Lock. And fo, after all this mischief, I must stay here to be entertained with your catterwauling, mistress Pufs! -Out of my fight, wanton ftrumpet! you shall faft and mortify yourself into reafon, with now and then a little handfome difcipline to bring you to your fenfes. Go. [Exit Lucy.] Peachum then intends to outwit me in this affair; but I'll be even with him.The dog is leaky in his liquor, fo I'll ply him that way, get the fecret from him, and turn this affair to my own advantage. .Lions, wolves, and vultures don't live together in herds, droves, or flocks. Of all ani'mals of prey, man is the only fociable one. Every one of us preys upon his neighbour, and yet we herd together'-Peachum is my companion, my friendAccording to the custom of the world, indeed, he may quote thousands of precedents for cheating me. -And fhall not I make ufe of the privilege of friendship to make him a return?

• AIR XLIII. Packington's pound.

Thus gamesters united in friendship are found,
Though they know that their industry all is a cheat;
They flock to their prey at the dice-box's found,
And join to promote one another's deceit.

But if by mishap

They fail of a chap,

To keep in their hands, they each other entrap.

Like pikes, lank with hunger, who mifs of their ends, • They bite their companions, and prey on their friends.'

Now, Peachum, you and I, like honeft tradefinen, are to have a fair trial, which of us two can over-reach the other. -Lucy.-[Enter Lucy.] Are there any of Peachum's people now in the house?

Lucy. Filch, Sir, is drinking a quartern of strong waters in the next room with black Moll.

Lock. Bid him come to me.

Enter Filch.

[Exit Lucy.

Why, boy, thou lookest as if thou wert half starved; like a fhotten herring.

• Filcb.

Filch. One had need have the conftitution of a horfe to go through the bufinefs.Since the favourite child-getter was difabled by a mishap, I have picked up a little money by helping the ladies to a pregnancy against their being called down to fentence.

But

if a man cannot get an honeft livelihood any easier " way, I am fure, 'tis what I can't undertake for another

feffion.

Lock. Truly, if that great man fhould tip off, it ⚫ would be an irreparable lofs. The vigor and prowefs of a knight-errant never faved half the ladies in diftrefs that he hath done.'- -But, boy, can'st thou tell me where thy matter is to be found?

Filch. At his lock*, Sir, at the Crooked Billet.

Lock. Very well. I have nothing more with you. [Exit Filch.] I'll go to him there, for I have many important affairs to fettle with him; and in the way of thofe tranfactions, I'll artfully get into his fecret So that Macheath fhall not remain a day longer out of my

clutches.

SCENE, A Gaming-houfe.

[Exit.

Macheath in a fine tarnished coat, Ben Budge, Matt of the Mint.

Mach. I am forry, gentlemen, the road was fo barren of money. When my friends are in difficulties, I am always glad that my fortune can be ferviceable to them. [Gives them money] You fee, gentlemen, I am not a mère court-friend, who profeffes every thing and will do nothing.

AIR XLIV. Lillibulero.

The modes of the court fo common are grown,
That a true friend can hardly be met;
Friendfhip for intereft is but a loan,

Which they let out for what they can get.
'Tis true, you find

Some friends fo kind,

Who will give you good counfel themselves to defend :
In forrowful ditty,

They promife, they pity,

But shift you for money, from friend to friend.

But

* A cant word, fignifying a warehouse where stolen goods are de

pofited.

But we, gentlemen, have ftill honour enough to break through the corruptions of the worldAnd while I can ferve you, you may command me.

Ben. It grieves my heart that fo generous a man fhould be involved in fuch difficulties, as oblige him to live with fuch ill company, and herd with gamelters.

Matt. See the partiality of mankind!-One man may fteal a horfe, better than another look over a hedge.Of all mechanics, of all fervile handycraftsmen, a gamefter is the vileft. But yet, as many of the quality are of the profeffion, he is admitted amongst the politeit company. I wonder we are not more refpected.

Mach. There will be deep play to-night at Marybone, and confequently money may be picked up upon the road, Meet me there, and I'll give you the hint who is worth fetting.

Matt. The fellow with a brown coat with a narrow gold binding, I am told, is never without money.

Mach. What do you mean, Matt ?-

Sure you will not think of meddling with him!-He's a good honeft kind of a fellow, and one of us.

Ben. To be fure, Sir, we will put ourfelves under your direction.

Mach. Have an eye upon the money-lenders.-A rouleau, or two, would prove a pretty fort of an expedition. I hate extortion.

Matt. Thofe rouleaus are very pretty things.hate your

them off.

bank bills

-there is fuch a hazard in putting

Mach. There is a certain man of diftinction, who in his time hath nicked me out of a great deal of the ready. He is in my cafli, Ben;-I'll point him out to you this evening, and you shall draw upon him for the debt The company are met; I hear the dice-box in the other room. So, gentlemen, your fervant. You'll meet me at Marybone.

Matt. Upon honour.

SCENE, Peachum's Locks

A table with wine, brandy, pipes and tobacco.
Peachum, Lockit.

Lock, The coronation account, brother Peachum, is

of fo intricate a nature, that I believe it will never be fettled.

Peach. It confifts indeed of a great variety of articles. -It was worth to our people, in fees of different kinds, above ten inftalments. This is part of the account, 'brother, that lies open before us.

Lock. A lady's tail of rich brocade-that, I fee, is difpofed of.

Peach. To Mrs. Diana Trapes, the tally-woman, and fhe will make a good hand on't in fhoes and flippers, to trick out young ladies, upon their going into keeping.

Lock. But I don't fee any article of the jewels.

Peach. Those are so well known, that they must be fent abroad-you'll find them entered under the article of exportation-As for the fnuff-boxes, watches, fwords, &c.- -I thought it best to enter them under their feveral heads.

Lock. Seven and twenty women's pockets complete; with the feveral things therein contained; all fealed, 'numbered, and entered.'

upon

Peach. But, brother, it is impoffible for us now to enter this affair -We fhould have the whole day before us- -Befides, the account of the last half year's plate is in a book by itself, which lies at the other office.

Lock. Bring us then more liquor'-To-day fhall be for pleasure -to-morrow for bufinefs Ah, brother, thofe daughters of ours are two flippery huffies. -keep a watchful eye upon Polly, and Macheath in a day or two fhall be our own again.

AIR XLV. Down in the North Country.

Lock. What gudgeons are we men!

Ev'ry woman's easy prey:

Though we have felt the hook, agen,
We bite, and they betray.

The bird that hath been trapt,
When he hears his calling mate,
To her he flies, again he's clapt
Within the wiry grate.

3

Peach.

Peach. But what fignifies catching the bird, if your daughter Lucy will fet open the door of the cage?

Lock. If men were aniwerable for the follies and frailties of their wives and daughters, no friends could keep a good correfpondence together for two days. This unkind of you, brother; for among good friends, wha they fay or do goes for nothing. Enter Filch.

Serv. Sir, here's Mrs. Diana Trapes wants to fpeak with you.

Peach. Shall we admit her, brother Lockit?

Lock. By all means- -fhe's a good customer, and a fine fpoken woman-and a woman who drinks and talks fo freely will enliven the conversation.

Peach. Defire her to walk in.

Enter Mrs. Trapes.

[Exit Filch.

Dear Mrs. Dye, your fervant-one may know by your kifs, that your gin is excellent.

Trapes. I was always very curious in my liquors.

Lock. There is no perfumed breath like it-I have been long acquainted with the flavour of thofe lips-han't I, Mrs. Dye?

Frapes. Fill it up-I take as large draughts of liquor, as I did of love--I hate a flincher in either.

AIR XLVI. A Jhepherd kept sheep, &c.

In the days of my youth I could bill like a dove, fa, la, la, &c.

Like a fparrow at all times was ready for love, fa, la, la, &c. The life of all mortals in kiffing should pafs,

Lip to lip while we're young, then the lip to the glafs, fa, la, &c.

But now, Mr. Peachum, to our business. If you have blacks of any kind, brought in of late; mantuas-velvet. fcarfs-petticoats let it be what it will-I am your chap-for all my ladies are very fond of mourning.

Peach. Why look ye, Mrs. Dye-you deal fo hard with us, that we can afford to give the gentlemen, who venture their lives for the goods, little or nothing.

Trap. The hard times oblige me to go very near in my dealing To be fure, of late years I have been a great fuf E

ferer