Page:Punch and judy.djvu/182

Punch. What for?—I don't know how.

J. Ketch. It is very easy: only put your head through here.

Punch. What, so? (poking his head on one side of the noose)

J. Ketch. No, no, here!

Punch. So, then? (poking his head on the other side)

J. Ketch. Not so, you fool.

Punch. Mind who you call fool: try if you can do it yourself. Only shew me how, and I do it directly.

J. Ketch. Very well; I will. There, you see my head, and you see this loop: put it in, so. (putting his head through the noose)

Punch. And pull it tight, so! (he pulls the body forcibly down, and hangs Jack Ketch) Huzza! Huzza! (Punch takes down the corpse, and places it in the coffin: he then stands back)

Enter two Men, who remove the gibbet, and placing the coffin upon it, dance with it on their shoulders grotesquely, and exeunt.

Punch. There they go. They think they have got Mr. Punch safe enough, (sings)

They're out! they're out! I've done the trick!
Jack Ketch is dead—I'm free;
I do not care, now, if Old Nick
Himself should come for me.

Goes off and returns with a stick. He dances about beating time on the front of the stage, and singing to the tune of "Green grow the rushes O."

Right foll de riddle loll,
I'm the boy to do 'em all,
Here's a stick
To thump Old Nick,
If he by chance upon me call.

Enter the Devil. He just peeps in at the corner of the stage, and exit.

Punch. (much frightened, and retreating as far as he

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