Chapter Dufarge to Dun Cow of D by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Dufarge to Dun Cow

Dufarge (Jacques) and Madame Dufarge , in A Tale of Two Cities, by Dickens (1859). They are the presiding spirits of the Faubourg St. Antoine, and instigators of many of the crimes of the Red Republicans.

Duff (Jamie), the idiot boy attending Mrs. Bertram’s funeral.—Sir W. Scott: Guy Mannering (time, George II.).

Duglas, the scene of four Arthurian battles. The Duglas is said to fall into the estuary of the Ribble. The Paris MS. and Henry of Huntingdon says, “Duglas qui est in regione Inniis.” But where is “Inniis”? There is a township called “Ince,” a mile south-west of Wigan, and Mr. Whitaker says, “six cwt. of horse- shoes were taken up from a space of ground near that spot during the formation of a canal;” so that this “Ince” is supposed to be the place referred to.

Duke (My lord), a duke’s servant, who assumes the airs and title of his master, and is addressed as “Your grace,” or “My lord duke.” He was first a country cowboy, then a wigmaker’s apprentice, and then a duke’s servant. He could neither write nor read, but was a great coxcomb, and set up for a tip-top fine gentleman.—Rev. J. Townley: High Life Below Stairs (1763),

Duke (The Iron), the duke of Wellington, also called “The Great Duke” (1769–1852).

Duke and Duchess, in pt. II. of Don Quixote, who play so many sportive tricks on “the Knight of the Woeful Countenance,” were don Carlos d e Borja count of Ficallo and donna Maria of Aragon duchess of Villahermora his wife, in whose right the count held extensive estates on the banks of the Ebro, among others a country seat called Buenavia, the place referred to by Cervantês (1615).

Duke of Milan, a tragedy by Massinger (1622). A play evidently in imitation of Shakespeare’s Othello. “Sforza” is Othello; “Francesco,” Iago; “Marcelia,” Desdemona; and “Eugenia,” Emilia. Sforza “the More” [sic] doted on Marcelia his young bride, who amply returned his love. Francesco, Sforza’s favourite, being left lord protector of Milan during a temporary absence of the duke, tried to corrupt Marcelia; but failing in this, accused her of wantonness. The duke, believing his favourite, slew his beautiful young bride. The cause of Francesco’s villainy was that the duke had seduced his sister Eugenia.

Shakespeare’s play was produced in 1611, about eleven years before Massinger’s tragedy. In act V. I we have, “Men’s injuries we write in brass,” which brings to mind Shakespeare’s line, “Men’s evil manners live in brass, their virtues we write in water.”

(Cumberland reproduced this drama, with some alterations, in 1780.)

Duke Coombe, William Coombe, author of Dr. Syntax, and translator of The Devil on Two Sticks, from Le Diable Boiteux of Lesage. He was called duke from the splendour of his dress, the profusion of his table, and the magnificence of his deportment. The last fifteen years of his life were spent in the King’s Bench (1741–1823).

Duke Street (Portman Square, London). So called from William Bentinck, second duke of Portland. (See Duchess Street, p. 303.)

Duke Street (Strand, London). So named from George Villiers, duke of Buckingham.

(For other dukes, see the surname or titular name.)

Duke’s, a fashionable theatre in the reign of Charles II. It was in Portugal Street, Lincoln’s Inn Fields. So named in compliment to James duke of York (James II.), its great patron.

Dulcamara (Dr.), an itinerant physician, noted for his pomposity; very boastful, and a thorough charlatan.—Donizetti: L’Elisire d’Amore (1832).