sprightful

His poetic effusions were homely and graphic, both in their sprightful humour and more tender sentiment.

The Modern Scottish Minstrel, Volume VI The Songs of Scotland of the Past Half Century Various

_Staple of News, Devil's an Ass_, and the rest, if they be not so sprightful and vigorous as his first pieces, all that are old will, and all that desire to be old, should excuse him therein; and therefore let the Name of _Ben Johnson_ sheild them against whoever shall think fit to be severe in censure against them.

The Lives of the Most Famous English Poets (1687) William Winstanley

_Agility_ and _Nimbleness_; this renders the Limbs flexible and mettlesom, and adapts them for the most Vigorous Enterprize: It makes the languid and slothful, _brisk_ and _sprightful_; and rejects

The School of Recreation (1684 edition) Or, The Gentlemans Tutor, to those Most Ingenious Exercises of Hunting, Racing, Hawking, Riding, Cock-fighting, Fowling, Fishing Robert Howlett

The sheep person helped her off; and they stood throwing each other sentences all sprightful and sagacious for a while.

Heart of the West [Annotated] O. Henry 1886

The women of Israel were sprightful and lively, unlike the Egyptians.

Good Thoughts in Bad Times and Other Papers. 1608-1661 1863

Thus half a dozen pounds of this sprightful bread will sustain a man for as many months, provided he husband it well, and always spare it when he meets with venison, which, as I said before, may be very safely eaten without any bread at all.

The Westover Manuscripts: Containing the History of the Dividing Line Betwixt Virginia and North Carolina; A Journey to the Land of Eden, A. D. 1733; and A Progress to the Mines. Written from 1728 to 1736, and Now First Published 1841

When a man shall be just about to quit the stage of this world, to put off his mortality, and to deliver up his last accounts to God; at which sad time, his memory shall serve him for little else, but to terrify him with a sprightful review of his past life, and his former extravagances stripped of all their pleasure, but retaining their guilt.

Sermons Preached Upon Several Occasions. Vol. II. 1634-1716 1823

As for his other Comedies, Staple of News, Devil's an Ass, and the rest, if they be not so sprightful and vigorous as his first pieces, all that are old will, and all that desire to be old, should excuse him therein; and therefore let the Name of Ben Johnson sheild them against whoever shall think fit to be severe in censure against them.

The Lives of the Most Famous English Poets Winstanley, William, 1628?-1698 1687