Slam. Dear Madam Trull. I would not for the world Slam. 'Tis impoffible for me. Trull. As I hope to be faved, Madam Slam. Nay, then, I must stay here all night' [Exeunt with great ceremony. SCENE, Newgate. Enter Lockit, Turnkeys, Macheath, and Conflables. Lock. Noble Captain, you are welcome. You have not been a lodger of mine this year and half. You know the custom, Sir; garnish, Captain, garnifh. Hand me down thofe fetters there. Mac. Thofe, Mr. Lockit, feem to be the heaviest of the whole fet. With your leave, I should like the further pair better. Lock. Look ye, Captain, we know what is fittest for our prifoners. When a gentleman ufes me with civility, I always do the best I can to please him-Hand them down, I fay-We have them of all prices, from one guinea to ten, and 'tis fitting every gentleman fhould please himself. Mac. I understand you, Sir. [Gives money.] The fees here are so many, and fo exorbitant, that few fortunes can bear the expence of getting off handsomely, or of dying like a gentleman. Lock. Thofe, I fee, will fit the Captain better. Take down the further pair.-Do but examine them, Sir Never was better work. -How genteely they are made! They will fit as eafy as a glove, and the nicest man in England might not be ashamed to wear them. [He puts on the chains.] If I had the best gentleman in the land in my cuftody, I could not equip him more handfomely. And fo, Sir-I now leave you to your private meditations. [Exeunt Lockit, Turnkeys, and Constables. AIR AIR XXVI. Courtiers, courtiers think it no harm. Nay, fome have out-liv'd the doctor's pill: The fly that fips treacle is loft in the sweets, To what a woful plight have I brought myself! Here muft I (all day long, 'till I am hanged) be confined to hear the reproaches of a wench, who lays her ruin at my door. I am in the custody of her father, and to be „fure, if he knows of the matter, I fhall have a fine time on't betwixt this and my execution. -But I promifed the wench marriage.What fignifies a promife to a woman? Does not man in marriage itself promife a hundred things that he never means to perform? Do all we can, women will believe us; for they look upon a promise as an excuse for following their own inclinations. -But here comes Lucy, and I cannot get from her -would I were deaf. Enter Lucy. Lucy, You bafe man, you, how can you look me in the face, after what hath paft between us?- See here, perfidious wretch, how I am forced to bear about the load of infamy you have laid upon me heath! thou haft robbed me of my quiet. tortured would give me pleasure. Oh, Macto fee thee AIR XXVII. A lovely lafs to a friar came. To the dog or cat, To be worried, crufh'd, and fhaken. Mac. Mac. Have you no bowels, no tenderness, my dear Lucy, to fee a husband in these circumstances? Lucy. A husband ! Mac. In every refpect but the form, and that, my dear, may be faid over us at any time.. -Friends fhould not infift upon ceremonies. From a man of honour, his word is as good as his bond. Lucy. 'Tis the pleasure of all you fine men to infult the women you have ruined. AIR XXVIII. 'Tavas when the fea was roaring. How cruel are the traitors, Through fhame the guilt conceals: With boasts the theft reveals. Mac. The very first opportunity, my dear, (have but patience) you shall be my wife in whatever manner you please. Lucy. Infinuating monfter! And fo you think I know nothing of the affair of Mifs Polly Peachum.I could tear thy eyes out! Mac. Sure, Lucy, you can't be fuch a fool as to be jealous of Polly! Lucy. Are you not mrrried to her, you brute, you? Mac. Married! Very good. The wench gives it out only to vex thee, and to ruin me in thy good opinion. 'Tis true, I go to the houfe; I chat with the girl, I kiss her, I fay a thousand things to her (as all gentlemen do) that mean nothing, to divert myself; and now the filly jade hath fet it about that I am married to her, to let me know what he would be at. Indeed, my dear Lucy, thefe violent paffions may be of ill confequence to a woman in your condition. Lucy. Come, come, Captain, for all your affurance, you know that Mifs Polly hath put it out of your power to do me the justice you promifed me. Mach. Mach. A jealous woman believes every thing her paffion fuggefts. To convince you of my fincerity, if we can find the ordinary, I shall have no fcruples of making you my wife and I know the confequence of having two at a time. : Lucy. That you are only to be hanged, and so ged rid of them both. Mac. I am ready, my dear Lucy, to give you fatisfaction-if you think there is any in marriage.-What can a man of honour fay more? Lucy. So then it feems you are not married to Mifs Polly. Mac. You know, Lucy, the girl is prodigiously conceited. No inan can fay a civil thing to her, but (like other fine ladies) her vanity makes her think he's her own for ever and ever. AIR XXIX. The fun had loofed his weary teams. The first time at the looking-glafs The mother fets her daughter, Each time the looks, fhe, fonder grown, But, alas! vain maid, all eyes but your own When women confider their own beauties, they are all alike unreasonable in their demands; for they expect their lovers should like them as long as they like themfelves. Lucy. Yonder is my father-perhaps this way we may light upon the ordinary, who fhall try if you will be as good as your word- for I long to be made an honest woman. [Exeunt. Enter Peachum and Lockit, with an account book. Lock. In this last affair, brother Peachum, we are agreed. You have confented to go halves in Macheath. Peach. We fhall never fall out about an execution.But as to that article, pray how ftands our last year's account? Lock. Lock. If you will run your eye over it, you'll find 'tis fair and clearly stated. Peach. This long arrear of the government is very hard upon us! Can it be expected that we should hang our acquaintance for nothing, when our betters will hardly fave theirs without being paid for it. Unless the people in employment pay better, I promise them for the future, I fhall let other rogues live befides their own. Lock. Perhaps, brother, they are afraid these matters may be carried too far. We are treated too by them with contempt, as if our profeffion were not reputable. Peach. In one refpect indeed, our employment may be reckoned difhoneft; becaufe, like great ftatefmen, we encourage those who betray their friends. Lock. Such language, brother, any where else, might turn to your prejudice. Learn to be more guarded, I beg you. AIR XXX. How happy are we, &c. When you cenfure the age, Be cautious and fage, Left the courtiers offended fhould be: If you mention vice or bribe, 'Tis fo pat to all the tribe; Each cries- That was levell'd at me. Peach. Here's poor Ned Clincher's name, I fee. Sure, brother Lockit, there was a little unfair proceeding in Ned's cafe: for he told me in the condemned hold, that, for value received, you had promised him a feffion or two longer without moleftation. Lock. Mr. Peachum,-this is the first time my honour was ever called in question. Peach. Bufinefs is at an end-if once we act dishonour ably. Lock. Who accufes me? Peach. You are warm, brother. Lock. He that attacks my honour, attacks my livelihood. And this ufage-Sir-is not to be borne. Peach. Since you provoke me to speak-I must tell you |