And oft in vain his name they closely bite,
As popular and flatterer accusing.
P. Fletcher, Purple Island, c. 10.
Divers were of opinion that he [Caius Gracchus] was more popular and desirous of the common people’s good will and favour than his brother had been before him. But indeed he was clean contrary.—North, Plutarch’s Lives, p 690.
Cato the Younger charged Muræna, and indited him in open court for popularity and ambition.—Holland, Plutarch’s Morals, p. 243.
Harold, lifted up in mind, and forgetting now his former shows of popularity, defrauded his soldiers their due and well-deserved share of the spoils.—Milton, History of England, b. vi.
| Portly, | } |
| Portliness. |
There lies in ‘portly’ a certain sense of dignity of demeanour still, but always connoted with this a cumbrousness and weight, such as Spenser in his noble Epithalamion (see below) would never have ascribed to his bride, nor Shakespeare to the swift-footed Achilles (Troilus and Cressida, act iv. sc. 5), or to the youthful Romeo.
The chief and most portly person of them all was one Hasdrubal [Insignis tamen inter ceteros Hasdrubal erat].—Holland, Livy, p. 7.
He [Romeo] bears him like a portly gentleman.