"Hang, hair, like hemp, or like the Isling cur's."
Again, in Massinger's "Picture," act v. sc. 1—
"Would I might lie
Like a dog under her table, and serve for a footstool,
So I might have my belly full of that
Her Iceland cur refuses."
Abraham Fleming, in his tract "Of Englishe Dogges, the diversities, the names, the natures, and the properties," 1576, speaks of the introduction of Iceland dogs, and describes them. "Use and custome hath intertained other dogges of an outlandish kinde, but a few, and the same being of a pretty bygnesse, I meane Iseland dogges, curled and rough al over, which by reason of the length of their heare, make showe neither of face nor of body. And yet these curres, forsoothe, because they are so straunge, are greatly set by, esteemed, taken vp, and made of, many times in the roome of the Spaniell, gentle or comforter."—Collier. [Sig. F 4. Fleming's book is, however, only a translation from Caius, "De Canibus Britannicis.">[
[383] Heroes of romance. [By "Donzel del Phœbo" the lady intends, I conclude, the "Knight of the Sun," or the "Mirror of Knighthood."
[384] Tarmagant or Termagant was, as Dr Percy observes, a Saracen deity, very clamorous and violent in the old moralities. He is frequently mentioned and alluded to in our ancient dramas and poems. Bishop Hall's "Satires" begin thus—
"Not Ladies' wanton love, nor wand'ring knight,
Legend I out in rhimes all richly dight;
Nor fright the reader with the Pagan vaunt
Of mightie Mahound and great Termagaunt."
Mr Tyrwhitt says, the character is to be met with in an old romance, MSS. Bod. 1624, where it is constantly spelt Tervagan. (See notes to Chaucer, v. 13,741.)
See also "King and no King," act iv., and "Rule a Wife and have a Wife," act v.
Again, Hamlet says, "I would have such a fellow whipt for o'erdoing Termagant."