, the younger brother of Brac'idas, sons of Mile'sio; the
former in love with the dowerless Lucy, and the latter with the
wealthy Philtra. The two brothers had each an island of equal size and
value left them by their father, but the sea daily added to the island
of the younger brother, and encroached on that belonging to Bracidas.
When Philtra saw that the property of Amidas was daily increasing,
she forsook the elder brother and married the wealthier; while Lucy,
seeing herself jilted, threw herself into the sea. A floating chest
attracted her attention, she clung to it, and was drifted to the
wasted island. It was found to contain great riches, and Lucy gave its
contents and herself to Bracidas. Amidas claimed the chest as his own
by right, and the question in dispute was submitted to sir Ar'tegal.
The wise arbiter decided, that whereas Armidas claimed as his own all
the additions given to his island by the sea, Lucy might claim as her
own the chest, because the sea had given it to her.--Spenser, _Faery
Queen_, v. 4 (1596).

AM'IEL, in Dryden's _Absalom and Achitophel_, is meant for sir Edward
Seymour, Speaker of the House of Commons.

Who can Amiel's praise refuse?
Of ancient race by birth, but nobler yet
In his own worth, and without title great.
The sanhedrim long time as chief he ruled,
Their reason guided, and their passion cooled.

Part i.

A'MIN (_Prince_), son of the caliph Haroun-al-Raschid; he married
Am'ine, sister of Zobeide (3 _syl_.), the caliph's wife.--_Arabian
Nights' Entertainments_ ("The History of Amine").

_Am'ina_, an orphan, who walked in her sleep. She was betrothed to
Elvi'no, a rich farmer, but being found the night before the wedding
in the chamber of count Rodolpho, Elvino rightly refused to marry her.
The count remonstrated with the young farmer, and while they were
talking, the orphan was seen to get out of a window and walk along
the narrow edge of a mill-roof while the great wheel was rapidly
revolving; she then crossed a crazy old bridge, and came into the same
chamber. Here she awoke, and, seeing Elvino, threw her arms around
him so lovingly, that all his doubts vanished, and he married
her.--Bellini, _La Sonnambula_ (an opera, 1831).

AM'INE (3 _syl_.), half-sister of Zobei'de (3 _syl_.), and wife of
Amin, the caliph's son. One day she went to purchase a robe, and the
seller told her he would charge nothing if she would suffer him to
kiss her cheek. Instead of kis