Rigdum Funnidos is a character in Henry Carey

Henry Carey

Henry Carey may refer to:*Henry Charles Carey , American economist*Henry Carey , dramatist and songwriter*Henry Carey, 1st Baron Hunsdon , politician, general and potential illegitimate son of Henry VIII of England*Henry Carey, 1st Earl of Dover Henry Carey may refer to:*Henry Charles Carey...

's Chrononhotonthologos

Chrononhotonthologos

Chrononhotonthologos is a satirical play by the English poet and songwriter Henry Carey from 1734. Although the play has been seen as nonsense verse, it was also seen and celebrated at the time as a satire on Robert Walpole and Queen Caroline, wife of George II.The play is relatively short on the...

(1734). Rigdum Funnidos is the comically plain-spoken contrast to the bombastic Aldiborontiphoscophornio. Both are courtiers, but whereas Aldiborontiphoscophornio might explain, when asked who Somnus is,

"The Son of Chaos

Chaos (cosmogony)

Chaos refers to the formless or void state preceding the creation of the universe or cosmos in the Greek creation myths, more specifically the initial "gap" created by the original separation of heaven and earth....

and of Erebus

Erebus

In Greek mythology, Erebus , also Erebos , was often conceived as a primordial deity, representing the personification of darkness; for instance, Hesiod's Theogony places him as the first five beings to come into existence from Chaos...

,

Incestuous Pair! Brother of Mors

Mors (mythology)

In ancient Roman myth and literature, Mors is the personification of death equivalent to the Greek Thánatos. As the Latin noun for "death", mors, genitive mortis, is of feminine gender, but ancient Roman art is not known to depict Death as a woman. Latin poets, however, are bound by the...

relentless,

Whose speckled Robe and Wings of blackest Hue,

Astonish all Mankind with hedeous Glare;

Himself with sable Plumes to Men benevolent

Brings downy Slumbers and refreshing Sleep,"

Rigdum Funnidos responds,

"This Gentleman may come of a very good Family, for aught I know; but I would not be in his Place for all the World." (I i, 47-54).

Rigdum is both a Sancho Panza

Sancho Panza

Sancho Panza is a fictional character in the novel Don Quixote written by Spanish author Don Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra in 1605. Sancho acts as squire to Don Quixote, and provides comments throughout the novel, known as sanchismos, that are a combination of broad humour, ironic Spanish proverbs,...

 to the absurd Aldiborontiphoscophornio and a figure of the "Plain Dealer" (see The Plain Dealer

The Plain Dealer (play)

The Plain Dealer is a Restoration comedy by William Wycherley, first performed on 11 December 1676. The play is based on Molière's Le Misanthrope, and is generally considered Wycherley's finest work along with The Country Wife....

by William Wycherly).

It is also Sir Walter Scott's nickname for John Ballantyne

John Ballantyne (publisher)

John Ballantyne was a Scottish publisher notable for his work with Walter Scott, a pre-eminent author of the time.-Biography:Ballantyne, younger brother of James Ballantyne the printer of Walter Scott's works, was born at Kelso in 1774...

. Scott's epithet was a compliment.