AIR, Over the hills and far away. Mac. Were I laid on Greenland's coast, And in my arms embrac'd my lass, Warm amidst eternal frost, Too soon the half year's night would pass. Polly. Were I sold on Indian soil, When on my charmer's breast repos'd. Mac. And I would love you all the day, 512 Polly. Yes, I would go with thee. But oh! how shall I speak it? I must be torn from thee. We must part. Mac. How! part ! Polly. We must, we must.-My papa and mamma are set against thy life: they now, even now, are in search after thee: they are preparing evidence against thee thy life depends upon a moment. AIR. Gin thou wert my awn thing. Polly. O what pain it is to part! But lest death my love should thwart, And bring thee to the fatal cart, Thus I tear thee from my bleeding heart! Fly hence, and let me leave thee. One kiss and then-one kiss- -Begone well! 539 -Fare Mac. My hand, my heart, my dear, are so riveted to thine, that I cannot loose my hold. Polly. But my papa may intercept thee, and then I should lose the very glimmering of hope. A few weeks, perhaps, may reconcile us all. Shall thy Polly hear from thee? Mac. Must I then go? શું Polly. And will not absence change your love? Mac. If you doubt it, let me stay and be hang'd. Polly. O how I fear! how I tremble!-Go-but when safety will give you leave, you will be sure to see me again, for till then Polly is wretched. AIR. O the broom, &c. [Parting, and looking back at each other with fondness, he at one door, she at the other.] Mac. The miser thus a shilling sees Which he's oblig❜d to pay, With sighs resigns it by degrees, And fears 't is gone for aye. 560 Polly. The boy thus, when his sparrow's flown, The bird in silence eyes, But soon as out of sight 't is gone Whines, whimpers, sobs, and cries. ACT II. SCENE, a tavern near Newgate. JEMMY TWITCHER, CROOK-FINGER'D JACK, WAT DREARY, ROBIN OF BAGSHOT, Nimming Ned, HARRY PADdington, MAT OF THE MINT, BEN BUDGE, and the rest of the gang, at the table, with wine, brandy, and tobacco. Ben. BUT pr'ythee, Mat, what is become of thy brother Tom? I have not seen him since my return from transportation. Mat. Poor brother Tom had an accident this time twelvemonth, and so clever made a fellow he was that I could not save him from those flaying rascals the surgeons, and now, poor man, he is among the otamys at Surgeons'-hall. · ,,, Ben. So it seems his time was come. 9 Jem. But the present time is ours, and nobody alive hath more. Why are the laws levell'd at us are we more dishonest than the rest of mankind? What we win, gentlemen, is our own by the law of arms and the right of conquest. Crook. Where shall we find such another set of practical philosophers, who to a man are above the fear of death? Wat. Sound men and true! Rob. Of tried courage and indefatigable industry! Ned. Who is there here that would not die for his friend? 21 Har. Who is there here that would betray him for his interest? Mat. Shew me a gang of courtiers that can say as much. 4 Ben. We are for a just partition of the world, for every man hath a right to enjoy life. Mat. We retrench the superfluities of mankind. The world is avaricious, and I hate avarice. A covetous fellow, like a jackdaw, steals what he was never made to enjoy, for the sake of hiding it. These are the robbers of mankind; for money was made for the free-hearted and generous: and where is the in jury of taking from another what he hath not the heart to make use of? Jem. Our several stations for the day are fixed. Good luck attend us all. Fill the glasses. AIR. Fill ev'ry glass, &c. Mat. Fill ev'ry glass, for wine inspires us And fires us With courage, love, and joy. Women and wine should life employ; Is there ought else on earth desirous ? Enter MACHEATH. 40 Mac. Gentlemen, well met: my heart hath been with you this hour, but an unexpected affair hath detained me. No ceremony I beg you. Mat. We were just breaking up to go upon duty. Am I to have the honour of taking the air with you, sir, this evening upon the Heath? I drink a dram now and then with the stage-coachmen, in the way of friendship and intelligence, and I know that about this time there will be passengers upon the western road who are worth speaking with. Mac. I was to have been of that party-but- Mac. Is there any man who suspects my courage? 53 |