J. C. Powys' Autobiography: A Reader's Companion - Site POWYS

46 Autobiography
exists (2003) in the garden of JCP’s house in
Corwen.
Peters, Rollo (595) — Charles Rollo Peters, an
actor and “old friend of Marian Powys” (Letters to
Miller [44]), mentioned in Letters to Llewelyn (I
232, II 81), Llewelyn’s The Verdict of Bridlegoose
(42), and from time to time in Jack and Frances (I).
Petronius (476) — First-century writer, companion
of Nero (q.v.), to whom is attributed the satirical
romance known as the Satyricon.
Petrushka (166, 198; cf.136) — A “half-doll halfhuman
grotesque,” a character in a ballet by
Stravinsky, and a name JCP applied to
himself—hence the title of the selections from his
diaries, Petrushka and the Dancer (see especially
xxvi).
Phædruses (166) — Phædrus was one of Socrates'
disciples and the name-character in one of Plato’s
Socratic dialogues.
Pharaoh (324) — For Pharaoh and his “hard
heart,” see Exodus 8: 19, 32.
Pharisee (454) — A member of a group of
influential Jews from the second century BC; in
the first century AD looked upon by the writers of
the Gospels, perhaps unfairly, as legalists and
hypocrites (see Matthew 23). JCP seems to
emphasize their preoccupation with personal
ritual. The “Great Magician” was, of course, Jesus.
So “Pharisaic” (454, 465) and “Pharisaism” (455).
See also “I too ...”
Phelips, Mr. W. R. (115) — Owner of Montacute
House, who appointed the vicars of Montacute.
See also under “Brympton House.”
Phillips, Rachel (569) — A woman buried in “the
tiny Second Cemetery of the Spanish and
Portuguese Synagogue” on West 11 th Street
(Gostick [36]), near JCP’s flat in Patchin Place,
about whom he fantasized. Mentioned on several
occasions in his diaries.
“Philosophy of Representation” (361) — JCP is
here referring to the philosophy he assigned to
Richard Gaul in Weymouth Sands (99, 158).
Phorkyads (626) — According to Robert Graves
(228), these were the daughters of Phorcus, elder
sisters of the Gorgons. They had one eye and one
tooth between them, and in order to break their
power Perseus, in his quest to slay Medusa, had
to gain control of both.
“physiognomic eye” (171) — A phrase from
Spengler (q.v.), also quoted in The Art of Growing
Old (76) and Rabelais (47, 286).
Piazza del Spagna (295) — The location of the
famous Spanish Steps in Rome.
Piel, Paul (568–9) — Though I have consulted
numerous reference books listing American
sculptors, I have found no further information
concerning Paul Piel.
Pierrots (136) — White-faced male characters in
French pantomime.
Pilate (223, 428, 645–6) — Pontius Pilate, prefect of
Judea at the time of the crucifixion of Jesus. For
his washing of his hands (223, 645–6), see
Matthew 27:24; for the question “What is Truth?”
(428), see John 18:38, and compare the wellknown
opening of Francis Bacon’s essay “On
Truth”: “‘What is truth?’ said jesting Pilate, and
did not stay for an answer.”
pilgarlick (44) — A bald-headed old man. A
favourite dialect word with JCP, who uses it, for
instance, in A Glastonbury Romance (546, 585)
and in Weymouth Sands (328). He probably
derived it from Motteux’s completion of
Urquhart’s translation of Rabelais (Book 5, ch.7).
NB: It is usually spelt without the final “k.”
pillar-boxes (429) — A British term for mail-boxes.
Pincian Hill (296) — Another of the famous seven
hills of Rome.
“pinfold ... confined and pestered” (60) — From
Milton’s Comus (l.7), also quoted in The Art of
Happiness ([1935] 205).
Pintoricchio (404) — In fact, Bernadine
Pinturicchio (1454–1513), an Italian painter.
Pirus Japonica (30) — (More usually “Pyrus”)
Japanese Quince. For the last hundred years it
has been the chief spring ornament of English
gardens. Its blossoms, which vary in colour from
creamy white to rich red, are produced during
the winter and early spring months.
Pistol (586) — The cowardly braggart in
Shakespeare’s 2 Henry IV and Henry V.
Plato (120, 135, 222, 286, 485, 626) — Greek
philosopher (c.427–c.347 BC), who wrote
dialogues containing the teachings of Socrates.
So, “Platonic” (127, 173, 205, 237, 270, 472, 481, 505)
and “Platonist” (470, 563).
Plaudite et vale! (122) — See “Have I not played
...”
Plays of Massinger (123) — A collection of plays
by Philip Massinger (1583–1640), best known for A
New Way to Pay Old Debts (1625–1626).
“Please make Mary Crow happy” (536) — But he
doesn’t actually say “Please”! See A Glastonbury
Romance (90) Llewelyn was unimpressed with
this defence; see Letters of Llewelyn Powys (189).
“Pleasure ... itself” (57) — See “the pleasure ...”
Plotinus (285) — Greek philosopher (203–70),
leader of the Neoplatonic school, best known for
his Enneads.
Pluto (227) — The Greek god of Hades, who
carried off Proserpina (q.v.) to be his queen.