erally called "Master Bates," one of Fagin's
"pupils," training to be a pickpocket. He is always laughing
uproariously, and is almost equal in artifice and adroitness to "The
Artful Dodger" himself.--C. Dickens, _Oliver Twist_ (1837).

_Bates (Frank)_, the friend of Whittle. A man of good plain sense, who
tries to laugh the old beau out of his folly.--Garrick, _The Irish
Widow_ (1757).

BATH (_King of_), Richard Nash, generally called _Beau_ Nash,
master of-the ceremonies for fifteen years in that fashionable city
(1674-1761).

_Bath (The Maid of_), Miss Linley, a beautiful and accomplished
singer, who married Richard B. Sheridan, the statesman and dramatist.

_Bath (The Wife of_), one of the pilgrims travelling from Southwark
to Canterbury, in Chaucer's _Canterbury Tales_. She tells her tale in
turn, and chooses "Midas" for her subject (1388).

BATHSHEBA in Dryden's _Absalom and Achitophel_ is Louisa de
Queronailles, a young French lady brought into England by the Duchess
of Orleans, and who became the mistress of Charles II. The King made
her Duchess of Portsmouth.

My father [_Charles II._] whom with reverence I name ...
Is grown in Bathsheba's embraces old.

Dryden, _Absalom and Achitophel_, ii.

BATHSHEBA EVERDEIIE, handsome heiress of an English farmstead, beloved
by two honest men and one knave. She marries the knave in haste, and
repents it at leisure for years thereafter. Released by his death,
she marries Gabriel Oak.--Thomas Hardy, _Far from the Madding Crowd_
(1874).

BATTAR _(Al), i.e. the trenchant_, one of Mahomet's swords.

BATTUS, a shepherd of Arcadia. Having witnessed Mercury's theft of
Apollo's oxen, he received a cow from the thief to ensure his
secrecy; but, in order to test his fidelity, Mercury re-appeared soon
afterwards, and offered him an ox and a cow if he would blab. Battus
fell into the trap, and was instantly changed into a touchstone.

When Tantalus in hell sees store and starves;
And senseless Battus for a touchstone serves.

Lord Brooke, _Treatise on Monarchie_, iv.

BAU'CIS AND PHILEMON, an aged Phrygian woman and her husband, who
received Jupiter and Mercury hospitably when every one else in the
place had refused to entertain them. For this courtesy the gods
changed the Phrygians' cottage into a magnificent temple, and
appointed the pious couple over it. They both died at the same time,
according to their wish, and were converted into two trees before the
t