"I only told him civilly, Past three o'clock and a cloudy morning!-- [...] --when, heyday! says he, (there he stands, let 'en deny it if he can) and coming up to me--what have we here?-- a human Clock!--a very odd kind of Repeater upon my soul!--one of the hours 'egad strolling about, in a masquerading habit!"
— Bacon, Phanuel (1700-1783)
Author
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for W. Owen
Date
1757
Metaphor
"I only told him civilly, Past three o'clock and a cloudy morning!-- [...] --when, heyday! says he, (there he stands, let 'en deny it if he can) and coming up to me--what have we here?-- a human Clock!--a very odd kind of Repeater upon my soul!--one of the hours 'egad strolling about, in a masquerading habit!"
Metaphor in Context
NIGHTSHADE
I assure your Worship--'tis no such thing--I was never the man that ever designed to give offenc. --no--no--'tis no such thing--as I was minding my business--and the gentleman there was passing by--I only told him civilly, Past three o'clock and a cloudy morning!--
[singing]
--when, heyday! says he, (there he stands, let 'en deny it if he can) and coming up to me--what have we here?-- a human Clock!--a very odd kind of Repeater upon my soul!--one of the hours 'egad strolling about, in a masquerading habit!--Past three!-- come--come--quickly--how many minutes!-- Hoh! hoh! I see you want a minute-hand to your dial-plate!--with that up goes my gentleman's cane! and truly he play'd the Seconds pretty handsomely. --Well--in the scuffle--off goes this fur-cap of mine (the worse luck for me!) for now an odd thought coming across his Worship's head--I suppose by this time, says he again, 'tis pretty near upon the Stroke of Four--come, friend--I'll assist you--I'll strike, and you shall count--reckon--reckon--you son of a whore!--there's One!--there's Two--so he gave me four more knocks, before he took his leave of me--and I was under a terrible apprehension--his Honour would have staid to have play'd the Chimes-- but it was very fortunate for me--he happened not to think of it.--
I assure your Worship--'tis no such thing--I was never the man that ever designed to give offenc. --no--no--'tis no such thing--as I was minding my business--and the gentleman there was passing by--I only told him civilly, Past three o'clock and a cloudy morning!--
[singing]
--when, heyday! says he, (there he stands, let 'en deny it if he can) and coming up to me--what have we here?-- a human Clock!--a very odd kind of Repeater upon my soul!--one of the hours 'egad strolling about, in a masquerading habit!--Past three!-- come--come--quickly--how many minutes!-- Hoh! hoh! I see you want a minute-hand to your dial-plate!--with that up goes my gentleman's cane! and truly he play'd the Seconds pretty handsomely. --Well--in the scuffle--off goes this fur-cap of mine (the worse luck for me!) for now an odd thought coming across his Worship's head--I suppose by this time, says he again, 'tis pretty near upon the Stroke of Four--come, friend--I'll assist you--I'll strike, and you shall count--reckon--reckon--you son of a whore!--there's One!--there's Two--so he gave me four more knocks, before he took his leave of me--and I was under a terrible apprehension--his Honour would have staid to have play'd the Chimes-- but it was very fortunate for me--he happened not to think of it.--
Categories
Provenance
Searching "clock" and "soul" in HDIS (Drama)
Citation
At least 2 entries in the ESTC (1757).
See The Tryal of the Time Killers. A Comedy of Five Acts. (London: Printed for Owen, at Homer’s-Head, near Temple-Bar, 1757). <Link to ESTC>
Text from Humorous Ethics: or, an Attempt to Cure the Vices and Follies of the Age by a Method Entirely New. In Five Plays, As They Are Now Acting to the Life at the Great Theatre by His Majesty's Company of Comedians. (London: Printed for W. Owen, at Homer’s-Head in Fleet-Street, 1757). <Link to ESTC>
See The Tryal of the Time Killers. A Comedy of Five Acts. (London: Printed for Owen, at Homer’s-Head, near Temple-Bar, 1757). <Link to ESTC>
Text from Humorous Ethics: or, an Attempt to Cure the Vices and Follies of the Age by a Method Entirely New. In Five Plays, As They Are Now Acting to the Life at the Great Theatre by His Majesty's Company of Comedians. (London: Printed for W. Owen, at Homer’s-Head in Fleet-Street, 1757). <Link to ESTC>
Date of Entry
11/16/2006
