Tho' my heart was as frozen as ice
At his flame 't would have melted

away.

When he kist me, so sweetly he prest,
'Twas so sweet that I must have comply'd,
So I thought it both safest and best
To marry for fear you should chide.

359

Mrs. Peach. Then all the hopes of our family are gone for ever and ever!

Peach. And Macheath may hang his father and mother-in-law, in hopes to get into their daughter's fortune.

Polly. I did not marry him (as 't is the fashion) coolly and deliberately for honour of money—but I

love him.

Mrs. Peach. Love him! worse and worse! I thought the girl had been better bred. Oh husband! husband! her folly makes me mad! my head swims! I'm distracted! I cann't support myself-Oh! 371 [Faints.

Peach. See, wench, to what a condition you have reduced your poor mother! A glass of cordial this instant. How the poor woman takes it to heart!

[Polly goes out and returns with it. Ah, hussy! now this is the only comfort your mother has left.

Polly. Give her another glass, Sir; my mamma drinks double the quantity whenever she is out of order. This you see fetches her.

Mrs. Peach. The girl shows such a readiness and so much concern, that, I could almost find in my heart to forgive her.

382

AIR.

O Jenny, O Jenny! where hast thou been?

O Polly! you might have toy'd and kist ;
By keeping men off you keep them on.

Polly. But he so teas'd me,

And he so pleas'd me,

What I did you must have done.

Mrs. Peach. Not with a highwayman-you sorry

slut!

rents.

389

Peach. A word with you, wife. "Tis no new thing for a wench to take a man without consent of paYou know 'tis the frailty of woman my dear. Mrs. Peach. Yes, indeed, the sex is frail; but the first time a woman is frail she should be somewhat nice methinks, for then or never is the time to make her fortune after that, she hath nothing to do but to guard herself from being found out, and she may do what she pleases.

:

398 Peach. Make yourself a little easy; I have a thought shall soon set all matters again to rights. Why so melancholy Polly? since what is done cannot be undone, we must all endeavour to make the best of it.

Mrs. Peach. Well, Polly, as far as one woman can forgive another I forgive thee.-Your father is too fond of you, hussy.

Polly. Then all my sorrows are at an end..

Mrs. Peach. A mighty likely speech in troth for a wench who is just married!

AIR.

Thomas, I cannot, &c.

Polly. I like a ship in storms was tost,
Yet afraid to put into land.

For seiz'd in the port the vessel's lost
Whose treasure is contraband.

The waves are laid,

My duty's paid;

O joy beyond expression!

Thus safe ashore

I ask no more;

My all's in my possession.

410

Peach. I hear customers in t' other room; go talk with them Polly, but come again as soon as they are gone. But hark ye, child, if 't is the gentleman who was here yesterday about the repeating watch, say, you believe we cann't get intelligence of it till to. morrow, for I lent it to Sukey Straddle to make a figure with to-night at a tavern in Drury-lane. If t' other gentleman calls for the silver-hilted sword, you know beetle-brow'd Jemmy hath it on, and he doth not come from Tunbridge till Tuesday night, so

that it cannot be had till then. [Exit Polly.] Dear wife! be a little pacified; don't let your passion run away with your senses: Polly, I grant you, hath done a rash thing.

434

Mrs. Peach. If she had had only an intrigue with the fellow, why the very best families have excused and huddled up a frailty of that sort. 'Tis marriage, husband, that makes it a blemish.

Peach. But money, wife, is the true fuller's earth for reputations; there is not a spot or a stain but what it can take out. A rich rogue, now-a-days, is fit company for any gentleman; and the world, my dear, hath not such a contempt for roguery as you imagine. I tell you, wife, I can make this match turn to our advantage.

445

Mrs. Peach. I am very sensible, husband, that Captain Macheath is worth money, but I am in doubt whether he hath not two or three wives already, and then, if he should die in a session or two, Polly's dower would come into dispute.

Peach. That indeed is a point which ought to be considered.

But this is all but picking,

With rest, peace, chest, and chicken:

It ever was decreed, sir,

If lawyer's hand is fee'd, sir,

He steals your whole estate,

460

The lawyers are bitter enemies to those in our way; they don't care that any body should get a clandestine livelihood but themselves.

Enter POLLY.

Polly. 'Twas only Nimming Ned; he brought in a damask window-curtain, a hoop-petticoat, a pair of silver candlesticks, a periwig, and one silk stocking, from the fire that happen'd last night.

469

Peach. There is not a fellow that is cleverer in his way, and saves more goods out of the fire, than Ned. But now, Polly, to your affair; for matters must not be as they are. You are married then it seems ?

Polly. Yes, sir.

Peach. And how do you propose to live, child? Polly. Like other women, sir; upon the industry of my husband.

Mrs. Peach. What! is the wench turn'd fool? a highwayman's wife, like a soldier's, hath as little of his pay as his company.

480 Peach. And had not you the common views of a gentlewoman in your marriage, Polly?

Polly. I don't know what you mean, sir.

Peach. Of a jointure, and of being a widow.