Chapter 18

Brothers, be of good cheer, for this night we shall sup with Pluto.—Leonidas,To the Three Hundred at Thermopylæ.

Plutus, the god of wealth.—Classic Mythology.

Within a heart, dearer than Plutus’ mine.Shakespeare,Julius Cæsar, act iv. sc. 3 (1607).

Po(Tom), a ghost. (Welsh,bo, “a hobgoblin.”)

He now would pass for spirit Po.S. Butler,Hudibras, iii. 1 (1678).

Pocahontas, daughter of Powhatan, an Indian chief of Virginia, who rescued Captain John Smith when her father was on the point of killing him. She subsequently married John Rolfe, and was baptized under the name of Rebecca (1595-1617).—Old and New London, ii. 481 (1876).

The Indian Princess is the heroine of John Brougham’s drama,Po-ca-hon-tas, or the Gentle Savage.

Pochet(Madame), the French “Mrs. Gamp.”—Henri Monnier.

Pochi Dana´ri(“the pennyless”). So the Italians call Maximilian I., emperor of Germany (1459, 1493-1519).

Pocket(Mr. Matthew), a real scholar, educated at Harrow, and an honor-man at Cambridge, but, having married young, he had to take up the calling of “grinder” and literary fag for a living. Mr. Pocket, when annoyed, used to run his two hands into his hair, and seemed as if he intended to lift himself by it. His house was a hopeless muddle, the best meals and chief expense being in the kitchen. Pip was placed under the charge of this gentleman.

Mrs. Pocket(Belinda), daughter of a City knight, brought up to be an ornamental nonentity, helpless, shiftless, and useless. She was the mother of eight children, whom she allowed to “tumble up” as best they could, under the charge of her maid, Flopson. Her husband, who was a poor gentleman, found life a very uphill work.

Herbert Pocket, son of Mr. Matthew Pocket, and an insurer of ships. He was a frank, easy young man, lithe and brisk, but not muscular. There was nothing mean or secretive about him. He was wonderfully hopeful, but had not the stuff to push his way into wealth. He was tall, slim, and pale; had a languor which showed itself even in his briskness; was most amiable, cheerful, and communicative. He called Pip “Handel,” because Pip had been a blacksmith, and Handel composed a piece of music entitledThe Harmonious Blacksmith. Pip helped him to a partnership in an agency business.

Sarah Pocket, sister of Matthew Pocket, a little dry, brown, corrugated old woman, with a small face that might have been made of walnut-shell, and a large mouth, like a cat’s without the whiskers.—C. Dickens,Great Expectations(1860).

Podgers(The), lickspittles of the great.—J. Hollingshead,The Birthplace of Podgers.

Podsnap(Mr.), “a too, too smiling large man, with a fatal freshness on him.” Mr. Podsnap has “two little light-colored wiry wings, one on either side of his else bald head, looking as like his hair-brushes as his hair.” On his forehead are generally “little red beads,” and he wears “a large allowance of crumpled shirt-collar up behind.”

Mrs. Podsnap, a “fine woman for Professor Owen: quantity of bone, neck, and nostrils like a rocking-horse, hard features, and majestic head-dress in which Podsnap has hung golden offerings.”

Georgiana Podsnap, daughter of the above; called by her father “the young person.” She is a harmless, inoffensive girl, “always trying to hide her elbows.” Georgiana adores Mrs. Lammle, and when Mr. Lammle tries to marry the girl to Mr. Fledgeby, Mrs. Lammle induces Mr. Twemlow to speak to the father and warn him of the connection.

Poe(Edgar Allen). Poe’s parents were actors, and in 1885, the actors of America erected a monument to the memory of the unhappy poet. The poem read at the dedication of the memorial was byWilliam Winter.

“His music dies not, nor can ever die,Blown ’round the world by every wandering wind,The comet, lessening in the midnight sky,Still leaves its trail of glory far behind.”

Poem in Marble(A), the Taj, a mausoleum of white marble, raised in Agra, by Shah Jehan, to his favorite, Shahrina Moomtaz-i-Mahul, who died in childbirth of her eighth child. It is also called “The Marble Queen of Sorrow.”

Poet(The Quaker), Bernard Barton (1784-1849).

Poet Sire of Italy, Dantê Alighieri (1265-1321).

Poet Squab.John Dryden was so called by the earl of Rochester, on account of his corpulence (1631-1701).

Poet of France(The), Pierre Ronsard (1524-1585).

Poet of Poets, Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822).

Poet of the Poor, the Rev. George Crabbe (1754-1832).

Poets(The prince of). Edmund Spenser is so called on his monument in Westminster Abbey (1553-1598).

Prince of Spanish Poets.So Cervantês calls Garcilaso de la Vega (1503-1536).

Poets of England.

Addison, Beaumont, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Robert Browning, Burns, Butler, Byron, Campbell, Chatterton, Chaucer, Coleridge, Collins, Congreve, Cowley, Cowper, Crabbe, Drayton, Dryden, Fletcher, Ford, Gay, Goldsmith, Gray, Mrs. Hemans, Herbert, Herrick, Hood, Ben Jonson, Keats, Keble, Landor, Marlowe, Marvel, Massinger, Milton, Moore, Otway, Pope, Prior, Rogers, Rowe, Scott, Shakespeare, Shelley, Shenstone, Southey, Spenser, Thomson, Waller, Wordsworth, Young. With many others of less celebrity.

Poets’ Corner, in the south transept of Westminster Abbey. No one knows who christened the corner thus. With poets are divines, philosophers, actors, novelists, architects and critics.

The “corner” contains a bust, statue, tablet, or monument, to five of our first-rate poets: viz., Chaucer (1400), Dryden (1700), Milton (1674), Shakespeare (1616), and Spenser (1598); and some seventeen of second or third class merit, as Addison, Beaumont (none to Fletcher), S. Butler, Campbell, Cowley, Cumberland, Drayton,Gay, Gray, Goldsmith, Ben Jonson, Macaulay, Prior, Rowe, Sheridan, Thomson and Wordsworth.

***Dryden’s monument was erected by Sheffield, duke of Buckingham. Wordsworth’s statue was erected by a public subscription.

Poetry(The Father of), Orpheus (2syl.) of Thrace.

Father of Dutch Poetry, Jakob Maerlant; also called “The Father of Flemish Poetry” (1235-1300).

Father of English Poetry, Geoffrey Chaucer (1328-1400).

Father of Epic Poetry, Homer.

He compares Richardson to Homer, and predicts for his memory the same honors which are rendered to the Father of Epic Poetry.—Sir W. Scott.

Poetry—Prose.Pope advised Wycherly “to convert his poetry into prose.”

Poganuc, small Puritan town in New England as it was 100 years ago.—Harriet Beecher Stowe,Poganuc People(1876).

Po´gram(Elijah), one of the “master minds” of America, and a member of Congress. He was possessed with the idea that there was a settled opposition in the British mind against the institutions of his “free and enlightened country.”—C. Dickens,Martin Chuzzlewit(1844).

Poinder(George), a city officer.—Sir W. Scott,Heart of Midlothian(time, George II.).

Poins, a companion of Sir John Falstaff.—Shakespeare, 1 and 2Henry IV.(1597, 1598).

The chronicles of that day contain accounts of many a mad prank which [Lord Warwick, Addison’s step-son] played ... [like] the lawless freaks of the madcap prince and Poins.—Thackeray.

Poison.It is said that Mithridātês VI., surnamed “the Great,” had so fortified his constitution that poisons had no baneful effect on him (B.C.131, 120-63).

Poison of Khaïbar.By this is meant the poison put into a leg of mutton by Zaïnab, a Jewess, to kill Mahomet while he was in the citadel of Kha´ïbar. Mahomet partook of the mutton, and suffered from the poison all through life.

Poisoners(Secret).

1.Of Ancient Rome: Locusta, employed by Agrippi´na to poison her husband, the Emperor Claudius. Nero employed the same woman to poison Britannicus and others.

2.Of English History: the countess of Somerset, who poisoned Sir Thomas Overbury in the Tower of London. She also poisoned others.

Villiers, duke of Buckingham, it is said poisoned King James I.

3.Of France: Lavoisin and Lavigoreux, French midwives and fortune-tellers.

Catherine de Medicis is said to have poisoned the mother of Henri IV. with a pair of wedding-gloves, and several others with poisoned fans.

The marquise de Brinvilliers, a young profligate Frenchwoman, was taught the art of secret poisoning by Sainte-Croix, who learnt it in Italy.—World of Wonders, vii. 203.

4.Of Italy: Pope Alexander VI. and his children, Cæsar and Lucrezia [Borgia] were noted poisoners; so were Hieronyma Spara and Tofa´na.

Polexan´dre, an heroic romance by Gomberville (1632).

Policy(Mrs.), housekeeper at Holyrood Palace. She appears in the introduction.—Sir W. Scott,Fair Maid of Perth(time, Henry IV.).

Pol´idore(3syl.), father of Valère.—Molière,Le Dépit Amoureux(1654).

Polinesso, duke of Albany, who falsely accused Geneura of incontinency, and was slain in single combat by Ariodantês.—Ariosto,Orlando Furioso(1516).

Polish Jew(The), also calledThe Bells, a melodrama by J. R. Ware, brought prominently into note by the acting of Henry Irving at the Lyceum. Mathis, a miller in a small German town, is visited on Christmas Eve by a Polish Jew, who comes through the snow in a sledge. After rest and refreshment he leaves for Nantzig, “four leagues off.” Mathis follows him, kills him with an axe, and burns the body in a lime-kiln. He then pays his debts, becomes a prosperous and respected man, and is made burgomaster. On the wedding night of his only child, Annette, he dies of apoplexy, of which he had ample warning by the constant sound of sledge-bells in his ears. In his dream he supposes himself put into a mesmeric sleep in open court, when he confesses everything and is executed (1874).

Polixène, the name assumed by Madelon Gorgibus, a shopkeeper’s daughter, as far more romantic and genteel than her baptismal name. Her cousin, Cathos, called herself Aminte (2syl.).

Polix´enes(4syl.), king of Bohemia, schoolfellow and old companion of Leontês, king of Sicily. While on a visit to the Sicilian king, Leontês grew jealous of him, and commanded Camillo to poison him; but Camillo only warned him of his danger, and fled with him to Bohemia. Polixenês’s son, Flor´izel, fell in love with Perdĭta, the supposed daughter of a shepherd; but the king threatened Perdita and the shepherd with death unless this foolish suit were given up. Florizel and Perdita now fled to Sicily, where they were introduced to King Leontês, and it was soon discovered that Perdita was his lost daughter. Polixenês, having tracked the fugitives to Sicily, learned that Perdita was the king’s daughter, and joyfully consented to the union he had before forbidden.—Shakespeare,The Winter’s Tale(1604).

Poll Pineapple, the bumboat woman, once sailed in seaman’s clothes with Lieutenant Belaye (2syl.), in theHot Cross-Bun. Jack tars generally greet each other with “Messmate, ho! what cheer?” but the greeting on theHot Cross-Bunwas always, “How do you do, my dear?” and never was any oath more naughty than “Dear me!” One day, Lieutenant Belaye came on board and said to his crew, “Here, messmates, is my wife, for I have just come from church.” Whereupon they all fainted; and it was found the crew consisted of young women only, who had dressed like sailors to follow the fate of Lieutenant Belaye.—S. Gilbert,The Bab Ballads(“The Bumboat Woman’s Story”).

Pollente(3syl.), a Saracen, lord of the Perilous Bridge. When his groom, Guizor, demands the “passage-penny” of Sir Artegal, the knight gives him a “stunning blow,” saying, “Lo! knave, there’s my hire;” and the groom falls down dead. Pollentê then comes rushing up at full speed, and both he and Sir Artegal fall into the river, fighting most desperately.At length Sir Artegal prevails, and the dead body of the Saracen is carried down “the blood-stained stream.”—Spenser,Faëry Queen, v. 2 (1596).

Upton conjectures that “Pollente” is intended for Charles IX. of France, and his groom, “Guizor” (he says), means the duke of Guise, noted for the part he took in the St. Bartholomew Massacre.

Polly, daughter of Peachum. A pretty girl, who really loved Captain Macheath, married him, and remained faithful even when he disclaimed her. When the reprieve arrived, “the captain” confessed his marriage, and vowed to abide by Polly for the rest of his life.—J. Gay,The Beggar’s Opera(1727).

Polly(Cousin), “a small, bright-eyed lady of indefatigable activity in sacrificing herself for the good of others.... In her trig person she embodied the several functions of housekeeper, nurse, confidante, missionary, parish-clerk, queen of the poultry-yard, and genealogist.”—Constance Cary Harrison,Flower de Hundred(1890).

Polly, the idolized pet of “the Colonel,” her grandfather. He will not let “Bob” marry her, but when the two elope together and present themselves as man and wife, on Christmas Day, and Polly’s face “like a dew-bathed flower” is pressed to his, he yields and takes both to his big heart.—Thomas Nelson Page,In Ole Virginia(1887).

Polo´nius, agarralousold chamberlain, of Denmark, and father of Laer´tês and Ophelia; conceited, politic, and a courtier. Polonius conceals himself, to overhear what Hamlet says to his mother, and, making some unavoidable noise, startles the prince, who, thinking it is the king concealed, rushes blindly on the intruder, and kills him; but finds too late he has killed the chamberlain, and not Claudius, as he hoped and expected.—Shakespeare,Hamlet(1596).

Polonius is a man bred in courts, exercised in business, stored with observations, confident of his knowledge, proud of his eloquence, and declining to dotage.—Dr. Johnson.

It was the great part of William Mynitt (1710-1763).

Soon after Munden retired from the stage, an admirer met him in Covent Garden. It was a wet day, and each carried an umbrella. The gentleman’s was an expensive silk one, and Joe’s an old gingham. “So you have left the stage, ... and ‘Polonius,’ ‘Jemmy Jumps,’ ‘Old Dornton,’ and a dozen others have left the world with you? I wish you’d give me some trifle by way of memorial, Munden!” “Trifle, sir? I’ faith, sir, I’ve got nothing. But, hold, yes, egad, suppose we exchange umbrellas.”—Theatrical Anecdotes.

Polwarth(Alick), a servant of Waverley’s.—Sir W. Scott,Waverley(time, George II.).

Polycle´tos(in LatinPolycletus), a statuary of Sicyon, who drew up a canon of the proportions of the several parts of the human body: as, twice round the thumb is once round the wrist; twice round the wrist is once round the neck; twice round the neck is once round the waist; once round the fist is the length of the foot; the two arms extended is the height of the body; six times the length of the foot, or eighteen thumbs, is also the height of the body.

Again, the thumb, the longest toe, and the nose should all be of the same length. The index finger should measure the breadth of the hand and foot, and twice the breadth should give the length. Thehand, the foot, and the face should all be the same length. The nose should be one-third of the face; and, of course, the thumbs should be one-third the length of the hand. Gerard de Lairesse has given the exact measurements of every part of the human figure, according to the famous statues of“Antinöus,“Apollo Belvidere,” “Herculês,” and “Venus de’Medici.”

Polycrates(4syl.), tyrant of Samos. He was so fortunate in everything, that Am´asis, king of Egypt, advised him to part with something he highly prized. Whereupon, Polycrătês threw into the sea an engraved gem of extraordinary value. A few days afterwards, a fish was presented to the tyrant, in which this very gem was found. Amasis now renounced all friendship with him, as a man doomed by the gods; and not long after this, a satrap, having entrapped the too fortunate despot, put him to death by crucifixion. (SeeFish and the Ring.)—Herodotus, iii. 40.

Polyd´amas, a Thessalian athlete of enormous strength. He is said to have killed an angry lion, to have held by the heels a raging bull and thrown it helpless at his feet, to have stopped a chariot in full career, etc. One day, he attempted to sustain a falling rock, but was killed and buried by the huge mass.

Milo carried a bull, four years old, on his shoulders through the stadium at Olympia; he also arrested a chariot in full career. One day, tearing asunder a pine tree, the two parts, rebounding, caught his hands and held him fast, in which state he was devoured by wolves.

Polydore(3syl.), the name by which Belarius called Prince Guiderius, while he lived in a cave in the Welsh mountains. His brother, Prince Arvirăgus, went by the name of Cadwal.—Shakespeare,Cymbeline(1605).

Polydore(3syl.), brother of General Memnon, beloved by the Princess Calis, sister of Astorax, king of Paphos.—Beaumont and Fletcher,The Mad Lover(1618).

Polydore(Lord), son of Lord Acasto, and Castalio’s younger brother. He entertained a base passion for his father’s ward Monimia, “the orphan,” and, making use of the signal (“three soft taps upon the chamber door”) to be used by Castalio, to whom she was privately married, indulged his wanton love, Monimia supposing him to be her husband. When, next day, he discovered that Monimia was actually married to Castalio, he was horrified, and provoked a quarrel with his brother; but as soon as Castalio drew his sword, he ran upon it and was killed.—Thomas Otway,The Orphan(1680).

Polydore(3syl.), a comrade of Ernest of Otranto (page of Prince Tancred).—Sir W. Scott,Count Robert of Paris(time, Rufus).

Polyglot(Ignatius), the master of seventeen languages, and tutor of Charles Eustace (aged 24). Very learned, very ignorant of human life; most strict as a disciplinarian, but tender-hearted as a girl. His pupil has married clandestinely, but Polyglot offers himself voluntarily to be the scapegoat of the young couple, and he brings them off triumphantly.—J. Poole,The Scapegoat.

Polyglott(A Walking), Cardinal Mezzofanti, who knew fifty-eight different languages (1774-1849).

Polyolbion(the “greatly blessed”), by Michael Drayton, in thirty parts, called“songs,”It is a topographical description of England. Song i. The landing of Bruce. Song ii. Dorsetshire, and the adventures of Sir Bevis of Southampton. Song iii. Somerset. Song iv. Contention of the rivers of England and Wales respecting Lundy—to which country it belonged. Song v. Sabrina, as arbiter, decides that it is “allied alike both toEngglandand Wales;” Merlin and Milford Haven. Song vi. The salmon and beaver of Twy; the tale of Sabrina; the druids and bards. Song vii. Hereford. Song viii. Conquest of Britain by the Romans and by the Saxons. Song ix. Wales. Song x. Merlin’s prophecies; Winifred’s well; defence of the “tale of Brute” (1612). Song xi. Cheshire, the religious Saxon kings. Song xii. Shropshire and Staffordshire; the Saxon warrior kings; and Guy of Warwick. Song xiii. Warwick; Guy of Warwick concluded. Song xiv. Gloucestershire. Song xv. The marriage of Isis and Thame. Song xvi. The Roman roads and Saxon kingdoms. Song xvii. Surrey and Sussex; the sovereigns of England from William to Elizabeth. Song xviii. Kent; England’s great generals and sea-captains (1613). Song xix. Essex and Suffolk; English navigators. Song xx. Norfolk. Song xxi. Cambridge and Ely. Song xxii. Buckinghamshire, and England’s intestine battles. Song xxiii. Northamptonshire. Song xxiv. Rutlandshire; and the British saints. Song xxv. Lincolnshire. Song xxvi. Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Derbyshire; with the story of Robin Hood. Song xxvii. Lancashire and the Isle of Man. Song xxviii. Yorkshire. Song xxix. Northumberland. Song xxx. Cumberland (1622).

Pol´ypheme(3syl.), a gigantic cyclops of Sicily, who fed on human flesh. When Ulysses, on his return from Troy, was driven to this Island, he and twelve of his companions were seized by Polypheme, and confined in his cave, that he might devour two daily for his dinner. Ulysses made the giant drunk, and, when he lay down to sleep, bored out his one eye. Roused by the pain, the monster tried to catch his tormentors; but Ulysses and his surviving companions made their escape by clinging to the bellies of the sheep and rams when they were let out to pasture (Odyssey, ix.).

There is a Basque legend told of the giant Tartaro, who caught a young man in his snares, and confined him in his cave for dessert. When, however, Tartaro fell asleep, the young man made the giant’s spit red hot, bored out his one eye, and then made his escape by fixing the bell of the bell-ram round his neck, and a sheep-skin over his back. Tartaro seized the skin, and the man, leaving it behind, made off.—Basque Legends.

A very similar adventure forms the tale of Sindbad’s third voyage, in theArabian Nights. He was shipwrecked on a strange island, and entered, with his companions, a sort of palace. At nightfall, a one-eyed giant entered, and ate one of them for supper, and another for breakfast next morning. This went on for a day or two, when Sindbad bored out the giant’s one eye with a charred olive stake. The giant tried in vain to catch his tormentors, but they ran to their rafts; and Sindbad, with two others, contrived to escape.

***Homer was translated into Syriac by Theophilus Edessenes in the caliphate of Hárun-ur-Ráshid (A.D.786-809).

Polypheme and Galatea.Polypheme loved Galatēa, the sea-nymph; but Galatea had fixed her affections onAcis, a Sicilian shepherd. The giant, in his jealousy, hurled a huge rock at his rival, and crushed him to death.

The tale of Polypheme is from Homer’sOdyssey, ix. It is also given by Ovid in hisMetamorphoses, xiv. Euripidês introduces the monster in hisCyclops; and the tragedy of Acis and Galatea is the subject of Handel’s famous opera so called.

(In Greek the monster is calledPolyphêmos, and in LatinPolyphēmus.)

Polyphe´mus of Literature, Dr. Samuel Johnson (1709-1784).

Polypho´nus(“big voiced”), the Kapăneus and most boastful of the frog heroes. He was slain by the mouse Artophăgus (“the bread-nibbler”).

But great Artophagus avenged the slain, ...And Polyphōnus died, a frog renownedFor boastful speech and turbulence of sound.Parnell,Battle of the Frogs and Mice, iii. (about 1712).

Polyx´ena, a magnanimous and most noble woman, wife of Charles Emmanuel, king of Sardinia (who succeeded to the crown in 1730).—R. Browning,King Victor and King Charles, etc.

Pomegranate Seed.When Perseph´onê was in Hadês, whither Pluto had carried her, the god, foreknowing that Jupiter would demand her release, gathered a pomegranate, and said to her, “Love, eat with me, this parting day, of the pomegranate seed;” and she ate. Demēter, in the mean time, implored Zeus (Jupiter) to demand Persephonê’s release; and the king of Olympus promised she should be set at liberty, if she had not eaten anything during her detention in Hadês. As, however, she had eaten pomegranate seeds, her return was impossible.

Low laughs the dark king on his throne—“I gave her of pomegranate seeds” ...

And chant the maids of Enna still—“O fateful flower beside the rill,The daffodil, the daffodil.” (SeeDaffodil.)Jean Ingelow,Persephone.

Pomoma.The incomparable maid-of-work, custodian, novelist, comedienne, tragedienne, and presiding genius of Rudder Grange. Herchef d’œuvreis the expedient of posting the premises “To be Sold for Taxes,” to keep away peddlers of trees, etc., in her employers’ absence.—Frank Stockton,Rudder Grange(1879).

Pompey, a clown; servant to Mrs. Overdone (a bawd).—Shakespeare,Measure for Measure(1603).

Pompey the Great, was killed by Achillas and Septimius, the moment the Egyptian fishing-boat reached the coast. Plutarch tells us they threw his head into the sea. Others say his head was sent to Cæsar, who turned from it with horror, and shed a flood of tears. Shakespeare makes him killed by “savage islanders” (2Henry VI.act iv. sc. 1, 1598).

Pompil´ia, a foundling, the putative daughter of Pietro (2syl.). She married Count Guido Franceschini, who treated her so brutally that she made her escape under the protection of a young priest named Caponsacchi. Pompilia subsequently gave birth to a son, but was slain by her husband.

The babe had been a find i’ the filth-heap, sir,Catch from the kennel. There was found at Rome,Down in the deepest of our social dregs,A woman who professed the wanton’s trade ...She sold this babe eight months before its birthTo our Violante (3syl.), Pietro’s honest spouse, ...Partly to please old Pietro,Partly to cheat the rightful heirs, agapeFor that same principal of the usufruct,It vexed him he must die and leave behind.R. Browning,The Ring and the Book, ii, 557, etc.

Ponce de Léon, the navigator who went in search of theFontaine de Jouvence, “qui fit rajovenir la gent.” He sailed in two ships on this “voyage of discoveries,” in the sixteenth century.

Like Ponce de Léon, he wants to go off to the Antipodês in search of thatFontaine de Jouvencewhich was fabled to give a man back his youth.—Véra, 130.

Pongo, a cross between “a land-tiger and a sea-shark.” This terrible monster devastated Sicily, but was slain by the three sons of St. George.—R. Johnson,The Seven Champions, etc.(1617).

Ponoc´rates(4syl.), the tutor of Gargantua.—Rabelais,Gargantua(1533).

Pontius Pilate’s Body-Guard, the 1st Foot Regiment. In Picardy the French officers wanted to make out that they were the seniors, and, to carry their point, vaunted that they were on duty on the night of the Crucifixion. The colonel of the 1st Foot replied, “If we had been on guard we should not have slept at our posts” (seeMatt.xxviii. 13).

Pontoys(Stephen), a veteran in Sir Hugo de Lacy’s troop.—Sir W. Scott,The Betrothed(time, Henry II.).

Pony(Mr. Garland’s), Whisker (q.v.).

Poole(1syl.), in Dorsetshire; once “a young and lusty sea-born lass,” courted by Great Albion, who had by her three children, Brunksey, Fursey and [St.] Hellen. Thetis was indignant that one of her virgin train should be guilty of such indiscretion; and, to protect his children from her fury, Albion placed them in the bosom of Poole, and then threw his arms around them.—M. Drayton,Polyolbion, ii. (1612).

Poor(Father of the), Bernard Gilpin. (1517-1583).

Poor Gentleman(The), a comedy by George Colman, the younger (1802). “The poor gentleman” is Lieutenant Worthington, discharged from the army on half-pay because his arm had been crushed by a shell in storming Gibraltar. On his half-pay he had to support himself, his daughter Emily, an old corporal and a maiden sister-in-law. Having put his name to a bill for £500, his friend died without effecting an insurance, and the lieutenant was called upon for payment. Imprisonment would have followed if Sir Robert Bramble had not most generously paid the money. With this piece of good fortune came another—the marriage of his daughter Emily to Frederick Bramble, nephew and heir of the rich baronet.

Poor Richard, the pseudonym of Benjamin Franklin, under which he issued a series of almanacs, which he made the medium of teaching thrift, temperance, order, cleanliness, chastity, forgiveness, and so on. The maxims or precepts of these almanacs generally end with the words, “as poor Richard says” (begun in 1732).

Poor Robin, the pseudonym of Robert Herrick, the poet, under which he issued a series of almanacs (begun in 1661).

Pope(to drink like a). Benedict XII. was an enormous eater, and such a huge wine-drinker that he gave rise to the Bacchanalian expression,Bibāmus papaliter.

Pope Changing His Name.Peter Hogsmouth, or, as he is sometimes called, Peter di Porca, was the first pope to changehis name. He called himself Sergius II. (844-847). Some say he thought it arrogant to be called Peter II.

Pope-Fig-Lands, Protestant countries. The Gaillardets, being shown the pope’s image, said, “A fig for the pope!” whereupon their whole island was put to the sword, and the name changed to Pope-fig-land, the people being called “Pope-figs.”—Rabelais,Pantag´ruel, iv. 45 (1545).

The allusion is to the kingdom of Navarre, once Protestant; but in 1512 it was subjected to Ferdinand, the Catholic.

Pope-Figs, Protestants. The name was given to the Gaillardets for saying “A fig for the pope!”

They were made tributaries and slaves to the Papimans for saying “A fig for the pope’s image!” and never after did the poor wretches prosper, but every year the devil was at their doors, and they were plagued with hail, storms, famine, and all manner of woes, in punishment of this sin of their forefathers.—Rabelais,Pantagruel, iv. 45 (1545).

Pope Joan, between Leo IV. and Benedict III., and called John [VIII.]. The subject of this scandalous story was an English girl, educated at Cologne, who left her home in man’s disguise with her lover (the monk Folda), and went to Athens, where she studied law. She went to Rome and studied theology, earning so great a reputation that, at the death of Leo IV., she was chosen his successor. Her sex was discovered by the birth of a child, while she was going to the Lateran Basilica, between the Coliseum and the church of St. Clement. Pope Joan died, and was buried, without honors, after a pontificate of two years and five months (853-855).—Marianus Scotus (who died 1086).

The story is given most fully by Martinus Polonus, confessor to Gregory X., and the tale was generally believed till the Reformation. There is a German miracle-play on the subject, calledThe Canonization of Pope Joan(1480). David Blondel, a Calvinist divine, has written a book to confute the tale.

The following note contains the chief points of interest:—

Anastasius, the librarian, is the first to mention such a pope,A.D.886, or thirty years after the death of Joan.

Marianus Scotus, in hisChronicle, says she reigned two years, five months and four days (853-855). Scotus died 1086.

Sigebert de Gemblours, in hisChronicle, repeats the same story (1112).

Otto ofFriesingenand Gotfried of Viterbo both mention her in their histories.

Martin Polonus gives a very full account of the matter. He says she went by the name of John Anglus, and was born at Metz, of English parents. While she was pope, she was prematurely delivered of a child in the street “between the Coliseum and St. Clement’s Church.”

William Ocham alludes to the story.

Thomas de Elmham repeats it (1422).

John Huss tells us her baptismal name was not Joan, but Agnes.

Others insist that her name was Gilberta.

In theAnnalês Augustani(1135), we are told her papal name was John VIII., and that she it was whoconscratedLouis II., of France.

Arguments in favor of the allegation are given by Spanheim,Exercit. de Papa Fæmina, ii. 577; in Lenfant,Historie de la Papesse Jeanne.

Arguments against the allegation are given by Allatius or Allatus,Confutatio Fabulæ de Johanna Papissa; and inLequien,Oriens Christianus, iii. 777.

Arguments on both sides are given inCunningham’s translation ofGeiseler, Lehrbuch, ii. 21, 22; and in La Bayle’sDictionnaire, iii., art. “Papisse.”

***Gibbon says, “Two Protestants, Blondel and Bayle, have annihilated the female pope;” but the expression is certainly too strong, and even Mosheim is more than half inclined to believe there really was such a person.

Pope of Philosophy, Aristotle (B.C.384-322).

Popes(Titles assumed by). “Universal Bishop,” prior to Gregory the Great. Gregory the Great adopted the style of “Servus Servorum” (591).

Martin IV. was addressed as “the lamb of God which takest away the sins of the world,” to which was added, “Grant us thy peace!” (1281).

Leo X. was styled, by the council of Lateran, “Divine Majesty,” “Husband of the Church,” “Prince of the Apostles,” “The Key of all the Universe,” “The Pastor, the Physician, and a God possessed of all power both in heaven and on earth” (1513).

Paul V. styled himself “Monarch of Christendom,” “Supporter of the Papal Omnipotence,” “Vice-God,” “Lord God the Pope” (1605).

Others, after Paul, “Master of the World,” “Pope the Universal Father,” “Judge in the place of God,” “Vicegerent of the Most High.”—Brady,Clavis Calendaria, 247 (1839).

The pope assumes supreme dominion, not only over spiritual but also over temporal affairs, styling himself “Head of the Catholic or Universal Church, Sole Arbiter of its rights, and Sovereign Father of all the Kings of the Earth.” From these titles, he wears a triple crown, one as High Priest, one as emperor, and the third as king. He also bears keys, to denote his privilege of opening the gates of heaven to all true believers.—Brady, 250-1.

***For the first five centuries the bishops of Rome wore a bonnet, like other ecclesiastics. Pope Hormisdas placed on his bonnet the crown sent him by Clovis; Boniface VIII. added a second crown during his struggles with Philip the Fair; and John XXII. assumed the third crown.

Popish Plot, a supposed Roman Catholic conspiracy to massacre the Protestants, burn London, and murder the king (Charles II.). This fiction was concocted by one Titus Oates, who made a “good thing” by his schemes; but being at last found out, was pilloried, whipped, and imprisoned (1678-9).

Poppy(Ned), a prosy old anecdote teller, with a marvellous tendency to digression.

Poquelin(Jean-ah), a wealthy Creole living in seclusion in an old house, attended only by a deaf-mute negro. The secrecy and mystery of his life excite all sorts of ugly rumors, and he is mobbed by a crowd of mischievous boys and loafers, receiving injuries that cause his death. The story that his house is haunted keeps intruders from the doors, but they venture near enough on the day of his funeral, to see the coffin brought out by the mute negro, and laid on a cart, and that the solitary mourner is Poquelin’s brother, long supposed to be dead. He is aleper, for whom the elder brother has cared secretly all these years, not permitting the knowledge of his existence to get abroad, lest the unfortunate man should be removed forcibly, and sent to what is the only asylum for him now that his guardian is dead—the abhorrentTerre aux Lepreux.—George W. Cable,Old Creole Days(1879).

Porch(The). The Stoics were so called, because their founder gave his lectures in the Athenianstoa, orporch, called “Pœ´cilê.”

The successors of Socrătês formed ... the Academy, the Porch, the Garden.—Professor Seeley,Ecce Homo.

George Herbert has a poem calledThe Church Porch(six-line stanzas). It may be considered introductory to his poem entitledThe Church(Sapphic verse and sundry other metres).

Porcius, son of Cato, of Utĭca (in Africa), and brother of Marcus. Both brothers were in love with Lucia; but the hot-headed, impulsive Marcus, being slain in battle, the sage and temperate Porcius was without a rival.—J. Addison,Cato(1713).

When Sheridan reproducedCato, Wignell, who acted “Porcius,” omitted the prologue, and began at once with the lines, “The dawn is overcast, the morning lowers....” “The prologue! the prologue!” shouted the audience; and Wignell went on in the same tone, as if continuing his speech:

Ladies and gentleman, there has not beenA prologue spoken to this play for years—And heavily on clouds brings on the day,The great, th’ important day, big with the fateOf Cato and of Rome.History of the Stage.

Porcupine(Peter). William Cobbett, the politician, publishedThe Rushlightunder this pseudonym in 1860.

Pornei´us(3syl.), Fornication personified; one of the four sons of Anag´nus (inchastity), his brothers being Mæ´chus (adultery), Acath´arus, and Asel´gês (lasciviousness). He began the battle of Mansoul by encountering Parthen´ia (maidenly chastity), but “the martial maid” slew him with her spear. (Greek,porneia, “fornication.”).

In maids his joy; now by a maid defied,His life he lost and all his former pride.With women would he live, now by a woman died.Phineas Fletcher,The Purple Island, xi. (1633).

Porphyrius, in Dryden’s drama ofTyrannic Love.

Valeria, daughter of Maximin, having killed herself for the love of Porphyrus, was on one occasion being carried off by the bearers, when she started up and boxed one of the bearers on the ears, saying to him:Hold! are you mad, you damned confounded dog?I am to rise and speak the epilogue.W. C. Russell,Representative Actors, 456.

Hold! are you mad, you damned confounded dog?I am to rise and speak the epilogue.W. C. Russell,Representative Actors, 456.

Porphyro-Genitus(“born in the Porphyra”), the title given to the kings of the Eastern empire, from the apartments called Porphyra, set apart for the empresses during confinement.

There he found Irene, the empress, in travail, in a house anciently appointed for the empresses during childbirth. They call that house “Porphyra,” whence the name of the Porphyro-geniti came into the world.—See Selden,Titles of Honor, v. 61 (1614).

Porrex, younger son of Gorboduc, a legendary king of Britain. He drove his elder brother, Ferrex, from the kingdom, and, when Ferrex returned with a large army, defeated and slew him. Porrex was murdered while “slumbering on his careful bed,” by his own mother, whostabbedhim to the heart with a knife.”—Thomas Norton and Thomas Sackville,Gorboduc(a tragedy, 1561-2).

Por´sena, a legendary king of Etruria, who made war on Rome to restore Tarquin to the throne.

Lord Macaulay has made this the subject of one of hisLays of Ancient Rome(1842).

Port´amour, Cupid’s sheriff’s officer, who summoned offending lovers to “Love’s Judgment Hall.”—Spenser,Faëry Queen, vi. 7 (1596).

Porteous(Captain John), an officer of the city guard. He is hanged by the mob (1736).

Mrs. Porteous, wife of the captain.—Sir W. Scott,The Heart of Midlothian(time, George II.)

Porter(Sir Joseph), K. C. B. The admiral who “stuck close to his desk, and never went to sea.” His reward was the appointment as “ruler of the Queen’s navee.”—W. S. Gilbert,Pinafore.

Portia, the wife of Pontius Pilate, in Klopstock’sMessiah.

Portia, wife of Marcus Brutus. Valerius Maximus says: “She, being determined to kill herself, took hot burning coals into her mouth, and kept her lips closed till she was suffocated by the smoke.”

With this she fell distract,And, her attendants absent, swallowed fire.Shakespeare,Julius Cæsar, act iv. sc. 3 (1607).

Portia, a rich heiress, in love with Bassa´nio; but her choice of a husband was restricted by her father’s will to the following condition: Her suitors were to select from three caskets, one of gold, one of silver, and one of lead, and he who selected the casket which contained Portia’s picture, was to claim her as his wife. Bassanio chose the lead, and being successful, became the espoused husband. It so happened that Bassanio had borrowed 3,000 ducats, and Antonio, a Venetian merchant, was his security. The money was borrowed of Shylock, a Jew, on these conditions: If the loan was repaid within three months, only the principal would be required; if not, the Jew should be at liberty to claim a pound of flesh from Antonio’s body. The loan was not repaid, and the Jew demanded the forfeiture. Portia, in the dress of a law doctor, conducted the defence, and saved Antonio by reminding the Jew that a pound offleshgave him no drop of blood, and that he must cut neither more nor less than an exact pound, otherwise his life would be forfeited. As it would be plainly impossible to fulfill these conditions, the Jew gave up his claim, and Antonio was saved.—Shakespeare,Merchant of Venice(1598).

Portsmouth(The duchess of), “La Belle Louise de Querouaille,” one of the mistresses of Charles II.—Sir W. Scott,Perveril of the Peak(time, Charles II.).

Portuguese Cid(The), Nunez Alvarez Pereria (1360-1431).

Portuguese Horace(The), Antonio Ferreira (1528-1569).

“Posson Jone,” a gigantic parson from “up the river” who has “been to Mobile on business for Bethesdy Church.” His sojourn in New Orleans on his way home is marked by divers adventures. He is beguiled into a gambling den, drugged and made drunk. While intoxicated, he visits a circus and has a scene with the showman and his tiger; he is locked up and awakes in his senses and penitent. His simplicity of self-condemnation, his humility and fortitude move his tempter to restore the $500 of church-money he has “borrowed” from the confiding victim whose transport of pious gratitude overwhelms the world-hardened man with shame and inspires him to new resolves.—George W. Cable, “Posson Jone” (1879).

Posthu´mus[Leonatus] married Imogen, daughter of Cymbeline, king of Britain, and was banished the kingdom for life. He went to Italy, and there, in the house of Philario, bet a diamond ring with Iachimo that nothing could seduce the fidelity of Imogen. Iachimo accepted the bet, concealed himself in a chest in Imogen’s chamber, made himself master of certain details and also of a bracelet, and with these vouchers claimed the ring. Posthūmus now ordered his servant, Pisanio, to inveigle Imogen to Milford Haven under the promise of meeting her husband, and to murder her on the road; but Pisanio told Imogen to assume boy’s apparel, and enter the service of the Roman general in Britain, as a page. A battle being fought, the Roman general, Iachimo, and Imogen were among the captives; and Posthumus, having done great service in the battle on Cymbeline’s behalf, was pardoned. The Roman general prayed that the supposed page might be set at liberty, and the king told her she might also claim a boon, whereupon she asked that Iachimo should state how he became possessed of the ring he was wearing. The whole villainy being thus exposed, Imogen’s innocence was fully established, and she was re-united to her husband.—Shakespeare,Cymbeline(1605).

Potage(Jean), the French “Jack Pudding;” similar to the Italian “Macaroni,” the Dutch “Pickel-herringe,” and the German “Hanswurst.” Clumsy, gormandizing clowns, fond of practical jokes, especially such as stealing eatables and drinkables.

Pother(Doctor), an apothecary, “city register, and walking story-book.” He had a storyà proposof every remark made and of every incident; but as he mixed two or three together, his stories were pointless and quite unintelligible. “I know a monstrous good story on that point He! he! he” “I tell you a famous good story about that, you must know. He! he! he!...” “I could have told a capital story, but there was no one to listen to it. He! he! he!” This is the style of his chattering ... “speaking professionally—for anatomy, chemistry, pharmacy, phlebotomy, oxygen, hydrogen, caloric, carbonic, atmospheric, galvanic. Ha! ha! ha! Can tell you a prodigiously laughable story on the subject. Went last summer to a watering-place—lady of fashion—feel pulse—not lady, but lap-dog—talk Latin—prescribed galvanism—out jumped Pompey plump into a batter pudding, and lay like a toad in a hole. Ha! ha! ha!”—Dibdin,The Farmer’s Wife(1780).

***Colman’s “Ollapod” (1802) was evidently copied from Dibdin’s “Doctor Pother.”

Potiphar(Mr.), freshly-made man intensely uncomfortable in his plated harness. His ideas of art are grounded upon a dim picture in his wife’s drawing-room, called by him “Giddo’s Shay Doover.”

Mrs. Potiphar, shoddy of shoddys. Purse-proud, affected, pretentious and ambitious, and even less fit for her position than her husband for his.—George William Curtis,Potiphar Papers(1853).

Potiphar’s Wife, Zoleikha or Zuleika; but some call her Raïl.—Sale,Al Korân, xii. note.

Pott(Mr.), the librarian at the Spa.

Mrs. Pott, the librarian’s wife.—Sir W. Scott,St. Roman’s Well(time, George III.).

Potteries(Father of the), Josiah Wedgewood (1730-1795).

Pounce(Mr. Peter), inThe Adventures of Joseph Andrews, by Fielding (1742).

Poundtext(Peter), an “indulged pastor” in the covenanters’ army.—Sir W. Scott,Old Mortality(time, Charles II.).

Pourceaugnac[Poor-sone-yak], the hero of a comedy so called. He is a pompous country gentleman, who comes to Paris to marry Julie, daughter of Oronte (2syl.); but Julie loves Eraste (2syl.), and this young man plays off so many tricks, and devises so many mystifications upon M. de Pourceaugnac, that he is fain to give up his suit.—Molière,M. de Pourceaugnac(1669).

Poussin(The British), Richard Cooper (*-1806).

Poussin(Gaspar). So Gaspar Dughet, the French painter, is called (1613-1675).

Powell(Mary), the first wife of John Milton.

Powheid(Lazarus), the old sexton in Douglas.—Sir W. Scott,Castle Dangerous(time, Henry I.).

Poyning’s Law, a statute to establish the English jurisdiction in Ireland. The parliament that passed it was summoned in the reign of Henry VII. by Sir Edward Poynings, governor of Ireland (1495).

Poyser(Mrs.), shrewd, capable and ready-tongued wife of a British yeoman, and aunt of Hetty Sorrel.—George Eliot,Adam Bede.

P. P., “Clerk of the Parish,” the feigned signature of Dr. Arbuthnot, subscribed to a volume ofMemoirsin ridicule of Burnet’sHistory of My Own Times.

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