Chapter Peony to Perillo Swords of P by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

by Leontes out of causeless jealousy. Paulina, a noble lady, hoping to soften the king's heart, took the infant and laid it at its father's feet; but Leontes ordered it to be put to sea, under the expectation that it would drift to some desert island. The vessel drifted to Bohemia, where the infant was discovered by a shepherd, who brought it up as his own daughter. In time Florizel, the son and heir of the Bohemian king Polixenes, fell in love with the supposed shepherdess. The match was forbidden by Polixenes, and the young lovers fled, under the charge of Camillo, to Sicily. Here the story is cleared up, Polixenes and Leontes are
reconciled, and the young lovers married. (Shakespeare: Winter's Tale.) Polixenes (4 syl.), Leontes (3 syl.)

Perdrix, toujours Perdrix Too much of the same thing. Walpole tells us that the confessor of one of the French kings reproved him for conjugal infidelity, and was asked by the king what he liked best. “Partridge,” replied the priest, and the king ordered him to be served with partridge every day, till he quite loathed the sight of his favourite dish. After a time, the king visited him, and hoped he had been well served, when the confessor replied, “Mais oui, perdrix, toujours perdrix.” “Ah! ah!” replied the amorous monarch, “and one mistress is all very well, but not `perdrix, toujours perdrix. ' ”

“Soup for dinner, soup for supper, and soup for breakfast again.”- Farquhar: The Inconstant. iv. 2.

Père Duchêne Jacques Réné Hébert, one of the most profligate characters of the French Revolution. He was editor of a vile newspaper so called, containing the grossest insinuations against Marie Antoinette. (1755- 1794.)

Père la Chaise the Parisian cemetery, is the site of a great monastery founded by Louis XIV., of which his confessor, Père la Chaise, was made the superior. After the Revolution, the grounds were laid out for a public cemetery; first used in May, 1804.

Peregrine (3 syl.) ran away from home, and obtained a loan of £10 from Job Thornbury, with which he went abroad and traded; he returned a wealthy man, and arrived in London on the very day Job Thornbury was made a bankrupt. Having paid the creditors out of the proceeds made from the hardwareman's loan, he married his daughter. (George Colman the Younger: John Bull.)

Peregrine Falcon (A). The female is larger than the male, as is the case with most birds of prey. The female is the falcon of falconers, and the male the tercel. It is called peregrine from its wandering habits.

Peregrine Pickle The hero of Smollett's novel so called. A savage, ungrateful spendthrift; fond of practical jokes to the annoyance of others, and suffering with evil temper the misfortunes brought on by his own wilfulness.

Perfectionists A society founded by Father Noyes in Oneida Creek. They take St. Paul for their law- giver, but read his epistles in a new light. They reject all law, saying the guidance of the Spirit is superior to all human codes. If they would know how to act in matters affecting others, they consult “public opinion,” expressed by a committee; and the “law of sympathy” so expressed is their law of action. In material prosperity, this society is unmatched by all the societies of North America. (W. Hepworth Dixon: New America, vii. 20, 21.)

Perfide Albion! (French) The words of Napoleon I.

Perfume (2 syl.) means simply “from smoke” (Latin, per fumum), the first perfumes having been obtained by the combustion of aromatic woods and gums. Their original use was in sacrifices, to counteract the offensive odours of the burning flesh.

Perfumed Terms of the Time So Ben Jonson calls euphemisms.

Peri (plur. PERIS). Peris are delicate, gentle, fairy-like beings of Eastern mythology, begotten by fallen spirits. They direct with a wand the pure in mind the way to heaven. These lovely creatures, according