Benford's G&S Lexicon Entries for Iolanthe

A retailer of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Light, baked pastries containing thinly sliced apples and various other delicious components. Never pass up a chance to accept one when served hot, and especially mit Schlag.

These are presumably what are more commonly known as turnovers: a triangular, filled pastry.

A special kind of cake first made in Banbury, Oxfordshire (75). Webster (307) adds that they are tarts with a fruit and raisin filling. Brewer (54) says they are "a spiced pastry turnover." Burgess (60) says they are Danish in origin. I don't know about you readers, but my stomach is beginning to gurgle. Let us move on to less filling matters.

This refers to the Rothschild family of international bankers. The firm was founded by Mayer Anselm Rothschild (1743-1812) of Frankfurt-am-Main. Each of his five sons established banks in different European cities. One of his grandsons, Lionel Nathan Rothschild, was the first Jew admitted to the English Parliament, and his son was made a baron (105).

An English family of bankers, also with German roots. The brothers Francis and John started the firm in 1770. Francis was made a baron in 1793. Recently a Dutch bank rescued the establishment, which had fallen on hard times (60).

Moderately slow -- not at all like the bulk of that nightmare song.

The musical time signature used in most of the songs in the show, including the nightmare song (48).

A single woman, with modest variation to rhyme with lady.

To swerve suddenly aside, as a startled horse.

An ancient Spanish copper coin worth a fraction of a cent. "Not worth a maravedi" is an old expression meaning worthless (54). The word derives from the Arab family, the Almoravidies, who ruled Cordoba from 1087 to 1147 (266).

Brewer (54) explains this expression as: "Once involved the matter must be carried through whatever obstacles or difficulties may arise -- there can be no drawing back."

Note: The next seven entries are from Strephon's seldom-performed recitative and song "Fold your flapping wings." See Allen (3).

Truth.

Something found only outside one's own country.

Something that ruins or spoils. Something poisonous.

The terms refer in order to the party in power, the Members of Parliament who are unaligned, and the party (or parties) that are out of power.

Drury Lane is in London's theatrical district. The "dingy" speaks for itself. ("Seven Dials" has already been defined.)

The literal meaning of the word pertains to delicate, beaded jewelry, which sounds highly indigestible. In Don Juan (65), Lord Byron uses these words, in part, to describe a luxurious Arabian Nights repast:

And fruits, and date-bread loaves closed the repast,
And Mocha's berry, from Arabia pure,
In small fine China cups, came in at last;
Gold cups of filigree made to secure
The hand from burning underneath them placed,
(and so forth).

Those filigrees were presumably intricately woven wire, or ornamentally pierced cup holders (274). In the context, however, the best hypothesis is that Strephon is simply alluding to his fortunate Arcadian background. We may wonder how his mother could have supported him so graciously. After all, she spent her time standing on her head at the bottom of a stream. But, of course, she enjoyed a well-earned reputation for doing surprising things.

Refers to the villainous Fagin of Oliver Twist, who ran a training school for juvenile thieves.

Chests for money or other valuables.

This was a common catch phrase in Gilbert's day: "Does your mother know you're out?" Brewer (54) says it is "A jeering remark addressed to a simpleton." In the present context it has a double meaning.

Someone who is pleading. See also The Yeomen of the Guard.

Fairy language expressing grief and woe. Take my word for it. It parodies the Rhine-maidens' "Wallala weila weia," etc. in Das Rheingold. The parody is underscored when the Queen of the Fairies is decked out like Brünnhilde.

Pronunciation: The first s in viscountess is silent.

The wives of dukes, marquises, earls, viscounts, and barons, respectively. The same terms apply to their widows, too, but that is certainly not what Celia has in mind

Equity is a body of laws based largely on general principles of justice to correct flaws in common law. An equity draughtsman is a barrister skilled in drawing up complicated contracts, trusts, and wills (142), especially those involving the subtleties of equity law.

The plural of beau, an attentive male admirer. Switch the nouns and you have a first-class pun.