Benford's G&S Lexicon Entries for The Mikado
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Act II
Natural, simple, uncontrived, and without guile.
To take the edge off it; to skim off the cream. Halton (147) says this is said colloquially of ale or beer that has gone stale.
An unaccompanied part-song for three or more singers. Madrigals as a form go back at least four centuries.
The Master of the Rolls is the third most important judge in the English legal hierarchy, ranking below the Lord Chancellor and the Lord Chief Justice. He is also the chief custodian of official records (243). The position was introduced by George IV in 1838 to care for "all ancient state documents" (319). Goodman (141) expounds at some length on the historical developments affecting the office. He notes that the responsibilities in Gilbert's time were altogether different from those of today (to say nothing of those in Japan then or now).
The judge of the Court of Probate and Divorce, previous to 1876 (228).
In Britain the Lord Chancellor is the highest judicial authority, about equivalent in rank to the Chief Justice of the United States. He is also the Speaker of the House of Lords. Goodman (142) says he is the only judge in England who is a politician, and has five separate functions (but I'll not burden you with the details). See also Iolanthe.
A colloquialism, short for "How do you do?" (115). Today we might say, somewhat less delicately, "Here's a can of worms!" MacPhail (194) says that Sullivan in his autograph full score invariably writes "How d'ye do."
A large fly about equivalent to a horsefly.
Literally "in name only." In short, Ko-Ko thought that as Lord High Executioner his duties were to attend to the superficial formalities but not the actual dirty work.
A "statement in writing made on oath, sworn before someone who has authority to administer it" (141).
Minister of the home office responsible amongst other things for the role of the police at a national level (141).
To involve oneself in violating an oath; e.g., to falsify an affidavit. Tush.
A uniformed messenger, doorman, or porter. For further details see entry for same term in Thespis.
The start of the chorus at the entry of the Mikado. The words are an authentic Japanese marching song of Gilbert's day. The meaning is approximately as follows: "Oh, Prince, what is that fluttering in front of your horse?" A second verse, which Gilbert omits, gives this reply: "It is the imperial standard given to us to carry with us as we go to punish enemies of the Imperial Government" (197). Bradley (48) offers further details.
Any group, party, or faction united by a specific doctrine or under a doctrinal leader (250).
One who does good deeds inspired by a love of mankind; just the sort of person who organizes amateur G&S performing groups.
Prosaic, unimaginative, and probably long-winded.
Halton (147) explains that these were Lutheran evangelists who traveled around England delivering long, and often tiresome, sermons.
Pronunciation: Tussaud's: too-SOZE
A London museum exhibiting lifelike wax effigies of famous people. A native of Switzerland, Madame Tussaud learned modeling in Paris, and started a museum exhibiting figures of famous and infamous people. Bradley (48) claims that she was compelled to make wax casts of the heads of victims of the guillotine. She moved her exhibit to London in 1802, one hopes without those replicated heads.
A dark or purplish brown. The word is derived from the French for "flea," puce being the color of the little rascals, if you look carefully and closely. Or perhaps you'd be willing to take our word for it.