E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Ricardo,
in the opera of I Purita’ni, is Sir Richard Forth, a Puritan, commander of Plymouth fortress. Lord Walton promised to give him his daughter Elvi’ra in marriage, but Elvira had engaged her affections to Lord Arthur Talbot, a Cavalier, to whom ultimately she was married.
