The tragical acts, or comical tragedies of Punch and JudyJudd, W. J. (William J.)
History
The tragical acts, or comical tragedies of Punch and Judy
Judd, W. J. (William J.)
Punch and Judy; Puppet plays
PUNCH. Oh, no; I not touch it. (_he taps, however, at side of box, and
darts away, dancing._)
FOREIGNER (_returning_). Ah! Now, Mr. Punch, I saw you touching that
box.
PUNCH. Oh, no! me no go near it.
FOREIGNER. Now remember, Mr. Punch, if you go touching or opening that
box, the little dog may wake up and bite.
PUNCH (_continuing his dance to and fro, says_). I not touch box; you
can go away. (_FOREIGNER disappears._)
(_PUNCH, getting curious, remarks: "_I'd like to see what is inside
that box._" Attempts to raise the lid, but is startled by a yell.
Box flies open, and the little Dog pops his head and forepaws out;
tries to get a grip at PUNCH, which he partially succeeds in. PUNCH
squeals, and gets away; cautiously carries on a combat, ending in
the little Dog being driven down, the lid of the box closing on
him. MR. PUNCH, congratulating himself that there are no more foes,
is startled by hearing a roaring sound, and, on attempting to open
the lid, shows alarm at the appearance of his SATANIC MAJESTY._)
DEMON. Mr. Punch, I'm from the infernal regions.
PUNCH. Well, what of that?
DEMON. I've come to take you below with me.
PUNCH. I don't know so much about that.
DEMON. Yes, Mr. Punch, your time is up; you have to come with me.
PUNCH. Then we'll fight.
(_PUNCH and the DEMON have a very smart combat, during which the
DEMON nearly succeeds in drawing MR. PUNCH down the box. PUNCH
squeals, and wriggles himself away, afterwards taking care not
to approach too near, to be again grasped by his MAJESTY; sets
to making a vigorous attack, ending by driving the DEMON down
the box. PUNCH is now greatly elated over his triumphal battle
with the DEMON; darts quickly from corner to corner of the stage;
then showing himself at the centre, approaches the box, raises
up the lid, looks within, says: "_I see there is nothing more in
there, and being all safe, think that I will now take a nap._"
He lies down on the stage, his head towards the box. He is soon
disturbed by the appearance of a wide-mouthed Snake, who tries to
gulp him down. PUNCH, escaping, and emboldened with the success
over his former foes, shows fight. Snake nips him, but he again
escapes. PUNCH is much put about by the appearance, also, of a
huge Crocodile on the opposite end of the stage. Finding the
chances of victory going against him, he calls out for JOEY, who,
appearing, is seized by the Crocodile. PUNCH forces him away,
and, in his excitement, places him in the way of the wide-mouthed
Snake, who gulps at him, and draws him down the box out of sight.
Snake, reappearing, lays hold of MR. PUNCH, draws him squealing,
headforemost, down the box, the Crocodile assisting by snapping at
MR. PUNCH'S legs as they are disappearing from view. The Crocodile
plunges round about and over the front of the stage, but finding
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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