Chapter Pun to Pygmalion of P by Brewer's Readers Handbook

divided Purgatory from Paradise. Virgil continued his guide till they came to Lethê, when he left him during sleep (canto xxx.). Dantê was then dragged through the river Lethê, drank of the waters of Eunôe, and met Beatrice, who conducted him till he arrived at the “sphere of unbodied light,” when she resigned her office to St. Bernard.

Purgon, one of the doctors in Molière’s comedy of Le Malade Imaginaire. When the patient’s brother interfered, and sent the apothecary away with his clysters, Dr. Purgon got into a towering rage, and threatened to leave the house and never more to visit it. He then said to the patient, “Que vous tombiez dans la bradypepsie … de la bradypepsie dans la dyspepsie … de la dyspepsie dans l’apepsie … de l’apepsie dans la lienterie … de la lienterie dans la dyssenterie … de la dyssenterie dans l’hydropisie … et l’hydropisie dans la privation de la vie.”

Votre M.Purgon, … c’est un homme tout médecin depuis la tête jusqu’ aux pieds; un homme qui c roit à ses règles plus qu’ à toutes les démonstrations des mathématiques, et qui croirait du crime à l es vouloir examiner; qui ne voir rien dobscur dans la médecine, rien de douteux, rien de difficile; et qui, avec une impétuosité de prévention, une roideur de confiance, une brutalité de sens commun et de raison, donne au travers des purgations et des saignées, et ne balance aucune chose.—Molière: Le Malade Imaginaire, iii. 3(1673).

Puritani (I), “the puritan,” that is Elvira, daughter of lord Walton also a puritan, affianced to Arturo (lord Arthur Talbot) a cavalier. On the day of espousals, Arturo aids Enrichetta (Henrietta, Widow of Charles I.) to escape; and Elvira, supposing that he is eloping, loses her reason. On his return, Arturo explains the fact to Elvira, and they vow nothing on earth shall part them more. This vow is but just made, when Arturo is arrested for treason, and led off to execution. At this crisis, a herald announces the defeat of the Stuarts, and Cromwell pardons all political offenders; whereupon Arturo is released, and marries Elvira.—Bellini: I Puritani (an opera, 1834).

(The libretto of this opera is by C. Pepoli.)

Purley (Diversions of), a work on the analysis and etymology of English words, by John Horne, the son of a poulterer in London. In 1782 he assumed the name of Tooke, from Mr. Tooke of Purley, in Surrey, with whom he often stayed, and who left him £8000 (vol. i., 1785; vol. ii., 1805).

Purple Island (The), the human body. It is the name of poem in twelve cantos, by Phineas Fletcher (1663). Canto i. Introduction. Cantos ii.-v. An anatomical description of the human body, considered as an island kingdom. Canto vi. The “intellectual man.” Canto vii. The “natural man,” with its affections and lusts. Canto viii. The world, the flesh, and the devil, as the enemies of man. Cantos ix., x. The friends of man who enable him to overcome these enemies. Cantos xi., xii. The battle of “Mansoul,” the triumph, and the marriage of Eclecta. The whole is supposed to be sung to shepherds by Thirsil a shepherd.

Pusillus, Feeble-mindedness personified; “a weak, distrustful heart.” Fully described in canto viii. of The Purple Island. (Latin, pusillus, “pusillanimous.)

Puss in Boots, from Charles Perrault’s tale Le Chat Botté (1697). Perrault borrowed the tale from the Nights of Straparola an Italian. Straparola’s Nights were translated into French in 1585, and Perrault’s Contes de Fées were published in 1697. Ludwig Tieck, the German novelist, reproduced the same tale in his Volksmärchen (1795), called in German Der Gestiefelte Kater. The cat is marvellously accomplished, and by ready wit or ingenious tricks secures a fortune and royal wife for his master, a penniless young miller, who passes under the name of the marquis de Carabas. In the Italian tale, puss is called “Constantine’s cat.”

Putrid Plain (The), the battle-field of Aix, in Provence, where Marius over-threw the Teutons, B.C. 102.

Pwyll’s Bag (Prince), a bag that it was impossible to fill.