Halyna D. Malyk Speech Acts and Events

Cen/76 Too true to Be Good. Village Wooing (109). On the Rocks (141). Three plays by B. Shaw. – London: Constable and Company Limited.

1. 
   I guarantee that in a fortnight you will begin to think before you talk (ShL, 224).
   
2. 
   But I warn you that I am utterly alone in this room (ShL, 238).
   
3. 
   Vivie: I strongly suspect there will be a battle royal when my mother hears of my Chancery Lane project (ShL, 106).
   
4. 
   Crofts: Look here, Praed. I ask you as a particular favour. If you do know (movement of protest from Praed) – I only say, if you know, you might set my mind at rest about her (ShL, 110).
   
5. 
   I very strongly object, Viv, to have my feelings compared to any which the Reverend Samuel is capable of harboring, and I object still to a comparison of you to your mother (ShL, 157).
   
6. 
   I wish you joy of your host (ShL, 262).
   
7. 
   I calculate that at the very least it will take fifty years to get it through (ShL, 253-4).
   
8. 
   -You will excuse the expression..
   

-I excuse everything from my patients (ShL, 221).

9. 
   I thank you, Sir Jafna, for showing this man that even hardened capitalist millionaires shudder when that story is told (ShL, 242).
   
10. 
    David: The first thing we heard him say was: “Gentleman: be patient. I promise you will soon see the one thing that can revive our industries and save our beloved country: a rise in prices (ShL, 215).
    
11. 
    I refuse to live in this house with her a moment longer (ShL, 196).
    
12. 
    Hilda: I think Rock of Ages will be rather a shock unless in connection with something very sincere. May I suggest “The Church’s One Foundation”?
    

Sir Arthur: Yes. Much better. Thank you. (ShL, 196)

13. 
    Jesus: I say to you: Cast out fear (ShL, 183)
    
14. 
    Praed: You make my blood run cold. Are you to have no romance, no beauty in your life?
    

Vivie: I don’t care for either, I assure you. (ShL, 104).

15. 
    Vivie: I like working and getting paid for it. When I’m tired of working, I like a comfortable chair, a cigar, a little whisky, and a novel with a good detective story in it.
    

Praed (in a frenzy repudiation): I don;t believe it. I am an artist; and I can’t believe it. I refuse to believe it (ShL, 104).

16. 
    Praed: You’d not do such a thing.
    

Vivie: Then tell me why not.

Praed: I really cannot. I appeal to your good feeling. (ShL, 106)

17. 
    Praed (revolted): What a monstrous, wicked, rascally system! I knew it! I felt at once that it meant destroying all that makes womanhood beautiful.
    

Vivie: I don’t object to it on that score in the least. I shall turn it to very good account, I assure you. (Sh, MWP, 103)

18. 
    Trench: I beg your pardon for calling you by your name (ShWH, 39).
    
19. 
    I regret the mistake (ShWH, 34).
    
20. 
    I will not sit here listening to this disgusting ungentlemanly nonsense.
    

Chavendler: the coalition is dissolved. I resign (ShL, 255).

21. 
    Vivie: How can I feel sure that I may have the contaminated blood of that brutal waster in my veins?
    

Mrs Warrent: No, no. On my oath, it’s not he, or any other of the rest that you have ever met. I’m certain of that, at least (ShL, 131).

22. 
    Vivie: Then where are our relatives – my father – our family friends? You claim the rights of a mother … … Before I give myself the trouble to resist such claims, I may as well find out whether they have any real existence.
    

Mrs Warren (Distracted, throwing herself on her knees): Oh, no, no. Stop, stop. I am your mother. I swear it. (ShL, 131)

23. 
    Vivie: To tell you the truth, I rather admire him for being strong-minded enough to enjoy himself in his own way (ShL, 168).
    
24. 
    Mrs Warren: You think I want to force that played out old sot on you! I don’t, Vivie: on my oath I don’t (ShL, 168).
    
25. 
    Praed: I declare you are the most splendidly courageous woman I ever met (ShL, 162).
    
26. 
    Frank: My curse upon you caller. Whoe’er he be (ShL, 159).
    
27. 
    Frank: I assure you my feeling for you is not the least in the world like it (ShL, 157).
    
28. 
    Vivie: I think you would probably told me when we were married it would be a convenient weapon to break me in with.
    

Crofts (Quite sincerely): I never intended that. On my word as a gentleman I didn’t (ShL, 149)

29. 
    Pilate: But I ask you what is truth?
    

Jesus: It is that which a man must tell even if he be stoned or crucified for telling it I am not offereing you the truth at a price of my own profit; I am offering it freely to you for your salvation at the peril of my own life (ShL, 177).

30. 
    Z: But what would you take me for if you met me in a third class carriage?
    

A: I should not notice you.

Z: I bet you would. I mayn’t be a beauty but when I get into a railway carriage every man in it has a look at me (ShL, 115)

31. 
    Rev. S: You look well everywhere, Mrs Warren.
    

Frank: Bravo, gov’nor. (ShL, 143).

32. 
    Pilate: You are accused of sedition and blasphemy (ShL, 182).
    
33. 
    I’ll ask you to excuse me: I must take the opportunity to write my sermon while Mrs Gardner is away and you are all amusing yourself (ShL, 141).
    
34. 
    Jesus: The truth is the truth and nothing else.
    

Pilate: But how far is it discoverable? We agree that it is true that I am sitting in this chair because our senses tell us so (Shl, 178).

35. 
    You are welcome to any illusions you may have left on these subjects. (ShL, 161).
    
36. 
    I want to give you a warning , Frank (ShL, 144).
    
37. 
    May I ask you to address yourself to this question not as as emotional oriental but as a sane man of business (ShL, 235)
    
38. 
    Rev S: Good morning. I must apologize for not having met you at breakfast (ShL, 141).
    
39. 
    Mrs Warren: Do you want me to go away?
    

No. I always want you to stay. But I advise you to go away (ShL, 165).

40. 
    Hipey: … Mind you, I know you mean it as a compliment that I’d make a good parliamentry debater. I appreciate it. (ShL, 211).
    
41. 
    Lady: How kind of you. You will let me know if anything –
    

The nurse: Yes, yes. I promise to come for you and wake you if anything happens. Good-night, madam (ShL, 36)

42. 
    Praed: Well, as you are, at all events, old enough to be her father, I don’t mind agreeing that we both regard Miss Vivie in a parental way (ShL, 111)
    

Augustus does his bit

1. 
   May I offer you a chair, lady? (ShAug)
   
2. 
   Lady: You feel sure you will be able to resist the siren. I warn you, she is very fascinating
   
3. 
   Augustus: You need not fear, madam. I hope she will come and try on it (ShAug)
   
4. 
   Lady: I will be silent as a grave, I swear it (ShAug).
   
5. 
   I don’t ask you, sir; and I will not allow to say such things in my presence (ShAug).
   
6. 
   Do you call that being great statesmen? As good as robbing me, I call it (ShAug).
   

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B. Shaw “Man and Superman”²