Constance Varley.  American girl traveling in the East with friends, and bearing with her everywhere the memory of a man she has loved for years in secret.  She meets him at Damascus and after some days of pleasant companionship, he resolves to offer his hand to her.  The words are upon his tongue, when an unfortunate misunderstanding divides them forever.  A year later she marries another man who loves her sincerely without appreciating the finest part of her nature.

A woman quotes at sight of Constance’s portrait: 

  “I discern
  Infinite passion and the pain
  Of finite hearts that yearn.”

“There was a singular suggestion of sadness about the grave sweet eyes, and on the small close mouth.”—­Julia C. Fletcher, Mirage (1882).

CONSTANS, a mythical king of Britain.  He was the eldest of the three sons of Constantine, his two brothers being Aurelius Ambrosius and Uther Pendragon.  Constans was a monk, but at the death of his father he laid aside the cowl for the crown.  Vortigern caused him to be assassinated, and usurped the crown.  Aurelius Ambrosius succeeded Vortigern, and was himself succeeded by his younger brother, Uther Pendragon, father of King Arthur.  Hence it will appear that Constans was Arthur’s uncle.

CONSTANT (Ned), the former lover of Lady Brute, with whom she intrigued after her marriage with the surly knight.—­Vanbrugh, The Provoked Wife (1697).

Constant (Sir Bashful), a younger brother of middle life, who tumbles into an estate and title by the death of his elder brother.  He marries a woman of quality, but finding; it comme il faut not to let his love be known, treats her with indifference and politeness, and though he dotes on her, tries to make her believe he loves her not.  He is very soft, carried away by the opinions of others, and is an example of the truth of what Dr. Young has said, “What is mere good nature but a fool?”

Lady Constant, wife of Sir Bashful, a woman of spirit, taste, sense, wit, and beauty.  She loves her husband, and repels with scorn an attempt to shake her fidelity because he treats her with cold indifference.—­A.  Murphy, The Way to Keep Him (1760).

CONSTAN’TIA, sister of Petruccio, governor of Bologna, and mistress of the duke of Ferrara.—­Beaumont and Fletcher, The Chances (1620).

Constantia, a protegee of Lady McSycophant.  An amiable girl, in love with Egerton McSycophant, by whom her love is amply returned.—­C.  Macklin, The Man of the World (1764).

CON’STANTINE (3 syl.), a king of Scotland, who (in 937) joined Anlaf (a Danish king) against Athelstan.  The allied kings were defeated at Brunanburh, in Northumberland, and Constantine was made prisoner.

  Our English Athelstan ... 
  Made all the Isle his own,
  And Constantine, the king a prisoner hither brought.