As great Pythagoras of yore,
Standing beside the blacksmith’s door.
And hearing the hammers, as he smote
The anvils with a different note ...
... formed the seven-chorded lyre.
Longfellow, To a Child.
Handel wrote an “air with variations” which he called The Harmonious Blacksmith, said to have been suggested by the sounds proceeding from a smithy, where he heard the village blacksmiths swinging their heavy sledges “with measured beat and slow.”
Pyth´ias, a Syracusan soldier, noted for his friendship for Damon. When Damon was condemned to death by Dionysius, the new-made king of Syracuse, Pythias obtained for him a respite of six hours, to go and bid farewell to his wife and child. The condition of this respite was that Pythias should be bound, and even executed, if Damon did not return at the hour appointed. Damon returned in due time, and Dionysius was so struck with this proof of friendship, that he not only pardoned Damon, but even begged to be ranked among his friends. The day of execution was the day that Pythias was to have been married to Calanthê.—Damon and Pythias, a drama by R. Edwards (1571), and another by John Banim in 1825.
Python, a huge serpent engendered from the mud of the deluge, and slain by Apollo. In other words, pytho is the miasma or mist from the evaporation of the overflow, dried up by the sun. (Greek, puthesthai, “to rot;” because the serpent was left to rot in the sun.)
Q (Old), the earl of March, afterwards duke of Queensberry, at the close of the last century and the beginning of this.
Quacks (Noted).
Bechic, known for his “cough pills,” consisting of digitalis, white oxide of antimony and licorice. Sometimes, but erroneously, called “Beecham’s magic cough pills.”
Booker (John), astrologer, etc. (1601-1667).
Bossy (Dr.), a German by birth. He was well known in the beginning of the nineteenth century in Covent Garden, and in other parts of London.
Brodum (eighteenth century). His “nervous cordial” consisted of gentian root infused in gin. Subsequently, a little bark was added.