Chapter Passelyon to Patrick of P by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Passelyon to Patrick

Passelyon, a young foundling brought up by Morgan la Fée. He was detected in an intrigue with Morgan’s daughter. The adventures of this amorous youth are related in the romance called Perceforest, iii.

Passe-tyme of Plesure, an allegorical poem in forty-six capitulos and in seven-line stanzas, by Stephen Hawes (1515). The poet supposes that while Graunde Amoure was walking in a meadow, he encountered Fame, “enuyroned with tongues of fyre,” who told him about La bell Pucell, a ladye fair, living in the Tower of Musike; and then departed, leaving him under the charge of Gouernaunce and Grace who conducted him to the Tower of Doctrine. Countenaunce, the portress, showed him over the tower, and lady Science sent him to Gramer. Afterwards he was sent to Logyke, Rethorike, Inuention, Arismetrike, and Musike. In the Tower of Musike he met La bell Pucell, pleaded his love, and was kindly entreated; but they were obliged to part for the time being, while Graunde Amoure continued his “passe-tyme of pleasure.” On quitting La bell Pucell, he went to Geometrye, and then to Dame Astronomy. Then, leaving the Tower of Science, he entered that of Chyualry. Here Mynerue introduced him to kyng Melyzyus, after which he went to the temple of Venus, who sent a letter on his behalf to La bell Pucell. Meanwhile, the giant False Report (or Godfrey Gobilyue) met him, and put him to great distress in the house of Correction; but Perceueraunce at length conducted him to the manour-house of Dame Comfort. After sundry trials, Graunde Amoure married La bell Pucell, and, after many a long day of happiness and love, he was arrested by Age, who took him before Policye and Auarice. Death, in time, came for him, and Remembraunce wrote his epitaph.

Paston Letters, letters chiefly written to or by the Paston family, in Norfolk. Charles Knight calls them “an invaluable record of the social customs of the fifteenth century.” Two volumes appeared in 1787, entitled Original Letters Written During the Reigns of Henry VI., Edward IV., and Richard III., by Various Persons of Rank. Three extra volumes were subsequently printed.

(Some doubt has been raised respecting the authenticity of these letters.)

Pastor Fido (Il), a pastoral by Giovanni Battista Guarini of Ferrara (1585).

Pastoral Romance (The Father of), Honoré d’Urfé (1567–1625).

Pastorella, the fai r shepherdess (bk. vi. 9), beloved by Corydon, but “neither for him nor any other did she care a whit.” She was a foundling, brought up by the shepherd Melibee. When sir Calidore was the shepherd’s guest, he fell in love with the fair foundling, who returned his love. During the absence of sir Calidore in a hunting expedition, Pastorella, with Melibee and Corydon, were carried off by brigands. Melibee was killed, Corydon effected his escape, and Pastorella was wounded. Sir Calidore went to rescue his shepherdess, killed the brigand chief, and brought back the captive in safety (bk. vi. 11). He took her to Belgard Castle, and it turned out that the beautiful foundling was the daughter of lady Claribel and sir Bellamour (bk. vi. 12).—Spenser: Faërie Queene, vi. 9-12 (1596).

“Pastorella” is meant for Frances Walsingham, daughter of sir Francis Walsingham, whom sir Philip Sidney (“sir Calidore”) married. After Sidney’s death, the widow married the earl of Essex (the queen’s favourite). Sir Philip being the author of a romance called Arcadia, suggested to the poet the name Pastorella.

Patagonians. This word mean “large foot,” from the Spanish patagó (“a large, clumsy foot”). The Spaniard, so called the natives of this part of South America, from the unusual size of the human foot-prints in the sand. It appears that these foot-prints were due to large clumsy shoe worn by the natives and were not the impressions of naked feet.

Patamba, a city of the Aztecas, south of Missouri, utterly destroyed by earthquake and overwhelmed.

The tempest is abroad. Fierce from the north
A wind uptears the lake, whose lowest depths
Rock, while convulsions shake the solid earth.
Where is Patamba?…The mighty lake
Hath burst its bounds, and you