Chapter Parallel to Parisina of P by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

Parallel to Parisina

Parallel None but himself can be his parallel. Wholly without a peer; “Quæris Alcidæ parem;” “nemo proximus nec secundus.” There are many similar sentences; for example:-

“Nemo est nisi ipse.”- Seneca: Hercules Furens, i. 81. (Seneca lived B.C. 53-32.)

“And but herself admits no parallel.”
Massinger: Duke of Millaine, iii. 4. (1662.)

“None but himself himself can parallel.”
Anagram on John Lilburn. (1658.)

“Is there a treachery like this in baseness ...
None but itself can be its parallel.”
Theobald: Double Falsehood, iii. 1. (1721.)

Paramatta A fabric of wool and cotton. So called from a town in New South Wales, where the wool was originally bought.

Parapet Fortification, the shot-proof covering of a mass of earth on the exterior edge of the ramparts. The openings cut through the parapets to permit guns to fire in the required direction are called embrasures: about 18 feet is allowed from one embrasure to another, and the solid intervening part is called the merlon. An indented parapet is a battlement. (Italian, parapetto, breastwork.)

Paraphernalia means all that a woman can claim at the death of her husband beyond her jointure. In the Roman law her paraphernalia included the furniture of her chamber, her wearing apparel, her jewels, etc. Hence personal attire, fittings generally, anything for show or decoration. (Greek, parapherne, beyond dower.)

Parasite (Greek, para sitos, eating at another's cost). A plant or animal that lives on another; hence a hanger-on, who fawns and flatters for the sake of his food.

Parc aux Cerfs [deer parks ]. A mansion fitted up in a remote corner of Versailles, whither girls were inveigled for the licentious pleasure of Louis XV. The rank of the person who visited them was scrupulously kept concealed; but one girl, more bold than the rest, rifled the pockets of M. le Comte, and found that he was no other than the king. Madame de Pompadour did not shrink from superintending the labours of the royal valets to procure victims for this infamous establishment. The term is now used for an Alsatia, or haven of shipwrecked characters.

“Boulogne may be proud of being `parc aux cerfs' to those whom remorseless greed drives from their island home.”- Saturday Review.

Parcae The Fates. The three were Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos. (Latin mythology.) Parcae is from pars, a lot; and the corresponding Moirae is from meros, a lot. The Fates were so called because they decided the lot of every man.

Parchment So called from Pergamon in Lesser Asia, where it was used for purposes of writing when Ptolemy prohibited the exportation of paper from Egypt.

Pardon Bell The Angelus bell. So called because of the indulgence once given for reciting certain prayers forming the angelus.

Pardouneres Tale in Chaucer, is Death and the Rioters. Three rioters in a tavern agreed to hunt down Death and kill him. As they went their way they met an old man, who told them that he had just left him sitting under a tree in the lane close by. Off posted the three rioters, but when they came to the tree they found a great treasure, which they agreed to divide equally. They cast lots which was to carry it home, and the lot fell to the youngest, who was sent to the village to buy food and wine. While he was gone the two who were left agreed to kill him, and so increase their share; but the third bought poison to put into the wine, in order to kill his two confrères. On his return with his stores, the two set upon him