Antonio.--C. Cibber, _Love
Makes a Man_.

_Elvira_, the young wife of Gomez, a rich old banker. She carries on
a liaison with Colonel Lorenzo, by the aid of her father-confessor
Dominick, but is always checkmated, and it turns out that Lorenzo is
her brother.--Dryden, _The Spanish Fryar_ (1680).

_Elvira_, a noble lady who gives up everything to become the mistress
of Pizarro. She tries to soften his rude and cruel nature, and to
lead him into more generous ways. Her love being changed to hate, she
engages Rollo to slay Pizarro in his tent; but the noble Peruvian
spares his enemy, and makes him a friend. Ultimately, Pizarro is slain
in fight with Alonzo, and Elvira retires to a convent.--Sheridan,
_Pizarro_ (altered from Kotzebue, 1799).

_Elvira (Donna)_, a lady deceived by Don Giovanni, who basely deluded
her into an amour with his valet Leporello.--Mozart's opera, _Don
Giovanni_ (1787).

_Elvira_ "the puritan," daughter of Lord Walton, betrothed to Arturo
(_Lord Arthur Talbot_), a calvalier. On the day of espousals the young
man aids Enrichetta (_Henrietta, widow of Charles I._) to escape, and
Elvira, thinking he had eloped with a rival, temporarily loses her
reason. Cromwell's soldiers arrest Arturo for treason, but he is
subsequently pardoned, and marries Elvira.--Bellini's opera, _I
Puritani_ (1834).

_Elvira_, a lady in love with Ernani the robber-captain and head of
a league against Don Carlos (afterwards Charles V. of Spain). Ernani
was just on the point of marrying Elvira, when he was summoned to
death by Gomez de Silva, and stabbed himself.--Verdi, _Ernani_ (an
opera, 1841).

_Elvira_, betrothed to Alfonso (son of the Duke d'Arcos). No sooner
is the marriage completed than she learns that Alfonso has seduced
Fenella, a dumb girl, sister of Masaniello the fisherman. Masaniello,
to revenge his wrongs, heads an insurrection, and Alfonso with Elvira
run for safety to the fisherman's hut, where they find Fenella, who
promises to protect them. Masaniello, being made chief magistrate of
Portici, is killed by the mob; Fenella throws herself into the crater
of Vesuvius; and Alfonso is left to live in peace with Elvira.--Auber,
_Masaniello_ (1831).

ELVIRE (_2 syl._), the wife of Don Juan, whom he abandons. She enters
a convent, and tries to reclaim her profligate husband, but without
success.--Moliere, _Don Juan_ (1665).

ELY (_Bishop of_), introduced by Sir W. Scott in the _Talisman_ (time,
Richard I.).