DICCON THE BEDLAMITE, a half-mad mendicant, both knave and thief. A
specimen of the metre will be seen by part of Diccon's speech:

Many amyle have I walked, divers and sundry waies,
And many a good man's house have I bin at in my dais;
Many a gossip's cup in my tyme have I tasted,
And many a broche and spyt have I both turned and basted ...
When I saw it booted nit, out at doores I hyed mee,
And caught a slyp of bacon when I saw none spyd mee
Which I intend not far hence, unless my purpose fayle,
Shall serve for a shooing home to draw on two pots of ale.

_Gammer Gurton's Needle_ (1575).

DICIL'LA, one of Logistilla's handmaids, noted for her
chastity.--Ariosto, _Orlanda Furioso_ (1516).

DICK, ostler at the Seven Stars inn, York.--Sir W. Scott, _Heart of
Midlothian_ (time, Greorge II.).

_Dick_, called "The Devil's Dick of Hellgarth;" a falconer and
follower of the earl of Douglas.--Sir W. Scott, _Fair Maid of Perth_
(time, Henry IV.).

_Dick (Mr.)_, an amiable, half-witted man, devoted to David's "aunt,"
Miss Betsey Trotwood, who thinks him a prodigious genius. Mr. Dick
is especially mad on the subject of Charles I.--C. Dickens, _David
Copperfield_ (1849).

DICK AMLET, the son of Mrs. Amlet, a rich, vulgar tradeswoman. Dick
assumes the airs of a fine gentleman, and calls himself Colonel
Shapely, in which character he gets introduced to Corinna, the
daughter of Gripe, a rich scrivener. Just as he is about to elope, his
mother makes her appearance, and the deceit is laid bare; but Mrs.
Amlet promises to give her son L10,000, and so the wedding is
adjusted. Dick is a regular scamp, and wholly without principle; but
being a dashing young blade, with a handsome person, he is admired by
the ladies.--Sir John Vanbrugh, _The Confederacy_ (1695).

DICK SHAKEBAG, a highwayman in the gang of Captain Colepepper (the
Alsatian bully).--Sir W. Scott, _Fortunes of Nigel_ (time, James I).

DICKSON (_Thomas_) farmer at Douglasdale.

_Charles Dickson_, son of the above, killed in the church.--Sir W.
Scott, _Castle Dangerous_ (time, Henry I.).

DICTA'TOR OF LETTERS, Francois Marie Arouet de Voltaire, called the
"Great Pan" (1694-1778).

DICTIONARY (_A Living_). Wilhelm Leibnitz (1646-1716) was so called by
George I.

[Illustration] Longinus was called "The Living Cyclopaedia" (213-273).

[Illustration] Daniel Huet, chief editor of the _Delphine Classics_,
was called a _Porcus Literarum_ for his u