The Fortunes of Nigel, Volume 1Archibald Constable and Company Edinburgh; and Hurst, Robinson, and Company, London., 1822 - English fiction - 355 pages Lord Nigel Olifaunt's father loaned huge sums of money to King James I of England years before. Nigel now wants the money back, but the royal courtiers will stop at nothing to steal the young lord's wealth. Court intrigue and swashbuckling action serve as the background to this historical fiction set in early seventeenth century Great Britain |
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Common terms and phrases
answered attend auld Author better betwixt Buckingham Captain citizen cloak court d'ye lack Dame Ursley Dame Ursula David Ramsay dear door Duke Earl eyes father favour fortune FORTUNES OF NIGEL gallant Geordie George Heriot goldsmith hand hath heard honest honour James Jenkin John Christie King King's lady laugh link-boy London look Lord Dalgarno Lord Glenvarloch Lord Huntinglen Lord Nigel Lord of Glenvarloch lordship mair Majesty Majesty's Master George Master Heriot maun ment mind Mistress Margaret Moniplies mony neighbour neral never Nigel Olifaunt noble person poor present rank replied Richie royal Scot Scotch Scotland Scottish scrivener seemed shew silver Sir Mungo Malagrowther speak Steenie stood Suddlechop Supplication sure tell ther thing thou thought tion tone Troth Tunstall Vincent weel whilk Whitehall word young lord young nobleman youth
Popular passages
Page 222 - Full little knowest thou, that hast not tried, What hell it is in suing long to bide : To lose good days, that might be better spent ; To waste long nights in pensive discontent ; To speed to-day, to be put back to-morrow ; To feed on hope, to pine with fear and sorrow ; To have thy Princes
Page xxvi - ... divided it into volumes and chapters, and endeavoured to construct a story which I meant should evolve itself gradually and strikingly, maintain suspense, and stimulate curiosity; and which, finally, should terminate in a striking catastrophe. But I think there is a demon who seats himself on the feather of my pen when I begin to write, and leads it astray from the purpose.
Page vi - Their destined glance some fated youth descry, Who now, perhaps, in lusty vigour seen, And rosy health, shall soon lamented die. For them the viewless forms of air obey; Their bidding heed, and at their beck repair: They know what spirit brews the stormful day, And, heartless, oft like moody madness, stare To see the phantom train their secret work prepare.
Page 127 - He was laborious in trifles, and a trifler where serious labour was required ; devout in his sentiments, and yet too often profane in his language ; just and beneficent by nature, he yet gave way to the iniquities and oppression of others. He was penurious respecting money which he had to give from his own hand, yet inconsiderately and unboundedly profuse of that which he did not see. In a word, those good qualities which displayed themselves in particular cases and occasions, were not of a nature...
Page xli - But no man of honour, genius, or spirit, would make the mere love of gain, the chief, far less the only, purpose of his labours. For myself, I am not displeased to find the game a winning one; yet while I pleased the public, I should probably continue it merely for the pleasure of playing ; for I have felt as strongly as most folks that love of composition, which is perhaps the strongest of all instincts, driving the author to the pen, the painter to the pallet, often without either the chance of...