Chapter Shadwell to Shalott of S by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Shadwell to Shalott

Shadwell (Thomas), the poet-lau-reate, was a great drunkard, and was said to be “round as a butt, and liquored every chink” (1640–1692).

Besides, his [Shadwell’s] goodly fabric fills the eye,
And seems designed for thoughtless majesty.

Dryden: MacFlecknoe (1682).

N. B.—Shadwell took opium, and died from taking too large a dose. Hence Pope says—

Benlowes, propitious still to blockheads, bows;
And Shadwell nods the poppy on his brows.

Pope: The Dunciad, iii. 21, 22 (1728).

(Benlowes was a great patron of bad poets, and many have dedicated to him their lucubrations. Sometimes the name is shifted into “Benevolus.”)

Shadwell (Wapping, London), a corruption of St. Chad’s Well.

Shafalus and Procrus. So Bottom the weaver calls Cephalus and Procris. (See CEPHALUS, p. 192.)

Pyramus. Not Shafalus to Procrus was so true.
Thisbe. As Shafalus to Procrus; I to you.

Shakespeare: Midsummer Night’s Dream (1592).

Shaftesbury (Antony Ashley Cooper, carl of), introduced by sir W. Scott in Peveril of the Peak (time, Charles II.).

Shafton (Ned), one of the prisoners in Newgate with old sir Hildebrand Osbaldistone.—Sir W. Scott: Rob Roy (time, George I.).

Shafton (Sir Piercie), called “The knight of Wilverton,” a fashionable cavaliero, grandson of old Overstitch the tailor, of Holderness. Sir Piercie talks in the pedantic style of the Elizabethan courtiers.—Sir W. Scott: The Monastery (time, Elizabeth).

Johnson’s speech, like sir Piercie Shafton’s euphuistic eloquence, bewrayed him under every disguise.—Macaulay.

Shah (The), a famous diamond, weighing 86 carats. It was given by Chosroës of Persia to the czar of Russia. (See DIAMONDS, p. 277.)

Shah Nameh, the famous epic of Firdusi, the Homer of Khorassan. Rusten is the Achillês, Feridun the model king, Zohak the cruel and impious tyrant, Kavah (the blacksmith) the intrepid patriot who marches against Zohak, displaying his apron as a banner.

Rusten’s horse is called Rakush; the prophetic bird is Simurgh; Rusten’s mother is Rudabeh, her child (Rusten) is cut out of her side, and the wound was healed by milk and honey applied with a feather of the prophetic bird Simurgh. Rusten required the milk of ten wet-nurses, and when a mere youth killed an elephant with a blow of his mace.

Shakebag (Dick), a highwayman with captain Colepepper.—Sir W. Scott: Fortunes of Nigel (time, James I.).

Shakespeare, introduced by sir W. Scott in the ante-rooms of Greenwich Palace.—Sir W. Scott: Kenilworth (time, Elizabeth).

(In Woodstock there is a conversation about Shakespeare.)