the Scythian's name,
Or Medway smooth, or royal towered Thame.

=Rivulet Controversy= (_The_) arose against Rev. T. T. Lynch, a
Congregationalist, who, in 1853, had expressed neologian views in _The
Rivulet_, a book of poems.

=Rizzio= (_David_), the private secretary of Marie Stuart, queen of the
Scots, and reputed by her enemies to be her favored lover. He was
murdered in her presence by a gang of conspirators, led by Henry
Darnley, her husband. Poets and musicians have made lavish use of this
episode in the life of the unhappy queen.

=Road to Ruin=, a comedy by Thomas Holcroft (1792). Harry Dornton and
his friend, Jack Milford, are on "the road to ruin," by their
extravagance. The former brings his father to the eve of bankruptcy; and
the latter, having spent his private fortune, is cast into prison for
debt. Sulky, a partner in the bank, comes forward to save Mr. Dornton
from ruin; Harry advances [pounds]6000 to pay his friend's debts, and
thus saves Milford from ruin; and the father restores the money advanced
by Widow Warren to his son, to save Harry from the ruin of marrying a
designing widow instead of Sophia Freelove, her innocent and charming
daughter.

=Roads= (_The king of_), John Loudon Macadam, the improver of roads
(1756-1836).

=Roan Barbary=, the charger of Richard II., which would eat from his
master's hand.

Oh, how it yearned my heart when I beheld
In London streets, that coronation day,
When Bolingbroke rode on Roan Barbary!
That horse that thou so often hast bestrid;
That horse that I so carefully have dressed!

Shakespeare, _Richard II._ act v. sc. 5 (1597).

=Rob Roy=, published in 1818, excellent for its bold sketches of Highland
scenery. The character of Bailie Nicol Jarvie is one of Scott's happiest
conceptions; and the carrying of him to the wild mountains among outlaws
and desperadoes is exquisitely comic. The hero, Frank Osbaldistone, is
no hero at all. Dramatized by I. Pocock.

=Rob Roy M'Gregor=, _i.e._ "Robert the Red," whose surname was MacGregor.
He was an outlaw who assumed the name of Campbell in 1662. He may be
termed the Robin Hood of Scotland. The hero of the novel is Frank
Osbaldistone, who gets into divers troubles, from which he is rescued by
Rob Roy. The last service is to kill Rashleigh Osbaldistone, whereby
Frank's great enemy is removed; and Frank then marries Diana
Vernon.--Sir W. Scott, _Rob Roy_ (time, George I.).