Page:Punch and judy.djvu/76

Act I.—Scene 1.

(Punch is heard behind the scene, squeaking the tune of "Malbroug s'en vat en guerre:"^[1] he then makes his appearance and dances about the stage, while he sings to the same air.)

Mr. Punch is one jolly good fellow,
His dress is all scarlet and yellow,^[2]
And if now and then he gets mellow,
It's only among his good friends.
His money most freely he spends;
To laugh and grow fat he intends;
With the girls he's a rogue and a rover;
He lives, while he can, upon clover
When he dies—it's only all over;
And there Punch's comedy ends.
(he continues to dance and sing, and then calls
"Judy, my dear! Judy!")

Enter the Dog Toby.

Punch. Hollo, Toby! who call'd you? How you do, Mr. Toby? Hope you very well, Mr. Toby.

Toby. Bow, wow, wow!

Punch. How do my good friend, your master, Mr. Toby? How do Mr. Scaramouch?^[3]

Toby. Bow, wow, wow!

Punch. I'm glad to hear it. Poor Toby! What a nice good-temper'd dog it is! No wonder his master is so fond of him.

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1. This air and the Marseilles March, afterwards spoken of, were doubtless first introduced, as substitutes for others which had become less acceptable. Very recently the tune of Malbroug has again come into vogue with the lower orders.
2. Scarlet and yellow are still proverbially called "Tom Fool's colours," which may form another slight link of connection between Punch and the clown of our old comedies, and the court jesters of our ancestors.
3. The Italian character in the impromptu comedies, called Scaramouch, was known in England, and considerably before