BONNIBEL, southern beauty in Constance Cary Harrison’s tale, Flower de Hundred.

The perfection of blonde prettiness, with a mouth like Cupid’s bow, a tiny tip-tilted nose, eyes gold-brown to match her hair, a color like crushed roses in her cheeks (1891).

BONNIVARD (Francois de), the prisoner of Chillon.  In Byron’s poem he was one of six brothers, five of whom died violent deaths.  The father and two sons died on the battle-field; one was burnt at the stake; three were imprisoned in the dungeon of Chillon, near the lake of Geneva.  Two of the three died, and Francois was set at liberty by Henri the Bearnais.  They were incarcerated by the duke-bishop of Savoy for republican principles (1496-1570).

BONSTET’TIN (Nicholas), the old deputy of Schwitz, and one of the deputies of the Swiss confederacy to Charles duke of Burgundy.—­Sir W. Scott, Anne of Geierstein (time, Edward IV.).

BON’TEMPS (Roger), the personification of that buoyant spirit which is always “inclined to hope rather than fear,” and in the very midnight of distress is ready to exclaim, “There’s a good time coming, wait a little longer.”  The character is the creation of Beranger.

  Vous, pauvres pleins d’envie,
  Vous, riches desireux;
  Vous, dont le char devie
  Apres un cours heureux;
  Vous, qui perdrez peut-etre
  Des titres eclatans,
  Eh gai! prenez pour maitre
  Le gros Roger Bontemps.

  Beranger (1814).

BON’THORN (Anthony), one of Ramorny’s followers; employed to murder Smith, the lover of Catherine Glover ("the fair maid of Perth"), but he murdered Oliver instead, by mistake.  When charged with the crime, he demanded a trial by combat, and being defeated by Smith, confessed his guilt and was hanged.  He was restored to life, but being again apprehended was executed.—­Sir W. Scott, Fair Maid of Perth (time, Henry IV.).

BON TON, a farce by Garrick.  Its design is to show the evil effects of the introduction of foreign morals and foreign manners.  Lord Minikin neglects his wife, and flirts with Miss Tittup.  Lady Minikin hates her husband, and flirts with colonel Tivy.  Miss Tittup is engaged to the colonel.  Sir John Trotley, who does not understand bon ton, thinks this sort of flirtation very objectionable.  “You’ll excuse me, for such old-fashioned notions, I am sure” (1760).

BOO’BY (Lady), a vulgar upstart, who tries to seduce her footman, Joseph Andrews.  Parson Adams reproves her for laughing in church.  Lady Booby is a caricature of Richardson’s “Pamela.”—­Fielding, Joseph Andrews (1742).

BOON ISLAND.  In Celia Thaxter’s poem, The Watch of Boon Island, is told the story of two wedded lovers who tended the lighthouse on Boon Island until the husband died, when the wife

Bowed her head and let the light die out, For the wide sea lay calm as her dead love, When evening fell from the far land, in doubt, Vainly to find that faithful star men strove. (1874.)

BOONE (1 syl.), colonel [afterwards “general”] Daniel Boone, in the United States’ service, was one of the earliest settlers in Kentucky, where he signalized himself by many daring exploits against the Red Indians (1735-1820).