CAGES FOR MEN.  Alexander the Great had the philosopher Callisthenes chained for seven months in an iron cage, for refusing to pay him divine honors.

Catherine II. of Eussia kept her perruquier for more than three years in an iron cage in her bed-chamber, to prevent his telling people that she wore a wig.—­Mons. de Masson, Memoires Secrets sur la Russie.

Edward I. confined the countess of Buchan in an iron cage, for placing the crown of Scotland on the head of Bruce.  This cage was erected on one of the towers of Berwick Castle, where the countess was exposed to the rigor of the elements and the gaze of passers-by.  One of the sisters of Bruce was similarly dealt with.

Louis XI. confined cardinal Balue (grand-almoner of France) for ten years in an iron cage in the castle of Loches [Losh].

Tamerlane enclosed the sultan Bajazet in an iron cage, and made of him a public show.  So says D’Herbelot.

An iron cage was made by Timour’s command, composed on every side of iron gratings, through which the captive sultan [Bajazet] could be seen in any direction.  He travelled in this den slung between two horses.—­Leunclavius.

CAGLIOSTRO (Count de), the assumed name of Joseph Balsamo (1743-1795).

CAIN AND ABEL are called in the Koran “Kabil and Habil.”  The tradition is that Cain was commanded to marry Abel’s sister, and Abel to marry Cain’s, but Cain demurred because his own sister was the more beautiful, and so the matter was referred to God, and God answered “No” by rejecting Cain’s sacrifice.

The Mohammedans also say that Cain carried about with him the dead body of Abel till he saw a raven scratch a hole in the ground to bury a dead bird.  The hint was taken, and Abel was buried under ground.—­Sale’s Koran, v. (notes).

CAIRBAR, son of Borbar-Duthul, “lord of Atha” (Connaught), the most potent of the race of the Fir-bolg.  He rose in rebellion against Cormac “king of Ireland,” murdered him (Temora, i.), and usurped the throne; but Fingal (who was distantly related to Cormac) went to Ireland with an army, to restore the ancient dynasty.  Cairbar invited Oscar (Fingal’s grandson) to a feast, and Oscar accepted the invitation, but Cairbar having provoked a quarrel with his guest, the two fought, and both were slain.

“Thy heart is a rock.  Thy thoughts are dark and bloody.  Thou art the brother of Cathmor ... but my soul is not like thine, thou feeble hand in fight.  The light of my bosom is stained by thy deeds.”—­Ossian, Temora, i.

CAIRBRE (2 syl.), sometimes called Cairbar, third king of Ireland, of the Caledonian line. (There was also a Cairbar, “lord of Atha,” a Fir-bolg, quite a different person.)

The Caledonian line ran thus:  (1) Conar, first “king of Ireland;” (2) Cormac I., his son; (3) Cairbre, his son; (4) Artho, his son; (5) Cormac II., his son; (6) Ferad-Artho, his cousin.—­Ossian.