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George Cruikshank’s Punch & Judy

May 6, 2022
by the gentle author

Mr Punch’s 360th Birthday is celebrated this Sunday at St Paul’s, Covent Garden, with a procession at 11am, a service with Mr Punch in the pulpit at noon, followed by maypole dancing and Punch & Judy shows in the churchyard.

Drawings by George Cruikshank, 1827, illustrating Giovanni Piccini’s “The Tragical Comedy or Comical Tragedy of Punch & Judy.”

Punch: What Toby, are you cross this morning?

Scaramouch: You have been beating and ill-using my poor dog, Mr Punch!

Judy: Here’s the child. Pretty dear! It knows its Papa. Take the child.

Punch: What is the matter with it? Poor thing! It has got the stomach ache, I dare say.

Punch: Get away, nasty baby.

Judy: I’ll teach you to drop my baby out the window!

Punch: Stand still, can’t you, and let me get my foot up to the stirrup.

Punch: Oh Doctor! Doctor! I have been thrown, I have been killed.

Punch: Now Doctor, your turn to be physicked!

Blind Man: Pray Mr Punch, bestow your charity upon a blind man.

Jack Ketch: Mr Punch, you’re a very bad man.

Jack Ketch: Come out and be hanged!

Punch: Only shew me how and I will do it directly.

Punch: Here’s a stick to thump Old Nick!

Punch: Pray Mr Devil, let us be friends.

Punch: Huzza, huzza! The Devil’s dead!

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Henry Mayhew’s Punch & Judy Man

One Response leave one →
  1. Nita Heaton-Harris permalink
    May 6, 2022

    Brilliant

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