W. S. Gilbert
W. S. Gilbert
Sir William Schwenck Gilbertwas an English dramatist, librettist, poet and illustrator best known for the fourteen comic operasproduced in collaboration with the composer Sir Arthur Sullivan. The most famous of these include H.M.S. Pinafore, The Pirates of Penzance and one of the most frequently performed works in the history of musical theatre, The Mikado. These, as well as several of the other Savoy operas, continue to be frequently performed in the English-speaking world and beyond by opera companies, repertory companies,...
time punishment sublime
My object all sublime I shall achieve in time- To let the punishment fit the crime- The punishment fit the crime.
return income manners
I know everybody's income and what everybody earns, And I carefully compare it with the income-tax returns
blow past echoes
Strike the concertina's melancholy string! Blow the spirit-stirring harp like any thing! Let the piano's martial blast Rouse the Echoes of the Past
captains sun gigs
Oh, I am a cook and a captain bold, And the mate of the Nancybrig, And a bos'sun tight, and a midshipmite, And the crew of the captain's gig!
memories mind age
I shall carry to the Catacombs of Age, Photographically lined On the tablet of my mind
two age half
I've an irritating chuckle, I've a celebrated sneer, I've an entertaining snigger, I've a fascinating leer; To everybody's prejudice I know a thing or two; I can tell a woman's age in half a minute--and I do
writing years play
No good play is a success; fine writing and high morals are useless on the stage. I have been scribbling twaddle for thirty-five years to suit the public taste, and I should know.
littles knows posterity
Posterity will know as little of me as I know of posterity.
clever forever
Though I'm anything but clever, I could talk like that forever.
heart winning blood
Faint heart never won fair lady! Nothing venture, nothing win Blood is thick, but water's thin In for a penny, in for a pound It's Love that makes the world go 'round!
knows posterity
Posterity shall know of me even less than I shall know of posterity.
abuse unhappy democracy
After many unhappy experiments in the direction of an ideal Republic, it was found that what may be described as a Despotism tempered by Dynamite provides, on the whole, the most satisfactory description of ruler - an autocrat who dares not abuse his autocratic power.
kissing hands trying
I am a courtier grave and serious Who is about to kiss your hand: Try to combine a pose imperious With a demeanour nobly bland.
suffering bills pills
What though I cannot meet my bills? What though I suffer toothache's ills? What though I swallow countless pills?