Chapter Piper of Hamelin to Pixie-Stools of P by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Piper of Hamelin to Pixie-Stools

Piper of Hamelin. (See Pied Piper Of Hameln, p. 843.)

Piperman, the factotum of Chalomel chemist and druggist. He was “so handy”, that he was never at his post; and being “so handy”, he took ten times the trouble of doing anything that another would need to bestow. For the selfsame reason, he stumbled and blundered about, muddled and marred everything he touched, and being a Jack-of-all-trades was master of none.

There has been an accident because I am so handy. I went to the dairy at a bound, came back at another, and fell down in the open street, where I spilt the milk. I tried to bale it up—no go. Then I ran back or ran home, I forget which, and left the money somewhere; and then, in fact, I have been four times to and fro, because I am so handy.—Ware: Piperman’s Predicament.

Pipes(Tom), a retired boatswain’s mate, living with commodore Trunnion to keep the servants in order. Tom Pipes is noted for his taciturnity.—Smollett: The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle (1751).

(The incident of Tom Pipes concealing in his shoe his master’s letter to Emilia, was suggested by Ovid—

Cum possit solea chartas celare ligatas,
Et vincto blandas sub pede ferre notas.
   —Ovid: Art of Love.)

Pippa Passes, a dramatic poem by R. Browning (1841). Pippa is a poor child, at work all the year round, except one day, in the silk-mills at Asolo, in Italy. Her one holiday is New Year’s Day and the drama hinges on her chance appearance “at critical moments in the spiritual life-history of the leading characters in the play.” Just at the supreme moment, Pippa passes, singing some refrain, and her voice alters the destinies of the men and women to whom she is unknown. Unconsciously, her own destiny is altered in the end by her last song (see note at beginning, vol. i.). The leading feature of Browning’s teaching lies in the refrain of Pippa’s first song—

“God’s in His heaven—
All’s right with the world.!”
   —Robert Browning: Pippa Passes (1841).

Pirate(The), a novel by sir W. Scott (1821). In this novel we are introduced to the wild sea scenery of the Shetlands; the primitive manners of the old udaller Magnus Troil, and his fair daughters Minna and Brenda: lovely pictures, drawn with nice discrimination, and most interesting.

(A udaller is one who holds his lands on allodial tenure.)

Pirner(John), a fisherman at Old St. Ronan’s.—Sir W. Scott: St. Roman’s Well (time, George III.).

Pisa. The banner of Pisa is a cross on a crimson field. It is said to have been brought from heaven by Michael the archangel, and delivered to St. Efeso, the patron saint of Pisa.

Pisanio, servant of Posthumus. Being sent to murder Imogen the wife of Posthumus, he persuades her to escape to Milford Haven in boy’s clothes, and sends a bloody napkin to Posthumus, to make him believe that she has been murdered. Ultimately, Imogen becomes reconciled to her husband. (See Posthumus.)—Shakespeare: Cymbeline (1605).

Pisistratos of Athens, being asked by his wife to punish with death a young man who had dared to kiss their daughter, replied, “How shall we requite those who wish us evil, if we condemn to death those who love us?” This anecdote is referred to by Dante, in his Purgatory, xv.—Valerius Maximus: Memorable Acts and Sayings, v.

Pisistratos and His Two Sons. The history of Pisistratos and his two sons is repeated in that of Cosmo de Medici of Florence and his two grandsons. It is difficult to find a more striking parallel, whether we regard the characters or the incidents of the two families.