The Facts on File Dictionary of Allusions - Green Valley High School

they dashed for it, like the Hebrews at the crossing of the
Red Sea.
cross over Jordan To die and enter heaven. <strong>The</strong>
reference is to the biblical episode in Joshua 3
describing how the Israelites invaded Canaan
under the leadership of Joshua. When they came
to the Jordan River the water parted as promised
by God (verse 7) to allow the Israelites to cross
into Canaan, the promised land. <strong>The</strong> old lady
crossed over the Jordan last night, and the family is
therefore in mourning.
cross the Rubicon (roobbkon) To take an irrevocable
step, especially a decision from which there
is no going back. Under the laws of ancient Rome
it was illegal for a military commander to lead
troops over the Rubicon River, which divided
Cisalpine Gaul from Italy. (Such a mea sure was
intended to prevent any wayward general seizing
power by force.) In 49 b.c. Julius Caesar defi ed
the prohibition by leading his army over the Rubicon,
went on to defeat Pompey in the ensuing
civil war, and became the effective head of state.
If he had failed, he would have faced the death
penalty. With this act the state legislature has crossed
the Rubicon. <strong>The</strong>re is no going back now. See also die is
cast, the.
Crow, Jim See jim crow.
crown of thorns A symbol of great suffering and
humiliation. According to the biblical account of
Christ’s crucifi xion, Jesus was forced to wear a
crown of thorns in mockery of his claim to be
king of the Jews, as related in Matthew 27:29:
“And when they had platted a crown of thorns,
they put it upon his head . . . and they bowed the
knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail,
crumbs that fall from the rich man's table
King of the Jews!” (See also Mark 15:17 and John
19:2–5.) He wore his injured pride like a crown of
thorns, appealing for sympathy from anyone who would
hear his story.
Cruella De Vil (krooelb db vil) A ruthless, coldhearted
woman, especially one who behaves cruelly
toward animals. Cruella De Vil is the evil
villain in Dodie Smith’s novel <strong>The</strong> Hundred and One
Dalmatians (1956), which was later made into two
highly successful Walt Disney movies (1961 and
1996). Dressed entirely in black and white, she
covets the black- and- white dalmatian fur she needs
to make herself a spotted fur coat. Once confi rmed
as head of the or ga ni za tion she stopped behaving like
Mary Poppins and turned into Cruella De Vil.
crumbs that fall from the rich man’s table <strong>The</strong>
meager benefi ts that are left to the poor after the
rich have taken their fi ll of something. <strong>The</strong> expression
is biblical in origin, appearing in the Gospels.
It features, for example, in the story of the Gentile
woman who professes her faith in Christ with the
words, “Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the
crumbs which fall from their masters’ table” (Matthew
15:27). (See also Mark 7:24–30.) In Luke
16:20–21, it appears in the story of the beggar
Lazarus: “And there was a certain beggar named
Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores.
And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell
from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs
came and licked his sores.” ‘I mean that I am content
to give what I have given and must always
give, and take in payment those crumbs that fall
from my mistress’s table, the memory of a few
kind words, the hope one day in the far undreamed
future of a sweet smile or two of recognition, a
little gentle friendship” (H. Rider Haggard, She,
1887).
107