Brewer's: Antipathy, of human beings

To Animals: Henri III. and the Duke of Schoenberg felt faint at the sight of a cat: Vanghelm felt the same at the sight of a pig, and abhorred pork; Marshal Brézé sickened at the sight of a rabbit; the Duc d'Epernon always swooned at the sight of a leveret, though he was not affected at the sight of a hare.

To Fish: Erasmus felt grievous nausea at the smell of fresh fish.

To Flowers and Fruits: Queen Anne, Grétry the composer, Faverite the Italian poet, and Vincent the painter, all abhorred the smell of roses; Scaliger had the same aversion to watercresses; and King Vladislas sickened at the smell of apples.

To Music: Le Mothe de Nayer felt faint at the sound of any musical instrument; Nicano had a strong aversion to the sound of a flute.

To Thunder: Augustus trembled at the noise of thunder, and retired to a vault when a thunderstorm was apprehended.

Witches have an antipathy to running water.

Some men there are love not a gaping pig, Some that are mad if they behold a cat.

Shakespeare: Merchant of Venice, iv. L

Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894
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