Chapter Mercer to Merlin of M by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Mercutio, kinsman of prince Escalus, and Romeo’s friend. An airy, sprightly, elegant young nobleman, so full of wit and fancy that Dryden says Shakespeare was obliged to kill him in the third act, lest the poet himself should have been killed by Mercutio.—Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet (1598).

Mercutio’s wit, gaiety, and courage will always procure him friends that wish him a longer life; but his death is not precipitated—he has lived out the time allotted him in the construction of the play.—Dr. Johnson.

The light and fanciful humour of Mercutio serves to enhance and illustrate the romantic and passionate character of Romeo.—Sir W. Scott: The Drama.

William Lewis [1748–1811] was the “Mercutio” of the age, in every sense of the word “mercurial.” His airy, breathless voice, thrown to the audience before he appeared, was the signal of his winged animal spirits; and when he gave a glance of his eye, or touched with his finger at another’s ribs, it was the very punctum saliens of playfulness and innuendo.—Hunt: The Town (1848).

Mercutio of Actors (The), William Lewis (1748–1811).

Mr. Lewis displayed in acting a combination rarely to be found—that of the fop and the real gentleman. With a voice, a manner, and a person, all equally graceful and airy, and features at once whimsical and genteel, he played on the top of his profession like a plume.—Hunt: The Town (1848).

Mercy, a young pilgrim, who accompanied Christiana in her walk to Zion. When Mercy got to the Wicket Gate, she swooned from fear of being refused admittance. Mr. Brisk proposed to her, but, being told that she was poor, left her, and she was afterwards married to Matthew, the eldest son of Christian.—Bunyan: Pilgrim’s Progress, ii. (1684).

Merdle (Mr.), banker, a skit on the directors of the Royal British Bank, and on Mr. Hudson “the railway king.” Mr. Merdle, of Harley Street, was called the “Master Mind of the Age.” He became insolvent, and committed suicide. Mr. Merdle was a heavily made man, with an obtuse head, and coarse, mean, common features. His chief butler said of him, “Mr. Merdle never was a gentleman, and no ungentlemanly act on Mr. Merdle’s part would surprise me.” The great banker was “the greatest forger and greatest thief that ever cheated the gallows.”

Lord Decimus [Barnacle] began waving Mr. Merdle about…as Gigantic Enterprise, The Wealth of England, Credit, Capital, Prosperity, and all manner of blessings.—Bk. ii. 24.

Mrs. Merdle, wife of the bank swindler. After the death of her husband, society decreed that Mrs. Merdle should still be admitted among the sacred few; so Mrs. Merdle was still received and patted on the back by the upper ten.—Dickens: Little Dorrit (1857).

Meredith (Mr.), one of the conspirators with Redgauntlet.—Sir W. Scott: Redgauntlet (time, George III.).

Meredith (Mr. Michael), “the man of mirth,” in the managing committee of the Spa hotel.—Sir W. Scott: St. Ronan’s Well (time, George III.).

Meredith (Sir), a Welsh knight.—Sir W. Scott: Castle Dangerous (time, Henry I.).

Meredith (Owen), pseudonym of lord Lytton’s son, who succeeded to the title in 1873.

(George Meredith, novelist and poet, born in 1828, must not be confounded with Owen Meredith.)

Merida (Marchioness), betrothed to count Valantia.—Inchbald: Child of Nature.