"Who'd be plagued with a wife
That could set himself free
With a rope or a knife,
Or a good stick, like me.[1]
Enter Pretty Polly.[2]
Punch. (seeing her, and singing out of "The Beggar's Opera"[3] while she dances)
When the heart of a man is oppressed with cares,
The clouds are dispelled when a woman appears, &c.
Punch. (aside) What a beauty! What a pretty creature![4]
- ↑ Evidently from Juvenal, Sat. 6.
"Ferre potes dominam salvis tot restibus ullam?
Cum pateant altæ caligantesque fenestræ,
Cum tibi vicinum se prœbeat Æmilius pons?Here it seems doubtful whether the poet means to recommend the hen-pecked husband himself to use the halter, leap out of the window, &c. or that he should hang his wife, or give her the benefit of the air. Punch's actions supply a commentary on his words, if any were wanting.
- ↑ Sometimes called Nancy, and hence the old saying,—
"For fun and fancy,
As Punch kissed Nancy." - ↑ This song was probably first introduced into a puppet-show, at the time when Gay's work was so extravagantly popular; but not more popular than it deserved to be.
- ↑ In this copy of "Punch and Judy," Pretty Polly is merely a mute, which perhaps might recommend her to our hero, in contrast with his late spouse. In a few of the representations she speaks; and one which was popular in 1795 and 1796, contained the following scene. We ought to premise, that in that show, Polly was supposed to be the daughter of a gentleman whom Punch had just slain, in a quarrel regarding his performances on the sheep-bell.
Enter Polly very gaily dressed.
Polly. Where is my father? my dear father!
