The ideal of a gentleman, or, A mirror for gentlefolks : a portrayal in literature from the earliest times / by A. Smythe-Palmer.

  • Palmer, Abram Smythe.
Date:
[1908]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The ideal of a gentleman, or, A mirror for gentlefolks : a portrayal in literature from the earliest times / by A. Smythe-Palmer. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Fungoso : If a man had any true melancholy in him, it would make him melancholy to see his yeomanly father cut his neighbours’ throats, to make his son a gentleman ; and yet, when he has cut them, he will see his son’s throat cut too, ere he can make him a true gentleman indeed. ... Is any man termed a gentleman that is not always in the fashion ? I would know but that. Jonson, op. cit., act iv, sc. i. Here Gervase, take this bag, and run presently to the Mercers ; buy me seven ells of horseflesh-coloured taffeta, nine yards of yellow satin, and eight yards of orange-tawny velvet. Then run to the tailors, the haberdashers, the sempsters, the cutlers, the perfumers, and to all trades what- soever, that belong to the making up of a gentleman ; and, amongst the rest, let not the barber be forgotten ; and look that he be an excellent fellow, and one that can snap his fingers with dexterity. 1614, Greene's Tu Quoque. Then will I hurry myself to the Mercer’s books, wear rich clothes, be called Tony ’ by a great man, sell my lands, pay no debts, hate citizens, and beat sergeants ; and when all fails, sneak out of Antonio with a twopenny looking-glass, and turn as true Trincalo as ever. [Albumazar: Trincalo, the farmer, on being transformed (as he imagines) into Antonio by the cheating astrologer. Id. act hi, sc. 5.] A gentleman’s a gentleman that hath a clean shirt on, with some learning. And so have I. 1610, Histrio-mastix, act ii, sc. i, 11. 214-5. Timothy : ‘ What Are these two ? gentlemen ? ’ Plotwell: ‘ You see they wear Their heraldry ’ Tim. : But, I mean, can they roar. Beat drawers [tapsters], play at dice, and court their mistress ? Jasper Mayne, Citye Match, act i, sc.