Chapter Silenus to Simple of S by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Simonides (B.C. 664), the lyric poet, sang an ode to his patron, Scopas, at a feast. He introduced into it the praises of Castor and Pollux, so Scopas declared that he would only pay half his share of the ode; the demigods might pay the rest. Simonides left the palace to see two youths who were supposed to be waiting for him; he found nobody really there, but whilst absent the palace fell in and killed his patron—and so the demigods paid their share. (See Mrs. Orr’s Handbook to Browning, p. 147.)

Simonie or Simony, the friar, in the beast-epic of Reynard the Fox (1498). So called from Simon Magus (Acts viii. 9–24).

Simony (Dr.), in Foote’s farce called The Cozeners, was meant for Dr. Dodd.

Simorg, a bird “which hath seen the world thrice destroyed.” It is found in Kâf; but, as Hafiz says, “searching for the simorg is like searching for the philosopher’s stone.” This does not agree with Beckford’s account (see Simurgh).

In Kâf the simorg hath its dwelling-place,
The all-knowing bird of ages, who hath seen
The world with all its children thrice destroyed.
   —Southey: Thalaba the Destroyer, viii. 19 (1797).

Simpcox (Saunder), a lame man, who asserted he was born blind, and to whom St. Alban said, “Come, offer at my shrine, and I will help thee.” Being brought before Humphrey duke of Gloucester, the lord protector, he was asked how he became lame; and Simpcox replied he fell from a tree, which he had climbed to gather plums for his wife. The duke then asked if his sight had been restored? “Yes,” said the man; and being shown divers colours, could readily distinguish between red, blue, brown, and so on. The duke told the rascal that a blind man does not climb trees to gather their fruits; and one born blind might, if his sight were restored, know that one colour differed from another, but could not possibly know which was which. He then placed a stool before him, and ordered the constables to whip him till he jumped over it; whereon the lame man jumped over it, and ran off as fast as his legs could carry him. Sir Thomas More tells this story, and Shakespeare introduces it in 2 Henry VI. act ii. sc. 1 (1591).

Simple, the servant of Slender (cousin of justice Shallow).—Shakespeare: The Merry Wives of Windsor (1596).