Public Good (The League of the), a league between the dukes of Burgundy, Brittany, and other French princes against Louis XI.
Public´ola, of the Despatch Newspaper, was the nom de plume of Mr. Williams, a vigorous political writer.
Publius, the surviving son of Horatius after the combat between the three Horatian brothers against the three Curiatii of Alba. He entertained the Roman notion that “a patriot’s soul can feel no ties but duty, and know no voice of kindred” if it conflicts with his country’s weal. His sister was engaged to Caius Curiatius, one of the three Alban champions; and when she reproved him for “murdering” her betrothed, he slew her, for he loved Rome more than he loved friend, sister, brother, or the sacred name of father.—Whitehead, The Roman Father (1714).
Pucel. La bel Pucel lived in the tower of “Musyke.” Graunde Amoure, sent thither by Fame to be instructed by the seven ladies of science, fell in love with her, and ultimately married her. After his death, Remembrance wrote his “epitaphy on his graue.”—S. Hawes, The Passe-tyme of Pleasure (1506, printed 1515).
Pucelle (La), a surname given to Joan of Arc, the “Maid of Orleans” (1410-1431).
Puck, generally called Hobgoblin. Same as Robin Goodfellow. Shakespeare, in Midsummer Night’s Dream, represents him as “a very Shetlander among the gossamer-winged, dainty-limbed fairies, strong enough to knock all their heads together, a rough, knurly-limbed, fawn-faced, shock-pated, mischievous little urchin.”
He [Oberon] meeteth Puck, which most men call
Hobgoblin, and on him doth fall,
With words from phrenzy spoken.
“Hoh! hoh!” quoth Hob; “God save your grace....”
Drayton, Nymphidia (1593).
Pudding (Jack), a gormandizing clown. In French he is called Jean Potage; in Dutch, Pickle-Herringe; in Italian, Macarōni; in German, John Sausage (Hanswurst).
Puff, servant of Captain Loveit, and husband of Tag, of whom he stands in awe.—D. Garrick, Miss in Her Teens (1753).
Puff (Mr.), a man who had tried his hand on everything to get a living, and at last resorts to criticism. He says of himself, “I am a practitioner in panegyric, or to speak more plainly, a professor of the art of puffing.”