; his first notable drama was the tragedy ”Die Ahnfrau,” the _motif_ of which is an extreme fatalism; ”Sappho,” ”Das goldene Vliess,”
and many others followed, all of which are marked by dramatic power and lyric grace; he stands in the front rank of Austrian poets (1791-1872).
GRIMALDI, JOSEPH, a famous English clown, son of an Italian dancing-master, born in London; was bred to the stage from his infancy, appearing on the boards when not yet two years old; his Memoirs were edited by d.i.c.kens, who describes him as ”the genuine droll, the grimacing, filching, irresistible clown” (1779-1837).
GRIMM, BARON, a German litterateur and critic, born at Ratisbon; a man of versatile powers and vast attainments; settled in Paris and became acquainted with Rousseau and the leading Encyclopedists and Madame d'Epinay; on the breaking out of the Revolution he retired to the court of Gotha and afterwards to that of Catharine II. of Russia, who made him her minister at Hamburg; his correspondence is full of interest, and abounds in piquant literary criticism (1723-1807).
GRIMM, JACOB LUDWIG, German philologist, born at Hanau; held office as librarian to Jerome Bonaparte, king of Westphalia, and afterwards to Gottingen University, as well as a professors.h.i.+p there, devoting himself the while chiefly to studies in early German lore, and afterwards with his brother settled in Berlin; his princ.i.p.al works were, ”Deutsche Grammatik,” ”Deutsche Mythologie,” ”Geschichte der Deutschen Sprache,”
and the ”Kinder-und-Haus-Marchen” in collaboration with his brother (1785-1863).
GRIMM, WILHELM KARL, philologist, younger brother of the preceding, born at Hanau; was a.s.sociated both in his appointments and work with his brother, the two being known as the Brothers Grimm; edited several old German poems, his princ.i.p.al work ”Die Deutsche Heldensage” (1786-1859).
GRIMM'S LAW, as enunciated by J. L. Grimm, is the law regulating the interchange of mute consonants in languages of Aryan origin, aspirates, flats, and sharps in the cla.s.sical languages corresponding respectively to flats, sharps, and aspirates in Low German, and to sharps, aspirates, and flats in High German tongues.
GRIMSBY or GREAT GRIMSBY (59), a seaport of Lincolns.h.i.+re, on the S. sh.o.r.e of the Humber, opposite Spurn Head, 20 m. SE. of Hull; was a port of importance in Edward III.'s time; is now noted as the largest fis.h.i.+ng-port in the kingdom; has extensive docks, s.h.i.+pbuilding, tanning, brewing, and other industries.
GRINDAL, EDMUND, archbishop of Canterbury; was suspended for respecting his conscience more than the Queen (Elizabeth), but restored; offered to resign, but the Queen would not accept his resignation; became in the end blind from grief (1519-1583).
GRINDELWALD, a winter resort in Bernese Oberland, in Switzerland, in a beautiful valley 12 m. long and 4 m. broad, and nearly 3500 ft. above sea-level.
GRINGO, a name of contempt in Mexico and South America for interlopers of English descent or speech.
GRINGORE, a French poet; flourished in the reigns of Louis XII. and Francis I.; was received with favour at court for political reasons, though he lashed its vices and those of the clergy; wrote satirical farces, and one especially at the instance of Louis against Pope Julius II., ent.i.tled ”Le Jeu du Prince des Sots” (1476-1544).
GRIQUALAND, WEST AND EAST, British territories in South Africa. The former (83, 30 whites) lies to the N.E. of Cape Colony, between the Orange River on the S. and Bechua.n.a.land on the N.; the diamond industry, of which Kimberley is the centre, is the chief source of wealth, and was begun in 1867; Kimberley is also the seat of government. The latter (153, 4 whites), situated in No-Man's-Land, between the Kaffir country and S.
Natal, is chiefly inhabited by Griquas and Basutos. The first has been part of Cape Colony since 1881, and the second was annexed to that colony in 1871, though it is controlled by a chief-magistrate. Griqua is a name given to half-bloods of Dutch fathers and Hottentot mothers.
GRISELDA or GRISELDIS, a famous heroine of mediaeval tradition; figures in Boccaccio, Petrarch, and Chaucer, and in later dramatists of England, Germany, and Spain; the beautiful daughter of a Piedmontese peasant, she was loved and married by the Marquis Walter of Saluzzo; his jealous affection subjected her to several cruel tests of love, which she bore with ”wyfly pacience,” and in the end ”love was aye between them twa.”
GRISI, GIULIA, a celebrated singer, born in Milan; Paris and London were the chief scenes of her triumphs; her greatest triumph was in playing the part of ”Norma,” in the opera of the name; she was famous alike for the beauty of her person and the quality of her voice (1811-1869).
GRISNEZ, CAPE, a headland with a lighthouse on the French coast opposite Dover, and the nearest point in France to England.