Chapter Danaw to Darby and Joan of D by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Danaw to Darby and Joan

Danaw, the German word for the Danube, used by Milton in his Paradise Lost, i. 353 (1665).

Dancing Chancellor (The), sir Christopher Hatton, who attracted the attention of queen Elizabeth by his graceful dancing at a masque. She took him into favour, and made him both chancellor and knight of the Garter (died 1591).

Mons. de Lauzun, the favourite of Louis XIV., owed his fortune to his grace in dancing in the king’s quadrille.

Many more than one nobleman owed the favour he enjoyed at court to the way he pointed his toe or moved his leg.—Dumas: Taking the Bastille.

Dancing Water (The), from the Burning Forest. This water had the power of imparting youthful beauty to those who used it. Prince Chery, aided by a dove, obtained it for Fairstar.

The dancing water is the eighth wonder of the world. It beautifies ladies, makes them young again, and even enriches them.—Comtesse D’Aulnoy: Fairy Tales (“Princess Fairstar,” 1682).

Dandie Dinmont. (See Dinmont.)

Dandies (The Prince of), Beau Brummel (1778–1840).

Dandin (George), a rich French tradesman, who marries Angelique, the daughter of Mons. le baron de Sotenville; and has the “privilege” of paying off the family debts, maintaining his wife’s noble parents, and being snubbed on all occasions to his heart’s content. He constantly said to himself, in self-rebuke, Vous l’avez voulu, vous l’avez voulu, George Dandin! (“You have no one to blame but yourself! you brought it on yourself, George Dandin!”)

Vous l’avez voulu, vous l’avez voulu, George Dandin! vous l’avez voulu! … vous avez justement ce que vous méritez.—Molière: George Dandin, i. 9 (1668).

“Well, tu l’as voulu, George Dandin,” she said, with a smile, “you were determined on it, and must bear the consequences.”—P. Fitzgerald: The Parvenu Family, ii. 262.

N.B.—There is no such phrase in the comedy as Tu l’as voulu, it is always Vous l’avez voulu.

Dandolo (Signor), a friend to Fazio in prosperity, but who turns from him when in disgrace. He says—

Signor, I am paramount
In all affairs of boot and spur and hose;
In matters of the robe and cap supreme;
In ruff disputes, my lord, there’s no appeal
From my irrefragibility.
   —Dean Milman: Fazio, ii. 1 (1815).

Danelagh , the fifteen counties in which the Danes settled in England, viz. Essex, Middlesex, Suffolk, Norfolk, Herts, Cambs., Hants, Lincoln, Notts., Derbys, Northampton, Leicestershire Bucks., Beds., and the vast territory called Northumbria.—Bromton Chronicle (printed 1652).

Dangeau (Fouer à la), to play as good a hand at cards as Philippe de Courcillon, marquis de Dangeau (1638–1720).

Dangerfield (Captain), a hired witness in the “Popish Plot.”—Sir W. Scott: Peveril of the Peak (time, Charles II.).

Dangle, a gentleman bitten with the theatrical mania, who annoys a manager with impertinent flattery and advice. It is said that Thomas Vaughan, a playwright of small reputation, was the original of this character.—Sheridan: The Critic (see act i. 1), (1779).

The latter portion of the sentence is intelligible … but the rest reminds us of Mr. Dangle’s remark, that the interpreter appears the harder to be understood of the two.—Encyclopœdia Britannica (article “Romance”).