Page:Punch and judy.djvu/159

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PUNCH.]
PUNCH AND JUDY.
85

striking him often with the bell) Be off, be off. (knocking him off the stage. Exit Servant. Punch continues to ring the bell as loudly as before, while he sings and dances)

Re-enter Servant, slily, with a stick.

(Punch perceiving him, retreats behind the side curtain, and remains upon the watch. The Servant does the same, but leaves the end of the stick visible. Punch again comes forward, sets down his bell very gently, and creeps across the stage, (marking his steps with his hands upon the platform, to ascertain whereabouts his enemy is. He then returns to his bell, takes it up, and, going quietly over the stage, hits the Servant a heavy blow through the curtain, and exit, ringing his bell on the opposite side)


Servant. You one nasty, noisy, impudent blackguard, Me catch you yet. (hides again as before)

(enter Punch, and strikes him as before with the bell. The Servant pops out, and aims a blow, but not quickly enough to hit Punch, who exit)


Servant. You dirty scoundrel, rascal, thief, vagabond, blackguard, and liar, you shall pay for this, depend upon it.

(he stands back. Enter Punch, with his bell, who seeing the Servant with his stick, retreats instantly, and returns, also armed with a bludgeon, which he does not at first shew. The Servant comes forward, and strikes Punch on the head so hard a blow, that it seems to confuse him)


Servant. Me teach you how to ring your nasty noisy bell near de gentil-mens houses.

Punch. (recovering) Two can play at that, (hits the Servant with his stick. A conflict:—after a long struggle, during which the combatants exchange staves, and perform various manœuvres, Punch gains the victory, and knocks his antagonist down on the platform, by repeated blows on the head)

Servant. Oh, dear! Oh, my head!

Punch. And oh, your tail, too. (hitting him there) How do you like that, and that, and that? (hitting him each time) Do you like that music better than the other?—