Benford's G&S Lexicon Entries for The Yeomen of the Guard
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Act II
Become too much of a good thing. To induce loathing through overindulgence.
This old Scottish word means either large or small depending on the context. Its more correct interpretation is big or many; but it has been misused so often that you never know what to expect. In this case Gilbert certainly means to say “little.” See also Ruddigore.
Let’s interpret this as meaning, “Why the dickens are you grizzling?”
This is an archaic form of “if,” which appears regularly in old English literature, including Shakespeare (302).
“Reduction of and corruption of: ods bodkins, a jocular exclamation, is a late C. 19-20 perversion of ods bodikins, lit. God’s little body, a C. 17-19 oath” (233).
“A fabulous animal represented as a cock with a dragon’s tail; a fabulous serpent imagined to possess the powers of the basilisk, whose glance deals death” (75). That’s not Phoebe. Try this: “A name of reproach for a woman” (228).
The OED (228) defines the expression as meaning “I’ll break thy back.” Most of my knowing friends (none of whom is really bloodthirsty) are inclined to associate “cleave” with “meat cleaver” and so conjure up visions of gory work with a broadsword or battle-ax. Stedman (273) and Zavon (326) visualize the victim dropping in two pieces –– left and right –– from one mighty vertical blow, head to crotch. Prestige (243), Rees (251), and Knight (179) imagine Wilfred threatening a frontal slash, opening up the torso all the way to the backbone. Asimov (10), however, makes what I think is the best proposal: “To cleave to the chine is to cleave to the beginning of the backbone –– in other words to split the skull from top to bottom.” Any one of these definitions would produce the same end result: no long lingering death for the real Leonard Meryll, certainly nothing with either boiling oil or melted lead. “Cleave,” incidentally, also means to stick together –– as used in wedding ceremonies. We are sure that is not what Wilfred had in mind.
A notary public, usually a solicitor authorized to take affidavits, certify deeds, etc. In this case we suspect a marriage contract is implied. See also The Sorcerer and Cox and Box.
Harassing, i.e., proving a nuisance by repeated attacks.
“Pertaining to elegies, a set of verses in alternate hexameters and pentameters…” (177).
One who asks humbly. See also Iolanthe.
Not debased, pure; like a well performed Savoy opera.