CASSI, the inhabitants of Hertfordshire or Cassio.—­Caesar, Commentaries.

CASSIB’ELLAUN or CASSIB’ELAN (probably “Caswallon"), brother and successor of Lud.  He was king of Britain when Julius Caesar invaded the island.  Geoffrey of Monmouth says, in his British History, that Cassibellaun routed Caesar, and drove him back to Gaul (bk. iv. 3, 5).  In Caesar’s second invasion, the British again vanquished him (ch. 7), and “sacrificed to their gods as a thank-offering 40,000 cows, 100,000 sheep, 30,000 wild beasts, and fowls without number” (ch. 8).  Androg’eus (4 syl.) “duke of Trinovantum,” with 5000 men, having joined the Roman forces, Cassibellaun was worsted, and agreed “to pay 3000 pounds of silver yearly in tribute to Rome.”  Seven years after this Cassibellaun died and was buried at York.

In Shakespeare’s Cymbeline the name is called “Cassibelan.”

[Illustration] Polyaenus of Macedon tells us that Caesar had a huge elephant armed with scales of iron, with a tower on its back, filled with archers and slingers.  When this beast entered the sea, Cassivelaunus and the Britons, who had never seen an elephant, were terrified, and their horses fled in affright, so that the Romans were able to land without molestation.—­Drayton, Polyolbion, viii.

  There the hive of Roman liars worship a gluttonous emperor-idiot. 
  Such is Rome ... hear it, spirit of Cassivelaun.

  Tennyson, Boadicea.

CAS’SILANE (3 syl.), general of Candy and father of Annophel.—­Laws of Candy (1647).

CASSIM, brother of Ali Baba, a Persian.  He married an heiress and soon became one of the richest merchants of the place.  When he discovered that his brother had made himself rich by hoards from the robbers’ cave, Cassim took ten mules charged with panniers to carry away part of the same booty.  “Open Sesame!” he cried, and the door opened.  He filled his sacks, but forgot the magic word.  “Open Barley!” he cried, but the door remained closed.  Presently the robber band returned, and cut him down with their sabres.  They then hacked the carcass into four parts, placed them near the door, and left the cave.  Ali Baba carried off the body and had it decently interred.—­Arabian Nights ("Ali Baba, or the Forty Thieves").

CAS’SIO (Michael), a Florentine, lieutenant in the Venetian army under the command of Othello.  Simple minded but not strong-minded, and therefore easily led by others who possessed greater power of will.  Being overcome with wine, he engaged in a street-brawl, for which he was suspended by Othello, but Desdemona pleaded for his restoration.  Iago made capital of this intercession to rouse the jealousy of the Moor.  Cassio’s “almost” wife was Bianca, his mistress.—­Shakespeare, Othello (1611).

“Cassio” is brave, benevolent, and honest, ruined only by his want of stubbornness to resist an insidious invitation.—­Dr. Johnson.