Chapter Snobs to Sologne of S by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Snubbin (Serjeant), retained by Mr. Perker for the defence in the famous case of “Bardell v. Pickwick.” His clerk was named Mallard, and his junior Phunky, “an infant barrister,” very much looked down upon by his senior. — Dickens: The Pickwick Papers (1836).

Snuffim (Sir Tumley), the doctor who attends Mrs. Wititterly. — Dickens: Nicholas Nickleby (1838).

Snuffle (Simon), the sexton of Garratt, and one of the corporation. He was called a “scollard, for he could read a written hand.”—Foote: Mayor of Garratt, ii. 1 (1763).

Snug, the joiner, who takes part in the “lamentable comedy” of Pyramus and Thisbe, played before the duke and duchess of Athens “on their wedding day at night.” His rôle was the “lion’s part.” He asked the manager (Peter Quince) if he had the “lion’s part written out, for,” said he, “I am slow of memory;” but being told he could do it extempore, “for it was nothing but roaring,” he consented to undertake it.—Shakespeare: A Mid-summer Night’s Dream (1592).

Soane Museum (The), the museum collected by sir John Soane, architect, and preserved on its original site, No. 13, Lincoln’s Inn Fields, the private residence of the founder (1753–1837). It contains Egyptian and other antiquities, valuable paintings, rare books, etc.

Soapy Sam, Samuel Wilberforce, bishop of Winchester (1805–1873).

Being asked why he was nicknamed “Soapy,” he replied, “Because I have often been in hot water, but have always come out with clean hands.”

Sobrino, one o f the most valiant of the Saracen army, and called “The Sage.” He counselled Agramant to entrust the fate of the war to a single combat, stipulating that the nation whose champion was worsted should be tributary to the other. Rogero was chosen for the pagan champion, and Rinaldo for the Christian army; but when Rogero was overthrown, Agramant broke the compact. Sobrino was greatly displeased, and soon afterwards received the rite of Christian baptism. — Ariosto : Orlando Furioso (1516).

Who more prudent than Sobrino?—Cervantes:Don Quixote (1605).

Socratês (The English). Dr. Johnson is so called by Boswell (1709–1784).

Mr. South’s amiable manners and attachment to our Socratês at once united me to him.—Life of Johnson (1791).

Sodom of India, Hyderabad. So called from the beauty of the country and the depravity of the inhabitants.

Sodor and Man. Sodor is a contraction of Sodorensis. The sudor-eys or sodor-eys means “the southern isles.” The bishop of Sodor and Man is bishop of Man and the southern isles.

Sofa (The). So bk. i. of The Task, by Cowper, is called; in blank verse, and running to 505 lines (1783–85).

Sofronia, a young Christian of Jerusalem, the heroine of an episode in Tasso’s Jerusalem Delivered (1575). The tale is this : Aladine king of Jerusalem stole from a Christian church an imag e of the Virgin, being told by a magician that it was a palladium, and, if set up in a mosque, the Virgin would forsake the Christian army, and favour the Mohammedan. The image was accordingly set up in a mosque, but during the night was carried off by some one. Aladine, greatly enraged, ordered the instant execution of all his Christian subjects, but to prevent this massacre, Sofronia accused herself of the offence. Her lover Olindo, hearing that Sofronia was sentenced to death, presented himself before the king, and said that he and not Sofronia was the real offender; whereupon the king ordered both to instant execution; but Clorinda the Amazon, pleading for them, obtained their pardon, and Sofronia left the stake to join Olindo at the altar of matrimony. —Bk. ii.