Juno and the Paycock: Important Textual Quotations

[Last Island]

• She is a well-made and good-looking girl of twenty-two. (Mary)

• She is forty-five years of age, and twenty years ago she must have been a pretty woman. (Juno)

• … seven wounds he head – one entherin’ the neck, with an exit wound beneath the left shoulder-blade; another in the left breast penethratin’ the heart, an’…

• Wan victim wasn’t enough. When the employers sacrifice wan victim, the Trades Unions go wan betther be sacrficin’ a hundred.

• A principle’s a principle.

• … he is a thin delicate fellow … He has evidently gone through a rough time. His face is pale and drawn; … fear in his eyes. (Johnny)

• He is a man of about sixty; stout, grey-haired and stocky. His neck is short, and his head looks like a stone ball … upper part of his body slightly thrown back, … His walk is a slow consequential strut … he wears a faded seaman’s cap with a glazed peak.

• … his eyes have a cunning twinkle; … he has a habit of constantly shrugging his shoulders.

• … when the cat’s away, the mice can play!

• I’ve a little spirit left in me still!

• One that says all is God an’ no man; an’ th’ other that says all is man an’ no God!

• Have none of yous any respect for the Irish people’s National regard for the dead?

• Ah, him that goes a borrownin’ goes a sorrowin’!

• I’ll put some o’ the gorgeous feathers out o’ your tail!

• – your humanity is just as narrow as th’ humanity o’ th’ others.

• Sacred Heart o’ Jesus, have mercy on me!

• Ah, what can God do agen th’ stupidity o’ men!

• It’ll have what’s far betther – it’ll have two mothers.

• What was th’ pain I suffered, Johnny, bringin’ you into th’ world to carry you to yours cradle to th’ pains I’ll suffer carryin’ you out o’ th’ world to bring you to your grave!