Chapter No Song no Supper to Norna of the Fitful Head of N by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Non Mi Ricordo, the usual reply of the Italian courier and other Italian witnesses when on examination at the trial of queen Charlotte (the wife of George IV.), in 1820.

The Italian witnesses often created amusement, when under examination, by the frequent answer, “Non mi ricordo.”—Cassell’s History of England, VII. iv. 16 (1863).

“Lord Flint,” in Such Things Are, by Mrs. Inchbald (1786), when asked a question he wished to evade used to reply, “My people know, no doubt, but I cannot recollect.”

“Pierre Choppard,” in The Courier of Lyons, by Edward Stirling (1852), when asked an ugly question, always answered, “I’ll ask my wife, my memory’s so slippery.”

The North American society called the “Know Nothings,” founded in 1853, used to reply to every question about themselves, “I know nothing about it.”

Nonacris’ Stream, the river Styx, in Arcadia. Cassander says he has in a phial some of this “horrid spring,” one drop of which, mixed with wine, would act as a deadly poison. To this Polyperchon replies—

I know its power, for I have seen it tried.
Pains of all sorts thro’ every nerve and artery
At once it scatters,—burns at once and freezes,—
Till, by extremity of torture forced,
The soul consents to leave her joyless home.
   —Lee: Alexander the Great, iv. 1 (1678).

Nonentity (Dr.), a metaphysician, and thought by most people to be a profound scholar. He generally spreads himself before the fire, sucks his pipe, talks little, drinks much, and is reckoned very good company. You may know him by his long grey wig, and the blue handkerchief round his neck.

Dr. Nonentity, I am told, writes indexes to perfection, makes essays, and reviews any work with a single day’s warning.—Goldsmith: A Citizen of the World, xxix. (1759).

Nones and Ides (each 1 syl).

On March the 7th, June, July,
October, too, the Nones you spy;
Except in these, those Nones appear
On the 5th day of all the year.
If to the Nones you add an 8,
Of all the Ides you’ll find the date.
   —E. C. B.

Hence we have the 15th for the Ides of March, June, July, and October; and the 13th for every other month.

Nongtongpaw, a comic ballad by Charles Dibdin (1745–1814).

Nonsense (Foote’s farrago of). (See Panjandrum.)

Norbert (Father), Pierre Parisot Norbert, the French missionary (1697–1769).

Norfolk Street (Strand), with Arundel, Surrey, and Howard Streets, occupy the site of the house and grounds of the Howards (earls of Arundel and Surrey).

Norland (Lord), father of lady Eleanor Irwin, and guardian of lady Ramble (Miss Maria Wooburn). He disinherited his daughter for marrying against his will, and left her to starve; but subsequently he relented, and relieved her wants and those of her young husband.—Mrs. Inchbald: Every One has His Fault (1794).

Norma, a vestal who had been seduced, and discovers her paramour trying to seduce a sister vestal. In despair, she contemplates the murder of her base-born children.—Bellini: Norma (1831); libretto by Romani.