a very little fellow, did sing a most excellent bass, and yet a poor fellow, a working goldsmith, that goes without gloves to his hands.
He acquits himself impeccably in a vocal quartet, with Pepys and his friends.[1]
The theatre naturally fills a great place in the life of this melomaniac. As a matter of fact Pepys constrains himself for a time to go thither only once a month, so that it shall not unduly distract him from his business, and as a measure of economy.[2] But he cannot wait for the second day in the month!
Took my wife out immediately to the King's Theatre, it being a new month, and once a month I may go.[3]
And if we run through his entries we see that the rule is soon infringed.
In any case, moreover, even if he takes a vow not to visit the theatre oftener than once a month, he does not forbid himself to summon the theatre to his own house—that is, the folk of the theatre, especially when they are young and pretty singers, such as Mrs. Knipp, of the King's Theatre:—
this baggage[4] … Knipp, who is pretty enough; but the most excellent, mad-humoured thing, and sings the noblest that ever I heard in my life.[5] …
He passes the night in making her sing his airs, which to him seem admirable,[4] She rehearses her
