in C minor and A major deserve special mention ; Concerto for the Violin, Op. 61 ; Concerti for the Pianoforte, Nos. 3-5 ; Overtures to Prometheus, Coriolanus, Fidelia, and King Stephen ; also numerous sonatas for the pianoforte, quartets, quintets, and other pieces of chamber music. The third period may be described as that of poetic music, a distinct poetic idea becoming the moving prin ciple before which the forms of absolute music have to yield. Beethoven has, by the works belonging to this class, ushered in a new phase of music, as will be further shown in the historical sketch of the art. We name that unequalled master-piece of symphonic art, the Ninth or Choral Symphony; the Missa Solemnis ; the Sonatas for Pianoforte, numbered respectively Op. 101, 102, 106, 109, 110, 111; the marvellous Quartets for Strings, Op. 127, 130, 132, 135; ako the 33 Variations on a Valse by
Diabelli, Op. 120.For fuller information on the great master s life and works than our limited space has permitted us to give, we refer the reader to the biographical and critical works of Schindler, Thayer, Nohl, Marx, and Nottebohm.
(f. h.)
BEETLE, a name commonly applied to those insects which form the order Coleoptera (" sheathwinged "), and which are readily distinguished from all others by the nature of the two upper wings. These are formed of a hard, horny substance known as chitin ; and, although useless in flight, they serve as shields for the protection of the delicate wings underneath, while in many cases their hardness protects the beetle itself from the attacks of insectivorous birds. In some instances the elytra, as those upper wings are called, are firmly soldered together, and such species are thus rendered incapable of flight. Owing to the beauty of many of the exotic species, and the ease with which they can be preserved, beetles have been collected with great diligence by entomologists, so that nearly 80,000 species, it is estimated, have already been described. Among the members of so large a group it need hardly be said that the greatest diversity exists in form and habits. They are all, however, provided with a masticatory mouth ; and in such predatory species as the Tiger Beetles, the mandibles are largely developed, and often armed with acute teeth. Many of them are carnivorous, feeding on other insects, and on decaying animal matter ; but the larger proportion live on the fruits, leaves, and stems of plants, in many instances doing great damage to cereal crops and forest trees. In Germany, in the year 1783, a million and a half of trees are said to have been destroyed in the Harz Forest alone by means of two small species of wood-boring beetles ; and in North America at the present time the potato crop is being annually blighted by the devastations of the larvas of what is known as the Potato Beetle (Doryphora decemlincaia). Beetles undergo complete metamorphosis, passing from the larva to the pupa stage, in which they sometimes remain for several years before emerging as full-formed insects ; others, however, undergo all the changes from egg to beetle in a few months. Many of those insects, such as the Goliath and Hercules Beetles, attain gigantic proportions, measuring often 6 inches long, exclusive of antenna?, and 2 inches broad ; and many bear on the upper surface of their bodies curious horn-like pro jections. Others, as the Diamond Beetle of Brazil, are adorned with the most brilliant colours, showing a beautiful metallic lustre ; and the elytra of such species are now largely used by jewellers in the manufacture of personal ornaments. See Coleoptera and Insects.
BEGAS, Karl, a distinguished German historical painter, was born at Heinsberg in 1794, and died in 1854. His father, a retired judge, destined him for the legal profession, but the boy s tastes pointed definitely in another direction. Even at school he was remarked for his wonderful skill in drawing and painting, and in 1810 he was permitted to visit Paris in order to perfect himself in his art. He studied for eighteen months in the atelier of Gros, and then began to work independently. In 1814 his copy of the Madonna della Sedia was bought by the king cf Prussia, who was attracted by the -young artist, and did much to advance him. He was engaged to paint several large Biblical pictures, and in 1825, after his return from Italy, continued to produce paintings which were placed in the churches of Berlin and Potsdam. Some of these were historical pieces, but the majority were representations of Scriptural incidents. Begas was also celebrated as a portrait painter, and supplied to the royal gallery a long series of portraits of eminent Prussian men of letters. At his death he held the post of court painter.
BEGBAZAAR, or Beibazaar, a town of Asiatic Turkey, in the Anatolian province of Angora, situated on the Sangarius or Sakaria, about 52 miles W. of the provincial capital. Its houses are two stories in height, and roofed with shingles. Carpet-weaving is carried on in the town, and rice, cotton, and fruits are cultivated in the neighbour hood. The pears that are sold in Constantinople as the produce of Angora are really grown by the people of Begbazaar. Numerous remains of ancient works in marble are found throughout the town. Population, 4750.
history of the Beghards is one of the obscurest problems in mediaeval times, and nothing very certain has been ascertained. During the Middle Ages there were formed, alongside of the regular orders, companies of men and women who devoted themselves to a religious life, but did not bind themselves by strict vows. The design was to enable men and women, who did not mean to separate themselves entirely from the world, to lead, nevertheless, what, in the Middle Ages, was esteemed the religious life. Such companies were the Tertiarii of the Dominican and Franciscan orders, and at first the Beghards and Beguines were similarly constituted. The first notices we have of them tell us that, in the end of the 12th century, in several of the towns of the Netherlands, companies of women formed themselves together, under a simple rule, for the purpose of taking care of the sick and for other charitable objects. They were generally widows and maidens of high rank, and were called Beghinse, or Beguinse, or Beguttae. The origin of the word is very obscure. Some time later, companies of men were formed in a similar way, and under the same rule. They took no vows, and were at liberty to leave the company when they liked. The men were called Beghards. In the 14th century these Beghards seem to have attached themselves to the Franciscans, and to have been instru mental in exciting to revolt that portion of the order which rebelled against the Pope. For some period, indeed, the terms Fratricelli or Spirituales (the two names for the rebel Franciscans) are used synonymously with Beghards. It is believed that the Arabian pantheism of Averroes had became diffused among many of the mystical sects, and that societies, originally purely religious, had become partly political. We know, at all events, that, in the 14th century, the Beghards were in close alliance with the communistic and pantheistic " Brethren of the Free Spirit." Clement V. denounced them at the Council of Vienna, and launched two bulls against them ; the Inquisition was ordered to suppress them ; and Pope John XXIL, while he protected the Beguines, persecuted the Beghards. Such Beghards as still remained were absorbed in the Tertiarii of the Franciscans in the 17th century ; but small communities of Beguines Beguinages, as they are called still exist in the Netherlands, and in their organization are somewhat similar to many Anglican sisterL .<>cls. (Cf. Mosheim, De
Beyhardis (t ~I3eguinalus, the look upon the subject,