243. Faithfulness (See also Loyalty.)

To God:

1. Abdiel seraph who refused to join Satan’s rebellion. [Br. Lit.: Paradise Lost ]
2. Abraham in obedience to God, would sacrifice his only son. [O.T.: Genesis 22:1–18]
3. Becket, Thomas à (c. 1118–70) uncompromisingly defended the rights of the Church against King Henry II. [Br. Hist.: NCE, 2735]
4. Caleb faithfully followed God in exploration of Canaan. [O.T.: Numbers 14:24–25]
5. Canterbury bell flower memorializing harness bells of Canterbury pilgrims. [Br. Hist.: Espy, 303]
6. Hezekiah brings people of Judah back to God. [O.T.: II Chronicles29:3–11; 31:20–21]
7. Jehoshaphat destroyed idols; adjured men to follow God. [O.T.: II Chronicles 17:3–6; 19:9–11]
8. Job maintains his faith despite severe trials, is finally rewarded by God. [O.T.: Job]
9. Josiah tenaciously follows Moses’ law; orders keeping of Passover. [O.T.: II Kings 23:21–24]
10. Noah saved from flood because of his faith. [O.T.: Genesis 6-10]

    To Lovers:

11. Abigail prostrates herself before David and vows devotion. [O.T.: I Samuel 25:40–41]
12. Akawi-ko waits eighty years for lover to return. [Jap. Legend: Jobes, 59]
13. Amelia despite financial woes, remains faithful to Booth. [Br. Lit.: Amelia ]
14. Andromache devoted wife of Hector. [Gk. Lit.: Iliad; Trojan Women; Andromache ; Fr. Lit.: Andromaghe ]
15. Aramati name of Vedic goddess means faithfulness. [Hindu Myth.: Jobes, 117]
16. Arsinoë Alcmaeon’s wife; continues to love husband though he is unfaithful. [Gk. Myth.: Zimmerman, 32]
17. Brandimante loyal to lover and leader. [Ital. Lit.: Orlando Innamorato ]
18. Briseis loved Achilles despite her capture by Agamemnon. [Gk. Myth.: Walsh Classical, 62]
19. Britomart waits many years for true love, Artegall. [Br. Lit.: Faerie Queene ]
20. Candida ever faithful to husband. [Br. Lit.: Candida ]
21. Charlotte faithful to fiance lost at sea. [Br. Lit.: Fatal Curiosity ]
22. China aster symbol of fidelity. [Flower Symbolism: Jobes, 326]
23. Clärchen devoted to Egmont. [Ger. Lit.: Egmont ]
24. crow faithful; does not mate again for nine generations. [Animal Symbolism: Mercatante, 161]
25. Cynara woman to whom Dowson is faithful in his thoughts even when consorting with others. [Br. Poetry: Barnhart, 301]
26. de Cleves, Princess despite her love for another, remains faithful to her husband even after his death. [Fr. Lit.: Lafayette The Princess ]
27. doves faithfulness reflected in their pairing for life. [Christian Symbolism: Child, 211]
28. Dupre, Sally Clay Wingate’s fiancee quietly waits for his return. [Am. Lit.: “John Brown’s Body” in Magill I, 445–448]
29. Enid though falsely accused of infidelity, nurses husband through wounds. [Br. Lit.: Idylls of the King ]
30. Evangeline lifelong search for lover, Gabriel. [Am. Lit.: Evangeline ]
31. heliotrope symbol of lovers’ faithfulness. [Flower Symbolism: Flora Symbolica, 174]
32. Hypermnestra only one of Danaides who did not murder husband on wedding night. [Gk. Myth.: Howe, 136]
33. Imogen spurns the advances of Iachimo, who had wagered her husband that he could seduce her. [Br. Drama: Shakespeare Cymbeline ]
34. ivy traditional symbol of faithfulness. [Plant Symbolism: Flora Symbolica, 175]
35. key attribute of the personified Fidelity. [Art: Hall, 184]
36. Laodamia commits suicide to join husband Protesilaus in underworld. [Gk. Lit.: Iliad ; Rom. Lit.: Aeneid ]
37. Leonore disguises as Fidelio to save imprisoned husband. [Ger. Opera: Beethoven, Fidelio, Westerman, 109–110]
38. Micawber, Mrs. Emma swears she will never desert husband. [Br. Lit.: David Copperfield ]
39. Nanna immolated herself on pyre with husband, Baldur. [Norse Myth.: Wheeler, 256]
40. Penelope Odysseus’ patient wife; faithful for 20 years while waiting for his return. [Gk. Lit.: Iliad; Odyssey ]
41. Perseus ever devoted to wife, Andromeda. [Gk. Myth.: Zimmerman, 200]
42. Pietas goddess of faithfulness, respect, and affection. [Rom. Myth.: Kravitz, 192]
43. plum symbol of faithfulness. [Flower Symbolism: Flora Symbolica, 176]
44. Portia takes own life after husband, Brutus’s, suicide. [Rom. Hist.: Plutarch’s Lives ]
45. red on yellow symbol of faithfulness. [Chinese Art: Jobes, 357]
46. Rodelinda faithful to her deposed husband, Bertarido. [Br. Opera: Handel, Rodelinda, Westerman, 50–52]
47. Roxy tries to “save” immoral husband. [Am. Lit.: Roxy ]
48. Sita princess abducted from her husband by the demon-king; she remains faithful throughout her captivity. [Indian Lit.: Ramayana ]
49. Sonia young prostitute stays near prison to comfort Raskolnikov. [Russ. Lit.: Crime and Punishment ]
50. Valentine a true friend and constant lover. [Br. Lit.: Two Gentlemen of Verona ]
51. veronica symbol of faithfulness. [Flower Symbolism: Flora Symbolica, 178]
52. violet symbol of faithfulness. [Flower Symbolism: Flora Symbolica, 178; Kunz, 327]
53. Zelda shows devotion to Dobie, who manfully resists. [TV: “The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis” in Terrace, II, 64–66]