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"The Sorcerer," by Gilbert and Sullivan

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January 08, 2008, 22:50
wordcrafter
"The Sorcerer," by Gilbert and Sullivan
One of our quotes last week came from Gilbert and Sullivan. This week we’ll take words from their operetta The Sorcerer. As the curtain rises the villagers are gathered and they sing in chorus, celebrating the betrothal of Alexis and his bride-to-be Aline.clarion – loud and clear (noun: a shrill war trumpet)
. . .[clarion call – a strongly expressed demand for action]
knell – the sound of a bell, especially when rung solemnly for a death or funeral
. . .[verb (of a bell): to ring solemnly]
lay – a short lyric or narrative poem intended to be sung

This message has been edited. Last edited by: wordcrafter,
January 09, 2008, 20:14
wordcrafter
Alexis’s father congratulates him on his excellent match.escutcheon – a shield or emblem bearing a coat of arms
blot on one’s escutcheon – a stain on one’s reputation or character
January 10, 2008, 20:55
wordcrafter
But sometimes love is not so happy. Constance confides to her mother that she pines for Dr. Daly, the local vicar.¹ But Dr. Daly is an obtuse older man who has sadly resigned himself to bachelorhood. He is completely unaware of Constance’s feeling for him, and has no clue why she is so melancholy. comely – pleasant to look at; attractive
tush – an exclamation, expressing disapproval, impatience, or dismissal
pule – to cry weakly or querulously; to whine, complain, whimper


¹ The daughter-mother conversation is amusing, so I’ll repeat it. Constance (red) speaks:
January 12, 2008, 20:41
wordcrafter
But back to Alexis and Aline. Alexis believes that matrimony is “the panacea for every earthy ill,” regardless of class lines. He tells Aline:But as we shall see tomorrow, Alexis is prepared to resolve that problem!

navvy – a laborer in the excavation and construction of a road or railway
[from navigator in the former sense of a one who builds a navigation (a dialect word for a canal)]
January 13, 2008, 19:50
wordcrafter
Alexis has decided to break this impasse by using a philter – love-potion – to cause all to fall in love. An excellent philter is available from “J. W. Wells & Co., the old-established Family Sorcerers,” a “most respectable firm.” Alexis [blue, below] interviews Mr. Wells [brown]:

. . .Good day – I believe you are a Sorcerer.
. . .Yes, sir, we practice Necromancy in all its branches. We've a choice assortment of wishing-caps, divining-rods, amulets, charms, and counter-charms. We can cast you a nativity at a low figure, … Our penny Curse – one of the cheapest things in the trade – is considered infallible. We have some very superior Blessings, too, but they're very little asked for. … But our sale of penny Curses, especially on Saturday nights, is tremendous. We can’t turn ’em out fast enough. …
. . .I believe you advertise a Patent Oxy-Hydrogen Love-at-first-sight Philtre?
. . .Sir, it is our leading article. (Producing a phial.)
. . .Now I want to know if you can confidently guarantee it as possessing all the qualities you claim for it in your advertisement?
. . .Sir, we are not in the habit of puffing our goods. Ours is an old-established house with a large family connection, and every assurance held out in the advertisement is fully realized.

necromancy1. witchcraft or black magic 2. predicting the future by communicating with the dead
nativity – a horoscope for the time of one's birth (among other meanings, of course)
puffery – hype; exaggerated praise, especially for promotion
January 14, 2008, 17:27
wordcrafter
Mr. Wells is truly a marvel!nosology –the branch of medical science concerned with the classification of diseases
[nosos disease]
philology – the study of the structure, historical development, and relationships of a language or languages
January 14, 2008, 17:38
zmježd
philology

The main difference between philology and linguistics is that the former includes the study and analysis of literature.


Ceci n'est pas un seing.