The Master Passion; or, The History of Frederick Beaumont. In four volumes.
Author Details
Author Name:Unknown
Gender:Unknown
Anonymous:Yes
Publication Details
Publisher:Printed for William Miller, Albemarle Street
Place:London
Date:1808
Novel Details
Genre:Courtship; epistolary; Gothic; mystery; travel
Setting:England; Wales; Germany; Venice
Period:Contemporary
Plot
Maria Maynard marries Edmund Villiers, but the two are soon separated when he has to oversee business in East Indies and is killed. Their child, Helena, grows up and falls in love with Frederick Beaumont. Their proposed marriage is forbidden by Frederick's father due to a misunderstanding about Helena's good character, and Beaumont Senior insists on Frederick leaving England to undertake business overseas. A long separation ensues, and Frederick has many adventures. The last sees him badly injured by banditti, after which he returns, barely alive, to Helena in England. He has solved an old murder mystery and righted many wrongs during his time overseas, while back at home, his father has been shipwrecked on the Welsh coast and is recuperating at Helena's family home. The couple eventually marry with the blessing of both families. Many interwoven sub-plots (foundling children, madness, abduction, sins and repentance), most of which are resolved in a series of remarkable coincidental encounters and discussions.
Overview of the Dialect
A few nonstandard characters including Bernard, a dialect-speaking character who claims he was 'borned in Surry'. This conversation (with Helen) includes misunderstandings of dialect, and metalanguage. There is also what seems to be Welsh for Goody Williams.
Speaker #1:Bernard - Gardener
Individual or Group:Individual
Primary Identity:Old Bernard the gardener
Gender:Male
Age:Adult - elderly
Narrative Voice:3rd person
Role:Peripheral
Dialect Features:Discourse Marker, Grammar, Idiom, Metalanguage, Orthographical Contraction, Orthographical Respelling, Vocabulary
Social Role
Social Role Description:Gardener
Social Role Category:Servant
Speaker's Origin
Place of Origin Description:Born Surrey, adult life spent in Monmouthshire
Place of Origin Category:Surrey, South East England, England
Extract #1 dialect features: Discourse Marker, Grammar, Idiom, Metalanguage, Orthographical Contraction, Orthographical Respelling, Vocabulary
Well, Bernard," said Mrs. Villiers, "Helena tells me you have been in London, and that you saw very strange things there. I thought you had lived in this neighbourhood all your life and had never been so far from home."
"Why, you see, Madam, I was borned in Surry; and lived farmer's man, and sometimes worked in the gentlefolk's gardens for a many years, man and boy:-- so you see, the young girls as goes up from this country, a harvesting, did used to work for my master--and so I took a bit of a liking to one on 'em, but she would not have me, she said, without I would come and live in her country, near her father and mother, like. So I left my master, d'ye see , and married her, and comed here, and then I took to gardening, and here I ha' been ever since."--
"But you went to London before you ever came here, I suppose, Bernard?"
"Why, yes, Madam, I was o'telling o' little Miss how my master sent me once with some wuts to market, and another man wie' me."
"What are wuts , Mamma?"
"Surry for oats," said Mr. Melcombe.
"So you see, Madam, when it begun to be dusk--for we was ordered to be in Lunnun just before night, to be ready for the first o' the market in the morning--I got into a clutter o' carts, and such a mort of people that I got a looking at 'em to see what they was all a going about:-- so presently I goes back to my cart, as I thoft , and I said summut to the man wie' the horses, thinking how it was the same as I set out with; but he spoke sulky like , and in a stre-ange voice--and sure ly there was I with a waggon and a man I never see'd before in all my life:--so off I sets, to look for me me-ate -- so I comes where there was four or five roads, and what they called the Oblus in the middle: I thinks how it was at one Sir George's fe-alds, or some such ple-ace. So I takes one road where I sees a cart,--but that wasn't it-- so , what to do I didn't know; but I goes on, and on--and comes to a bridge; so then I thoft sure ly I was right, 'causen I knowed how I was to go over a bridge; so, when I got into the town, I was mortal tired--and I axed where I was, and they tould me I was in Wessmister : so then I thoft I had gone quite and clean to the wrong town: so, says I, 'La! dear, why I oft to a' gone to Lunnun .' So then they fell a laughing, and said how I should never find out Lunnun if I goed away from Wessmister . So I thoft I would go on till I found some civilier like folks--so I went furder and furder , and some tould me one thing and some another, and so it growed dark,--and I was got so tired and sleepy like , that I thoft as how I'd lay down and rest me a bit, till it was light again, and then I could find my way myself. So I sees a fine place with a great postis over the door: so I lays me down, and falls fast asleep. Bye and bye, I hears such a clattering, and racketing o' horses and carriages, the coachmen swearing, and driving along as thof they was all tosticated: --so up I jumps , and then to be sure I was frighted out o' my sinses , for I thoft sure ly I must be killed in my sleep and got where all the bad people do bide : for first of all, to be sure I see'd the ould gentleman himself, and then, some wi' horns, and some wi' big noses, and some all over patch-work like ."
"Why old Bernard has certainly been to a masquerade;" said Mr. Melcombe, laughing, aside to Mrs. Villiers.--
(Vol. 1,p. 50-54)"Why, you see, Madam, I was borned in Surry; and lived farmer's man, and sometimes worked in the gentlefolk's gardens for a many years, man and boy:-- so you see, the young girls as goes up from this country, a harvesting, did used to work for my master--and so I took a bit of a liking to one on 'em, but she would not have me, she said, without I would come and live in her country, near her father and mother, like. So I left my master, d'ye see , and married her, and comed here, and then I took to gardening, and here I ha' been ever since."--
"But you went to London before you ever came here, I suppose, Bernard?"
"Why, yes, Madam, I was o'telling o' little Miss how my master sent me once with some wuts to market, and another man wie' me."
"What are wuts , Mamma?"
"Surry for oats," said Mr. Melcombe.
"So you see, Madam, when it begun to be dusk--for we was ordered to be in Lunnun just before night, to be ready for the first o' the market in the morning--I got into a clutter o' carts, and such a mort of people that I got a looking at 'em to see what they was all a going about:-- so presently I goes back to my cart, as I thoft , and I said summut to the man wie' the horses, thinking how it was the same as I set out with; but he spoke sulky like , and in a stre-ange voice--and sure ly there was I with a waggon and a man I never see'd before in all my life:--so off I sets, to look for me me-ate -- so I comes where there was four or five roads, and what they called the Oblus in the middle: I thinks how it was at one Sir George's fe-alds, or some such ple-ace. So I takes one road where I sees a cart,--but that wasn't it-- so , what to do I didn't know; but I goes on, and on--and comes to a bridge; so then I thoft sure ly I was right, 'causen I knowed how I was to go over a bridge; so, when I got into the town, I was mortal tired--and I axed where I was, and they tould me I was in Wessmister : so then I thoft I had gone quite and clean to the wrong town: so, says I, 'La! dear, why I oft to a' gone to Lunnun .' So then they fell a laughing, and said how I should never find out Lunnun if I goed away from Wessmister . So I thoft I would go on till I found some civilier like folks--so I went furder and furder , and some tould me one thing and some another, and so it growed dark,--and I was got so tired and sleepy like , that I thoft as how I'd lay down and rest me a bit, till it was light again, and then I could find my way myself. So I sees a fine place with a great postis over the door: so I lays me down, and falls fast asleep. Bye and bye, I hears such a clattering, and racketing o' horses and carriages, the coachmen swearing, and driving along as thof they was all tosticated: --so up I jumps , and then to be sure I was frighted out o' my sinses , for I thoft sure ly I must be killed in my sleep and got where all the bad people do bide : for first of all, to be sure I see'd the ould gentleman himself, and then, some wi' horns, and some wi' big noses, and some all over patch-work like ."
"Why old Bernard has certainly been to a masquerade;" said Mr. Melcombe, laughing, aside to Mrs. Villiers.--
Extract #2 dialect features: Discourse Marker, Grammar, Idiom, Orthographical Contraction, Orthographical Respelling, Vocabulary
"Good morrow, Bernard: have you been here long?"
"Why, Madam, I was coming at six o'clock, but I did not get here till e'en a most seven-- 'causen I met young Mr. Beaumont, and he got talking to me:--and he speaks so pretty , you see, --just like you, Madam! And he axed me a mort of questions all about the folks in the wood,-- 'causen I works there.-- So, to be sure, he thought how I must know all about 'em --and he wanted to know every thin k about the lady and gentleman as comed last night; and, la dear! I could not tell him nothing at all--and that vexed him enough, I'll warrant him-- 'causen I met one of the sarvants just now, and he said how she is a mighty pretty sweet lady."
(Vol. 2,p. 34-35)"Why, Madam, I was coming at six o'clock, but I did not get here till e'en a most seven-- 'causen I met young Mr. Beaumont, and he got talking to me:--and he speaks so pretty , you see, --just like you, Madam! And he axed me a mort of questions all about the folks in the wood,-- 'causen I works there.-- So, to be sure, he thought how I must know all about 'em --and he wanted to know every thin k about the lady and gentleman as comed last night; and, la dear! I could not tell him nothing at all--and that vexed him enough, I'll warrant him-- 'causen I met one of the sarvants just now, and he said how she is a mighty pretty sweet lady."
Speaker #2:Le Marquis de Sanspareil - Marquis
Individual or Group:Individual
Primary Identity:Dancing tutor
Gender:Male
Age:Adult - middle aged
Narrative Voice:3rd person
Role:Peripheral
Dialect Features:Discourse Marker, Grammar, Orthographical Respelling
Social Role
Social Role Description:Marquis
Social Role Category:Aristocracy or gentry
Speaker's Origin
Place of Origin Description:French
Place of Origin Category:France
Extract #1 dialect features: Orthographical Respelling
Speakers: All , Le Marquis de Sanspareil
" Ah! que vous etes charmante ! how charming you are, Madame! and how de report of your divine beauty comes so short to de trute ! de Venus in de beauty, de Juno in de majeste , and de Minerve in de visdom ."
"You are very polite, Sir," said Mrs. Villiers, endeavouring to avoid laughing; "but as to my wisdom, (to say nothing of my other perfections) I am afraid you are not yet quite a competent judge of it, and that, when you have fathomed its whole depth, you will find Minerva had considerably the advantage of me."
" O que non! ma chere dame --I do see it in your eyes--and I do 'ear it in your vords ."
(Vol. 1,p. 85-86)"You are very polite, Sir," said Mrs. Villiers, endeavouring to avoid laughing; "but as to my wisdom, (to say nothing of my other perfections) I am afraid you are not yet quite a competent judge of it, and that, when you have fathomed its whole depth, you will find Minerva had considerably the advantage of me."
" O que non! ma chere dame --I do see it in your eyes--and I do 'ear it in your vords ."
Speakers: All , Le Marquis de Sanspareil
"Ah , Mademoiselle! " cried the Marquis, " que je vous demande pardon! " how I ask your pardon for not spik to you soonere ! but--I am ver moche afrait dat I shall repent me dat I spik to you at all-- At cet air languissant! --how it become you! and how it vounde my 'arte! --and dat smile! and de teet like de perles!"
(Vol. 1,p. 88)Speakers: All , Le Marquis de Sanspareil
"Ma chere dame, I was de best dancere in Paris. I did learn of de Vestris--till he observed dat it was high time for me to teash him. O! if you ad seen me danse de minuet vid les Duchesses--les Comtesses--at de court of poor Louis!--as for de Queen; if any body did but spik , she vou'd say-- 'Silence!--taisez vous, je vous prie! c'est Monsieur le Marquis qui danse." ---
(Vol. 1,p. 89-90)Speaker #3:Goody Williams - Cottager
Individual or Group:Individual
Primary Identity:Cottager
Gender:Female
Age:Adult - middle aged
Narrative Voice:3rd person
Role:Peripheral
Dialect Features:Discourse Marker, Grammar, Idiom, Orthographical Contraction, Orthographical Respelling
Social Role
Social Role Description:Cottager
Social Role Category:Respectable poor
Speaker's Origin
Place of Origin Description:Assumed local to setting of text - Monmouthshire
Place of Origin Category:Monmouthshire, South Wales, Wales
Extract #1 dialect features: Discourse Marker, Grammar, Idiom, Orthographical Contraction, Orthographical Respelling
"Yes, indeed, and thank Cot and your latiship , I am ferry well, as effer I wass in my life."
"And how do your children do? all well, and all good I hope."
"Yes, and pleass your latiship , they are all well, and ferry coot children: only my pest chilt d'ye see is a long way off; and liffes coachman to a creat family, and I calls him my pest , pecauss he can do more for me than the rest: and he is so stingy of his clothes, and takes care of 'em , my laty --to sent 'em all to his poor father-- Oh my dear Tafit! I'm sure I prayss for him night and morning: and as for the morning, you see, Matam , what little matters I wants for myself, I prayss for 'em while I makes my pet , and prushes my room; and then I downs o' my knees, and prayss for my Tafit."
(Vol. 1,p. 103-4)"And how do your children do? all well, and all good I hope."
"Yes, and pleass your latiship , they are all well, and ferry coot children: only my pest chilt d'ye see is a long way off; and liffes coachman to a creat family, and I calls him my pest , pecauss he can do more for me than the rest: and he is so stingy of his clothes, and takes care of 'em , my laty --to sent 'em all to his poor father-- Oh my dear Tafit! I'm sure I prayss for him night and morning: and as for the morning, you see, Matam , what little matters I wants for myself, I prayss for 'em while I makes my pet , and prushes my room; and then I downs o' my knees, and prayss for my Tafit."
Speaker #4:Betty - Maid
Individual or Group:Individual
Primary Identity:The maid
Gender:Female
Age:Adult - unspecified age
Narrative Voice:3rd person
Role:Peripheral
Dialect Features:Discourse Marker, Grammar, Orthographical Contraction, Orthographical Respelling, Vocabulary
Social Role
Social Role Description:Maid
Social Role Category:Servant
Speaker's Origin
Place of Origin Description:assume local to setting of text - Monmouthshire
Place of Origin Category:Monmouthshire, South Wales, Wales
"Lack-a-daisie! Miss! how can you stand talking to this low-lived dirty brat, who I dares to say, belongs to that gang o' gypsies! You know your mamma would be very angry with you for speaking to her, and staying out so late."
(Vol. 1,p. 108)Extract #2 dialect features: Grammar, Orthographical Contraction, Orthographical Respelling, Vocabulary
[Writing] "Horrid Madam,
"i Receav'd Mis Hell in's leter and ham ferry appy to heir yu arr wel . and cumming whom , i hav dun ivery think as shee hordered : the Beads was al whash'd and putt up bifor hur litter cam . i hav had al thee flowers wel skewered and dri rubed , and thee karpits well bet and prushed .-- Tigur and Mr. Melcum is wel . bot i ham surry to sai Frollik is very purely an canot cee ferry wel , and muster Melcoom thincks as how he as got a cart track in is i . bot he as takin im to norse and sais how he wil tri the receet he as got from thee fetter run away colleague . and if That Wunt doo he wil av him coached bifor yu cums whom . Bot i wasn't to tel u so he sed , Bot i lete it s'ipp outt bifor i was a War .
" ther is plenty of peace in the guardian , but the binns makes litile whey --they sai it's for wont of mourning sons . ivery think is kwite reddy for u and i ope u wil cum whoom ferry sun with my umbel dutty too mis Hell in i ham
"Horrid Maddam Yur
" humbil survent
"elizzabeth Spinliffe."
(Vol. 3,p. 3)"i Receav'd Mis Hell in's leter and ham ferry appy to heir yu arr wel . and cumming whom , i hav dun ivery think as shee hordered : the Beads was al whash'd and putt up bifor hur litter cam . i hav had al thee flowers wel skewered and dri rubed , and thee karpits well bet and prushed .-- Tigur and Mr. Melcum is wel . bot i ham surry to sai Frollik is very purely an canot cee ferry wel , and muster Melcoom thincks as how he as got a cart track in is i . bot he as takin im to norse and sais how he wil tri the receet he as got from thee fetter run away colleague . and if That Wunt doo he wil av him coached bifor yu cums whom . Bot i wasn't to tel u so he sed , Bot i lete it s'ipp outt bifor i was a War .
" ther is plenty of peace in the guardian , but the binns makes litile whey --they sai it's for wont of mourning sons . ivery think is kwite reddy for u and i ope u wil cum whoom ferry sun with my umbel dutty too mis Hell in i ham
"Horrid Maddam Yur
" humbil survent
"elizzabeth Spinliffe."
Speaker #5:Church clerk - Church clerk
Individual or Group:Individual
Primary Identity:Church clerk
Gender:Male
Age:Adult - unspecified age
Narrative Voice:3rd person
Role:Peripheral
Dialect Features:Grammar, Metalanguage, Orthographical Contraction, Orthographical Respelling
Social Role
Social Role Description:Church clerk
Social Role Category:Professional
Speaker's Origin
Place of Origin Description:Assumed local to setting of text - Monmouthshire
Place of Origin Category:Monmouthshire, South Wales, Wales
Extract #1 dialect features: Grammar, Metalanguage, Orthographical Contraction, Orthographical Respelling
Speakers: All , Church clerk
Mr Melcombe now entered,--and desired the clerk to give notice that "there would be no evening service, as he was going to officiate in the next parish." This clerk was not celebrated for the quickness of his hearing; nor were the ears of his mind at all more acute than those of his body: nor was this all. Mr. Melcombe had often endeavoured to improve his pronunciation of the church service, by explaining to him the meaning of certain phrases, and sentences, which he was, unfortunately, in the habit of confounding,--but, in vain.
[some narrative omitted]
[T]he clerk, in an audible voice, pronounced, more distinctly than was his wont to do,--
"I give ye notiz --there won't be no sarvice this afternoon, as the parson is going a fishing in the next parish!"
(Vol. 1,p. 152)[some narrative omitted]
[T]he clerk, in an audible voice, pronounced, more distinctly than was his wont to do,--
"I give ye notiz --there won't be no sarvice this afternoon, as the parson is going a fishing in the next parish!"
Speaker #6:Servant - Servant
Individual or Group:Individual
Primary Identity:Servant
Gender:Female
Age:Adult - unspecified age
Narrative Voice:3rd person
Role:Peripheral
Dialect Features:Discourse Marker, Grammar, Orthographical Contraction, Vocabulary
Social Role
Social Role Description:Servant
Social Role Category:Servant
Speaker's Origin
Place of Origin Description:Unspecified
Place of Origin Category:Unspecified
'O Sir, there is nobody here but me and my missis,--and I dare say we shall both be killed.'
'I hope not,' said I, but I am afraid your lady is hurt, as she does not seem to speak.'-- ' O no! I dares to say not, Sir,--but I'm sure I am; -- and then , I am so very narvish that I am frighted out of my wits
(Vol. 1,p. 215)'I hope not,' said I, but I am afraid your lady is hurt, as she does not seem to speak.'-- ' O no! I dares to say not, Sir,--but I'm sure I am; -- and then , I am so very narvish that I am frighted out of my wits
Speaker #7:Innkeeper - Innkeeper
Individual or Group:Individual
Primary Identity:Innkeeper
Gender:Male
Age:Adult - unspecified age
Narrative Voice:3rd person
Role:Peripheral
Dialect Features:Discourse Marker, Grammar, Orthographical Respelling
Social Role
Social Role Description:Innkeeper
Social Role Category:Trade or craft
Speaker's Origin
Place of Origin Description:Assumed local to setting of text - Monmouthshire
Place of Origin Category:Monmouthshire, South Wales, Wales
The landlord approached Mr. Melcombe with profound respect; and doffing his hat, broke out with-- "Cot safe your reference , I hope your honour's reference took no efils nor mischiefs from the pat night you had at my house, look you; I am mighty clat to see your reference aproat again, and I hope you are not the worse for your cootness , and your charities, and your benefolences ."
"Not at all the worse, I thank you, good landlord; I performed nothing more than my duty--and I sincerely wish that my endeavours may not totally have failed in the object I had in view."
" Cot knows, Sir, the man was--with humble submission to your reference and the laty ,--the piggest knafe , and rogue, and fillain , that effer I saw in all Monmouthshire."
(Vol. 3,p. 40-41)"Not at all the worse, I thank you, good landlord; I performed nothing more than my duty--and I sincerely wish that my endeavours may not totally have failed in the object I had in view."
" Cot knows, Sir, the man was--with humble submission to your reference and the laty ,--the piggest knafe , and rogue, and fillain , that effer I saw in all Monmouthshire."
As soon as I arrived, nearly wet through, with a heavy shower which had preceded the storm, he informed me with a countenance of sagacious importance, 'that out of all touts , and tepates , there would very soon be some rain.' --And when I desired to be shewn to the unhappy man, whom I went purposely to attend, he thus, with great gravity, and a profound bow, delivered his opinions:--
'Sir, hur is a ferry profane rascal, look you , as effer you would wish to see. Hur is no more afraid of the tiffel , than hur is of Cot : in truth and ferity , hur is not a fit person to your reference to conferce with, and safing your reference's honourable pressence , if I was your reference , I would let hur tie , and pe tamt .'"--
(Vol. 3,p. 41-42)'Sir, hur is a ferry profane rascal, look you , as effer you would wish to see. Hur is no more afraid of the tiffel , than hur is of Cot : in truth and ferity , hur is not a fit person to your reference to conferce with, and safing your reference's honourable pressence , if I was your reference , I would let hur tie , and pe tamt .'"--
Speaker #8:Sir Patrick - Aristocrat, socialite
Individual or Group:Individual
Primary Identity:Sir Patrick
Gender:Male
Age:Adult - unspecified age
Narrative Voice:3rd person
Role:Peripheral
Dialect Features:Discourse Marker, Grammar, Idiom, Orthographical Respelling
Social Role
Social Role Description:Aristocrat, socialite
Social Role Category:Aristocracy or gentry
Speaker's Origin
Place of Origin Description:Ireland
Place of Origin Category:Dublin, Ireland
"Mr Beaumont!" --cried the Baroness "--vengeance on Mr Beaumont!--for what, Sir?"
"For having chated me of your heart, Madam.--Are you not all trimbling from head to foot, because I was after talking of vingince on Mr. Beaumont?-- and did not I lave him hare with you yesterday morning--thinking to be sure you did not look plased at him and that you would sind him away in a twinkling?-- and there was he, I'll be bound for him , plading his cause succissfully , while I, that have been adoring you long before ever he saw you, --am slighted and rejected: but I will have iximplary satisfaction,--he may depind upon it."
(Vol. 3,p. 125-26)"For having chated me of your heart, Madam.--Are you not all trimbling from head to foot, because I was after talking of vingince on Mr. Beaumont?-- and did not I lave him hare with you yesterday morning--thinking to be sure you did not look plased at him and that you would sind him away in a twinkling?-- and there was he, I'll be bound for him , plading his cause succissfully , while I, that have been adoring you long before ever he saw you, --am slighted and rejected: but I will have iximplary satisfaction,--he may depind upon it."
Extract #2 dialect features: Orthographical Respelling
Speakers: All , Sir Patrick
"It was quite clare and certain he was not distined to be happy with the dare object of his silent adoration,--for that he had promised his uncle to marry Miss Flora Tyrconnel if he did not fall in love with some fair cratur in his travels."
(Vol. 3,p. 111)Extract #3 dialect features: Orthographical Respelling
Speakers: All , Sir Patrick
"For what, Sir!--why, for supplanting me, Sir, for decaiving me--robbing me--bamboozling me--and you know virry will , Sir, that it is an affront a gintleman cannot brook;--and, Sir,--I repate it--I must have satisfaction."
(Vol. 3,p. 127-28)Speaker #9:Tom Cannon - Sailor
Individual or Group:Individual
Primary Identity:Sailor
Gender:Male
Age:Adult - unspecified age
Narrative Voice:3rd person
Role:Peripheral
Dialect Features:Grammar, Idiom, Orthographical Contraction, Orthographical Respelling
Social Role
Social Role Description:Sailor
Social Role Category:Seafarer
Speaker's Origin
Place of Origin Description:Unspecified, but presumably England
Place of Origin Category:England
"Nothing shall hurt you in this ship by G--," said the man, "though I ben't master--but I'd sooner mutiny than let any harm come to you." " Can't you stay in the cabin and keep out that man?" asked Helena.
"He won't let me do that, mistress; but this ben't a very large ship: if he dares to turrify you again, call out for Tom Cannon, and I'll be with you in a twinkling."
(Vol. 3,p. 276)"He won't let me do that, mistress; but this ben't a very large ship: if he dares to turrify you again, call out for Tom Cannon, and I'll be with you in a twinkling."