CASSIODO’RUS (Marcus Aurelius), a great statesman and learned writer of the sixth century, who died at the age of one hundred, in A.D. 562.  He filled many high offices under Theod’oric, but ended his days in a convent.

  Listen awhile to a learned prelection
  On Marcus Aurelius Cassiodorus. 
  Longfellow, The Golden Legend.

CASSIOPEIA, wife of Ce’pheus (2 syl.) king of Ethiopia, and mother of Androm’eda.  She boasted herself to be fairer than the sea-nymphs, and Neptune, to punish her, sent a huge sea-serpent to ravage her husband’s kingdom.  At death she was made a constellation, consisting of thirteen stars, the largest of which form a “chair” or imperfect W.

  ... had you been
  Sphered up with Cassiopeia. 
  Tennyson, The Princess, iv.

CASSIUS, instigator of the conspiracy against Julius Caesar, and friend of Brutus.—­Shakespeare, Julius Ccesar (1607).

Brutus.  The last of all the Romans, fare thee well!  It is impossible that ever Rome Should breed thy fellow.  Friends, I owe more tears To this dead man than you shall see me pay.  I shall find time, Cassius, I shall find time.  Act. v. sc. 3.

Charles Mayne Young trod the boards with freedom.  His countenance was equally well adapted for the expression of pathos or of pride; thus in such parts as “Hamlet,” “Beverley,” “The Stranger,” “Pierre,” “Zanga,” and “Cassius,” he looked the men he represented.—­Rev. J. Young, Life of G. M. Young.

[Illustration] “Hamlet” (Shakespeare); “Beverley” (The Gamester, Moore); “The Stranger” (B.  Thompson); “Pierre” (Venice Preserved, Otway); “Zanga” (Revenge, Young).

CASSY, a colored woman, mistress of Legree, in Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin.  Disgusted with her master and with her life, she befriends another woman, even more helpless than herself, and by stratagem and force of will contrives her escape (1852).

CASTAGNETTE (Captain), a hero whose stomach was replaced by a leather one made by Desgenettes [Da’.ge.net’], but his career was soon ended by a bomb-shell, which blew him into atoms,—­Manuel, A French Extravaganza.

CASTA’LIO, son of lord Acasto, and Polydore’s twin-brother.  Both the brothers loved their father’s ward, Monim’ia “the orphan.”  The love of Polydore was dishonorable love, but Castalio loved her truly and married her in private.  On the bridal night Polydore by treachery took his brother’s place, and next day, when Monimia discovered the deceit which had been practised on her, and Polydore heard that Monimia was really married to his brother, the bride poisoned herself, the adulterer ran upon his brother’s sword, and the husband stabbed himself.—­Otway, The Orphan (1680).

CASTA’RA, the lady addressed by Wm. Habington in his poems.  She was Lucy Herbert (daughter of Wm. Herbert, first lord Powis), and became his wife. (Latin, casta, “chaste.”)