Chapter Palmyrene to Pandolf of P by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Palmyrene to Pandolf

Palmyrene (The), Zenobia queen of Palmyra, who claimed the title of “Queen of the East.” She was defeated by Aurelian, and taken prisoner (A.D. 273). Longinus lived at her court, and was put to death on the capture of Zenobia.

The Palmyrene that fought Aurelian.
   —Tennyson: The Princess, ii. (1847).

Palomides (Sir), son and heir of sir Astlabor. His brothers were sir Safire and sir Segwaridês. He is always called the Saracen, meaning “unchristened.” Next to the three great knights (sir Launcelot, sir Tristram, and sir Lamorake), he was the strongest and bravest of the fellowship of the Round Table. Like sir Tristram, he was in love with La Belle Isond wife of king Mark of Cornwall; but the lady favoured the love of sir Tristram, and only despised that of the Saracen knight. After his combat with sir Tristram, sir Palomides consented to be baptized by the bishop of Carlisle (pt. iii. 28).

He was well made, cleanly, and bigly, and neither too young nor too old. And though he was not christened, yet he believed in the best manners, and was faithful and true to his promise, and also well conditioned. He made a vow that he would never be christened unto the time that he achieved the beast Glatisaint. … And also he avowed never to take full christendom unto the time that he had done seven battles within the lists.—Malory: History of Prince Arthur, ii. 149 (1470).

Pam, Henry John Temple, viscount Palmerston (1784–1865). Knave of clubs is called “Pam” in the game of “loo”.

Pamela. Lady Edward Fitzgerald is so called (*-1831).

Pamela [Andrews], a simple, unsophistical country girl, the daughter of two aged parents, and maidservant of a rich young squire, called B, who tries to seduce her. She resists every temptation, and at length marries the young squire and reforms him. Pamela is very pure and modest, bears her afflictions with much meekness, and is a model of maidenly prudence and rectitude. The story is told in a series of letters which Pamela sends to her parents.—Richardson: Pamela or Virtue Rewarded (1740).

The pure and modest character of the English maiden [Pamela] is so well maintained, … her sorrows and afflictions are borne with so much meekness; her little intervals of hope…break in on her troubles so much like the specks of blue sky through a cloudy atmosphere,—that the whole recollection is soothing, tranquillizing, and doubtless edifying.—Sir W. Scott.

Pamela is a work of much humbler pretensions than Clarissa Harlowe…A simple country girl, whom her master attempts to seduce, and afterwards marries.…The wardrobe of poor Pamela, her gown of sad- coloured stuff, and her round-eared caps; her various attempts at escape, and the conveyance of her letters; the hateful character of Mrs. Jewkes, and the fluctuating passions of her master before the better part of his nature obtains ascendancy,—these are all touched with the hand of a master.—Chambers: English Literature, ii. 161.

Pope calls the word “Pamela”—

The gods, to curse Pamela with her prayers,
Gave the gilt coach and dappled Flanders mares,
The shining robes, rich jewels, beds of state,
And, to complete her bliss, a fool for mate.
She glares in balls, front boxes, and the ring,
A vain, unquiet, glittering, wretched thing;
Pride, pomp, and state, but reach her outward part.—
She sighs, and is no duchess at her heart.

Epistles (“To Mrs. Blount, with the work of Voiture,” 1709).

Pamina and Tamino, the two lovers who were guided by “the magic flute” through all worldly dangers to the knowledge of divine truth (or the mysteries of Isis).—Mozart: Die Zauberflöte (1790).