udio_, condemned to die for betraying his mistress Juliet, tries
to buy his life at the sacrifice of his sister Isabella's honor,
shamefully pursued by Angelo, the Duke's deputy.--Shakespeare,
_Measure for Measure_.

CLAU'DIUS, King of Denmark, who poisoned his brother, married the
widow, and usurped the throne. Claudius induced Laertes to challenge
Hamlet to play with foils, but persuaded him to poison his weapon. In
the combat the foils got changed, and Hamlet wounded Laertes with the
poisoned weapon. In order still further to secure the death of Hamlet,
Claudius had a cup of poisoned wine prepared, which he intended to
give Hamlet when he grew thirsty with playing. The queen, drinking of
this cup, died of poison, and Hamlet, rushing on Claudius, stabbed him
and cried aloud, "Here, thou incestuous, murderous Dane.... Follow my
mother!"--Shakespeare, _Hamlet_ (1596). [Illustration] In the _History
of Hamblet_, Claudius is called "Fengon," a far better name for a
Dane.

_Claudius_, the instrument of Appius the decemvir for entrapping
Virginia. He pretended that Virginia was his slave, who had been
stolen from him and sold to Virginius.--J. S. Knowles, _Virginius_
(1820).

_Claudius (Mathias)_, a German poet born at Rheinfeld, and author of
the famous song called _Rheinweinlied_ ("Rhenish wine song"), sung at
all convivial feasts of the Germans.

Claudius, though he sang of flagons,
And huge tankards filled with Rhenish,
From the fiery blood of dragons
Never would his own replenish.
Longfellow, _Drinking Song_.

CLAUS _(Peter)._ (See under K.)

_Claus (Santa)_, a familiar name for St. Nicholas, the patron saint of
children. On Christmas Eve German children have presents stowed
away in their socks and shoes while they are asleep, and the little
credulous ones suppose that Santa Claus or Klaus placed them there.

St. Nicholas is said to have supplied three destitute maidens with
marriage portions by secretly leaving money with their widowed mother,
and as his day occurs just before Christmas, he was selected for the
gift-giver on Christmas Eve.--Yonge.

"CLAVERHOUSE," or the Marquis of Argyll, a kinsman of Ravenswood,
introduced by Sir W. Scott in _The Bride of Lammermoor_ (time, William
III.).

_Claver'house_ (3 _syl_.), John Graham of Claverhouse (Viscount
Dundee), a relentless Jacobite, so rapacious and profane, so violent
in temper and obdurate of heart, that every Scotchman hates the name.
He