Chapter Maney to Mansfield of M by Brewer's Readers Handbook

MANLY, the lover of lady Grace Townly sister-in-law of lord Townly. Manly is the cousin of sir Francis Wronghead, whom he saves from utter ruin. He is noble, judicious, upright, and sets all things right that are going wrong.—Vanbrugh and Cibber: The Provoked Husband (1728).

The address and manner of Dennis Delane [1700–1753] were easy and polite; and he excelled in the well-bred man, such as “Manly.”—T. Davies.

Manly, “the plain dealer.” An honest, surly sea-captain, who thinks every one a rascal, and believes himself to be no better. Manly forms a good contrast to Olivia, who is a consummate hypocrite of most unblushing effrontery.

“Counterfeit honours,” says Manly, “will not be current with me. I weigh the man, not his titles. ’Tis not the king’s stamp can make the metal better or heavier.”—Wycherly: The Plain Dealer, i. I (1677).

Manly, the plain dealer, is a copy of Molière’s “Misanthrope,” the prototype of which was the duc de Montausier.

Manly (Captain), the fiancé of Arabella ward of justice Day and an heiress.

Arabella. I like him much—he seems plain and honest. Ruth. Plain enough, in all conscience.
   —T. Knight: The Honest Thieves.

Manly (Colonel), a bluff, honest soldier, to whom honour is dearer than life. The hero of the drama.—Mrs. Centlivre: The Beau’s Duel (1703).

Mann (Mrs.), a dishonest, grasping woman, who kept a branch workhouse, where children were farmed. Oliver Twist was sent to her child-farm. Mrs. Mann systematically starved the children placed under her charge.—Dickens: Oliver Twist (1837).

Mannaia, goddess of retribution. The word in Italian means “an axe.”

All in a terrible moment came the blow
That beat down Paolo’s fence, ended the play
Of the foil, and brought Mannaia on the stage.
R. Browning: The Ring and the Book, iii. (date of the story, 1487).

Mannering (Guy) or colonel Mannering.

Mrs. Mannering (née Sophia Wellwood), wife of Guy Mannering.

Julia Mannering, daughter of Guy. She marries captain Bertram. “Rather a hare-brained girl, but well deserving the kindest regards” (act i. 2 of the dramatized version).

Sir Paul Mannering, uncle to Guy Mannering.—Sir W. Scott: Guy Mannering (time, George II.).

N.B.—The plot of this novel is given under Guy Mannering, p. 459. It was dramatized by Terry in 1816, with music by Bishop.

Manoa, the fabulous capital of El Dorado, the houses of which city were roofed with gold. El Dorado was said to be situated on the west shore of lake Parime, at the mouth of a large river.

Manon Lescaut, the heroine of a French novel entitled Histoire de Chevalier des Grieux et de Manon, by the abbé Prévost (1733). Manon was the “fair mischief” of the story. Her charms seduced and ruined the chevalier des Grieux, and they lived together in a disreputable manner. Manon was ultimately transported to New Orleans, and des Grieux managed to accompany her in the transport, pretending he was her husband. She fled the colony, where they settled, on account of the governor’s son, who made love to her, and died of privation in the wilderness, her lover by her side. The Chevalier returned to France. (See Grieux, p. 450.)