Part 68 (1/2)

? To ”break Priscian's head,” is to write ungrammatically. Priscian was a great grammarian of the fifth century.

=Pegg= (_Catharine_), one of the mistresses of Charles II. She was the daughter of Thomas Pegg, Esq., of Yeldersay, in Derbys.h.i.+re.

=Peggot'ty= (_Clara_), servant of Mrs. Copperfield, and the faithful old nurse of David Copperfield. Her name ”Clara” was tabooed, because it was the name of Mrs. Copperfield. Clara Peggotty married Barkis, the carrier.

Being very plump, whenever she made any little exertion after she was dressed, some of the b.u.t.tons on the back of her gown flew off.--Ch. ii.

_Dan'el Peggotty_, brother of David Copperfield's nurse. Dan'el was a Yarmouth fisherman. His nephew, Ham Peggotty, and his brother-in-law's child, ”little Em'ly,” lived with him. Dan'el himself was a bachelor, and Mrs. Gummidge (widow of his late partner) kept house for him. Dan'el Peggotty was most tender-hearted, and loved little Em'ly with all his heart.

_Ham Peggotty_, nephew of Dan'el Peggotty, of Yarmouth, and son of Joe, Dan'el's brother. Ham was in love with little Em'ly, daughter of Tom (Dan's brother-in-law), but Steerforth stepped in between them, and stole Em'ly away. Ham Peggotty is represented as the very beau-ideal of an uneducated, simple-minded, honest, and warm-hearted fisherman. He was drowned in his attempt to rescue Steerforth from the sea.

_Em'ly Peggotty_, daughter of Dan's brother-in-law, Tom. She was engaged to Ham Peggotty; but being fascinated with Steerforth, ran off with him.

She was afterwards reclaimed, and emigrated to Australia with Dan'el and Mrs. Gummidge.--C. d.i.c.kens, _David Copperfield_ (1849).

=Peggy=, grandchild of the old widow Maclure, a covenanter.--Sir W. Scott, _Old Mortality_ (time, Charles II.).

_Peggy_, the laundry-maid of Colonel Mannering, at Woodburne.--Sir W.

Scott, _Guy Mannering_ (time, George II.).

_Peggy_ (_s.h.i.+ppen_). A love-letter from Benedict Arnold to this young lady is extant in which after telling her that he has presumed to write to her papa and has requested his sanction to his addresses, Arnold goes on to protest.

”May I perish if I would give you one moment's inquietude, to purchase the greatest possible felicity to myself. Whatever my fate may be, my most ardent wish is for your happiness, and my latest breath will be to implore the blessing of heaven on the idol and only wish of my soul.” September 26, 1778.

=Peggy= [=Thrift=),[TN-77] the orphan daughter of Sir Thomas Thrift, of Hamps.h.i.+re, and the ward of Moody, who brings her up in seclusion in the country. When Moody is 50, and Peggy 19, the guardian tries to marry her, but ”the country girl” outwits him, and marries Belville, a young man of more suitable age. Peggy calls her guardian ”Bud.” She is very simple but sharp, ingenuous but crafty, lively and girlish.--_The Country Girl_ (Garrick altered from Wycherly's _Country Wife_, 1675).

=Peggy.= Dream-wife about whom cl.u.s.ter the imaginations of the bachelor over the fire of green wood.

”Smoke always goes before blaze, and doubt before decision.”--Ik. Marvel (Donald G. Mitch.e.l.l), _Reveries of a Bachelor_ (1850).

=Pegler= (_Mrs._), mother of Josiah Boundderby,[TN-78] Esq., banker and mill-owner, called ”The Bully of Humility.” The son allows the old woman 30 a year to keep out of sight.--C. d.i.c.kens. _Hard Times_ (1854).

=Peg Woffington=, celebrated English actress, _intriguante_, but kind of heart. Sir Charles Vane is one of her lovers, but after the appearance of his simple-hearted wife upon the scene, the actress dismisses her admirer, and induces him to return to domestic life.--Charles Reade, _Peg Woffington_.

=Pek'uah=, the attendant of Princess Nekayah, of the ”happy valley.” She accompanied the princess in her wanderings, but refused to enter the great pyramid, and, while the princess was exploring the chambers, was carried off by some Arabs. She was afterwards ransomed for 200 ounces of gold.--Dr. Johnson, _Ra.s.selas_ (1759).

=Pelay'o= (_Prince_), son of Favil'a, founder of the Spanish monarchy after the overthrow of Roderick, last of the Gothic kings. He united, in his own person, the royal lines of Spain and of the Goths.

In him the old Iberian blood, Of royal and remotest ancestry From undisputed source, flowed undefiled ...

He, too, of Chindasuintho's regal line Sole remnant now, drew after him the love Of all true Goths.

Southey, _Roderick, etc._, viii. (1814).