Trial By Jury
| Is this the Court of the Assizes, beware my heart advises – periodical sessions of court for civil and criminal cases. The GSLVOC replaced Gilbert’s original word, “Exchequer” in order to eliminate the unfortunate word with which it rhymes … Your evil star’s in the ascendant – your astrological timing couldn’t be worse Tink-a-tank – onomatopoetic sound of a guitar (or ukulele) love unchanged will cloy – become too much, or too sweet, for pleasure never be reversed in banc – overturned by a superior court I was… an impecunious party – one who is short of money a brief which I’d bought of a booby – papers summarizing a court case; a fool in Westminster Hall I danced a dance like a semi-despondent fury – the site of the High Court of Justice from 1755 to 1884; in mythology, furies were female avenging spirits at the Bailey and Middlesex Sessions – the names of courts in London an incubus then I thought her – a nightmarish oppressor I threw over that rich attorney’s elderly ugly daughter – abandoned, jilted it is patent to the mob – obvious to everyone my being made a nob was effected by a job – a nob is a person of wealth or distinction; a job means a dirty trick, or string-pulling O’er the season vernal time may cast a shade – springtime; metaphorically, youth Camberwell became a bower, Peckham an Arcadian vale – prosaic, working-class suburbs of London Breathing concentrated otto – from attar of roses, i.e., perfume made of rose petals An existence à la Watteau – Jean-Antoine Watteau (1684-1721) painted idyllic scenes for the maid had bought her trousseau – bride’s collection of clothing, linens, etc. a nice dilemma – demanding great precision and delicacy I’m not prepossessing, as you may be guessing – attractive if, when in liquor, he would kick her, that is an abatement – something which subtracts from the value (here, the damages to be awarded for the loss of such a fiancé) I’ll reward him from my fob – small waistband pocket (the reward is presumably small) |