Benford's G&S Lexicon Entries for Trial By Jury

The son of Charles I, James II succeeded to the throne in 1685 but abdicated in 1688, when William of Orange forced him out. His was a short, bloody reign, but the Counsel would have us believe that he left his mark on matrimonial law.

If we interpret nice in the conventional sense we can conclude that the judge is indulging in irony (as in “a nice mess”). On the other hand, as Asimov (11) says, nice is used by lawyers in the older sense of requiring careful thought and examination. That seems the more likely interpretation.

A breach of promise: In legal matters, a failure to carry out a promise of marriage. Breach means to break.

Attractive, likely to make a good first impression.

A mitigating factor. This is from a pair of lines that are in the score but are omitted from some versions of the libretto. The complete verse, as found in The Savoy Operas (131), is sung by the jury as follows:

We would be fairly acting,
But this is most distracting!
If, when in liquor, he would kick her,
That is an abatement.

See “Semi-despondent fury” above.

At the time the opera was set (early 1870s) the person briefing a barrister in the Court of the Exchequer would have been an attorney. Shortly thereafter, however, the Judicature Act merged the solicitors and attorneys, and the former title was adopted (178).

This should not be taken literally; the judge is telling both parties to shelve (i.e., lay aside) their pleadings.

A slow ringing of a bell at a funeral.

Bestowing excessive adoration.

Protected by a deep encircling ditch, probably filled with anything but Eau de Cologne.

A rope or chain used to keep an animal from straying. This is not to be taken literally.

Brewer (56) says this means, “not a gentleman; one who arrogates to himself merits which he does not deserve.”

A small waistband pocket. Since the pocket is a small one, we may infer that the reward was perhaps only loose change. “Another insult, and, I think, a light one!”