Chapter Sinon to Sixteen-String Jack of S by Brewer's Readers Handbook

N.B.—Surloin is the part of the loin (sur) over the kidneys. French, sur-longe.

Sirocco, a wind, called the solano in Spain; the khamsin in Egypt; the simoom in Western Asia; and the harmattan on the coast of Guinea. The Italians say of a stupid book, Era scritto in tempo dal scirocco (“It was written during the sirocco”).

Sister Anne, sister of Fatima (the seventh and last wife of Bluebeard). Fatima, being condemned to death by her tyrannical husband, requested sister Anne to ascend to the highest tower of the castle to watch for her brothers, who were momentarily expected. Bluebeard kept roaring below stairs for Fatima to be quick with her prayers; Fatima was constantly calling out from her chamber, “Sister Anne, do you see them coming?” and sister Anne was on the watch-tower, mistaking every cloud of dust for the mounted brothers. They arrived at last, rescued Fatima, and put Bluebeard to death.—Perrault: Contes (“La Barbe Bleue,” 1697).

(This is a Scandinavian tale taken from the Folks Sagas.)

Sisyphos, in Latin Sisyphus, a king of Corinth, noted for his avarice and fraud. He was punished in the infernal regions by having to roll uphill a huge stone, which always rolled down again as soon as it reached the top.

Sisyphos is a type of avarice, never satisfied. The avaricious man reaches the summit of his ambition, and no sooner does he so than he finds the object of his desire as far off as ever.

With many a weary step, and many a groan,
Up the high hill he heaves a huge round stone;
The huge round stone, returning with a bound,
Thunders impetuous down, and smokes along the ground.
   —Homer: Odyssey, xi. (Pope’s trans.).

Sisyphus, in the Milesian tales, was doomed to die; but when Death came to him, the wily fellow contrived to fasten the unwelcome messenger in a chair, and then feasted him till old Spare-ribs grew as fat as a prize pig. In time, Pluto released Death, and Sisyphus was caught, but prayed that he might speak to his wife before he went to hadês. The prayer was granted, and Sisyphus told his wife not to bury him, for though she might think him dead, he would not be really so. When he got to the infernal regions, he made the ghosts so merry with his jokes that Pluto reproved him, and Sisyphus pleaded that, as he had not been buried, Pluto had no jurisdiction over him, nor could he even be ferried across the Styx. He then obtained leave to return to earth, that he might persuade his wife to bury him. Now, the wily old king had previously bribed Hermês, when he took him to hadês, to induce Zeus to grant him life, provided he returned to earth again in the body; when, therefore, he did return, he demanded of Hermês the fulfilment of his promise, and Hermês induced Zeus to bestow on him life. Sisyphus was now allowed to return to earth, with a promise that he should never die again till he himself implored for death. So he lived and lived till he was weary of living, and when he went to hadês the second time, he was allotted, by way of punishment, the task of rolling a huge stone to the top of a mountain. Orpheus (2 syl.) asked him how he could endure so ceaseless and vain an employment, and Sisyphus replied that he hoped ultimately to accomplish the task. “Never,” exclaimed Orpheus; “it can never be done!” “Well, then,” said Sisyphus, “mine is at worst but everlasting hope.”—Lord Lytton: Tales of Miletus, ii.

Sitophagus [“the wheat-eater”], one or the mouse princes, who, being wounded in the battle, crept into a ditch to avoid further injury or danger

The lame Sitophagus, oppressed with pain, Creeps from the desperate dangers of the plain; And where the ditches rising weeds supply… There lurks the silent mouse relieved of heat, And safe embowered, avoids the chance of fate. Parnell: Battle of the Frogs and Mice, iii. (about 1712).

The last two lines might be amended thus—

There lurks the trembling mouse with bated breath, And, hid from sight, avoids his instant death.