Punch (7.1844)

r_pHIS Volume is Volume Seven !

Now Punch has the belief beating in his heart, that he is about to add another proof—
to the many millions already published—of his surpassing philosophy. The proof is this ; he
utterly eschews any attempt to make a market-penny on the mystic number Seven. Were he
not a philosopher, he would do otherwise. Yes, he would discourse of the Seven Wise Men
—only, perhaps, to make Seven Sleepers. He would be very learned on the Seven Dials,—(for
he has a Cyclopedia upon his shelf, and can be so,)—the Seven Champions, and the many
other Sevens that—cheap as Sevens to the pound—have already illuminated the darkness of
biped existence. But no : he waves from him, with a high-minded smile, the small suggestion
and will not present this his Seventh Preface, as a piece of erudition made easy He scorns it.

Otherwise, how might he play upon Seven, yea, as upon a Seven-stringed lute!

He might refuse to sport at anything Under Seven or Over Seven, but on Seven only !

He might—were he vain—declare to the world that the Sultan, now of Constantinople,
had already asked of Sift Stratporo Canning Seven times for Punch's Seventh Volume.