Bell's British Theatre, Volume 20John Bell Bell, 1797 |
Common terms and phrases
Abel Arbella Aunt believe better Blunt Blush Blushenly brother cann't Capt Char Charles Cler Colonel cousin covenant d'ye daugh daughter David dear devil duck Dumps Enter Exeunt Exit Fain Fainlove father fellow fool Free gentleman gentlewoman girl give Gubbin hand Hark ye Harriot hear heart honest hope humour Hump Humphry husband Jack Lady Freelove Lady Paragon ladyship Latimer leave Look ye Lord Trinket lordship madam marriage marry matter mistress never Niece Numps O'Cut O'Fla O'Flaherty Oakly Oakly's Obadiah on't Phabe Phoebe pon honour poor Pounce Pr'ythee pray pretty rascal Russet Ruth servant shew Sir H Sir Har Sir Harry Beagle Sir Jeff Sir Jeffery sirrah soul speak sure talk Teague tell thee there's thing thou Tipkin Trink twas warrant wench what's wife woman young Zounds
Popular passages
Page 37 - I say, she was, and spent her time in better learning than ever you did— not in reading of fights and battles of dwarfs and giants ; but in writing out receipts for broths, possets, caudles, and surfeit-waters, as became a good country gentlewoman.
Page 37 - Oh, the barbarous genealogy ! Aunt. Of her mother Winifred, of her mother Joan. Niece. Since you will run on, then I must needs tell you I am not satisfied in the point of my nativity. Many an infant has been placed in a cottage with obscure parents, till by chance some ancient servant of the family has known it by its marks. Aunt. Ay, you had best be searched — That's like your calling the winds the fanning gales...
Page 68 - This young gentleman, ladies, is a particular acquaintance of mine, and much about my age and stature (look me full in the face, madam) ; he accidentally met the young lady, who had in her all the perfections of her sex (hold up your head, madam, that's right) ; she let him know that his person and discourse were not altogether disagreeable to her. The difficulty was how to gain a second interview (your eyes full upon mine, madam); for never was there such a sigher in all the valleys of Arcadia as...
Page ix - IN the first rise and infancy of Farce, When fools were many, and when plays were scarce, The raw unpractis'd authors could, with ease, A young and unexperienc'd audience please : No single character had e'er been shown, But the whole herd of fops was all their own ; Rich in originals, they set to view, In every piece a coxcomb that was new. But now our British theatre can...
Page 25 - I'll go directly to Lady Freelove's. If I find her not there, which way I shall direct myself, Heaven knows. Maj.
Page 99 - O no : Only release me these people. and then keep out of the way, dear Captain. O'Cut. With all my heart, 'fait. But you are all wrong: — this will not signify a brass farding. If you would let me alone, I would give him a salt eel, I warrant you.
Page 87 - Zounds, brother ! rant, and roar, and rave, and turn the house out of the window. If I was a husband ! 'Sdeath, what a pity it is that nobody knows how to manage a wife but a bachelor.
Page 17 - I'll do it — I'll certainly do it. — But then it hurts me to the soul, to think what uneasiness I shall give her. The first opening of my design will throw her into fits, and the pursuit of it, perhaps, may be fatal. Maj. O. Fits! ha, ha, ha...
Page ix - Our modern wits are forc'd to pick and cull, And here and there by chance glean up a fool : Long ere they find the necessary spark, They search the town, and beat about the Park ; To all his most frequented haunts resort, Oft dog him to the ring, and oft to court ; As love of pleasure, or of place invites : And sometimes catch him taking snuff at White's.
Page 18 - Did you ever hear of her falling into a fit when you were not by? Was she ever found in convulsions in her closet? No no; these fits, the more care you take of them, the more you will increase the distemper; let them alone, and they will wear themselves out, I warrant you.