Punch. The Devil he does! What for, pray?
Constable. You killed Mr. Scaramouch. You knocked his head off his shoulders.
Punch. What's that to you? If you stay here much longer, I'll serve you the same.
Constable. Don't tell me. You have committed murder, and I've a warrant for you.
Punch. And I've a warrant for you. (Punch knocks him down, and dances and sings about the stage, to the tune of "Green grow the Rushes O.")
Enter an Officer, in a cocked hat with a cockade, and a long pigtail.[1]
Officer. Stop your noise, my fine fellow
Punch. Shan't.
Officer. I'm an officer.
Punch. Very well. Did I say you were not?
Officer. You must go with me. You killed your wife and child.
Punch. They were my own, I suppose; and I had a right to do what I liked with them.
Officer. We shall see that, I'm come to take you up.
Punch. And I'm come to take you down. (Punch knocks him down, and sings and dances as before]
Enter Jack Ketch, in a fur-cap. Punch, while dancing, runs up against him without seeing him.
Punch. (with some symptoms of alarm) My dear Sir,—I beg you one thousand pardons: very sorry.
J. Ketch. Aye, you'll be sorry enough before I've done with you. Don't you know me?
Punch. Oh, sir, I know you very well, and I hope you very well, and Mrs. Ketch very well.
J. Ketch. Mr. Punch, you're a very bad man. Why did you kill the Doctor?
Punch. In self defence.
J. Ketch. That won't do.
- ↑ The ordinary performers of puppet-shows do not seem clearly to understand the distinction between an officer of the army and an officer of the police.
