ferer by the parliament.-Three thoufand pounds would hardly make me amends-The act for deftroying the Mint was a fevere cut upon our business- -till then, if a customer stept out of the way. we knew where to have her no doubt you know Mrs. Coaxerthere's a wench now (till to-day) with a good fuit of cloaths of mine upon her back, and I could never fet eyes upon her for three months together- -Since the act too against imprisonment for fmall fums, my lofs there too hath been very confiderable; and it must be so, when a lady can borrow a handfome petticoat, or a clean gown, and I not have the leaft hank upon her! And, o' my conscience, now-a-days moft ladies take delight in cheating, when they can do it with safety. Peach. Madam, you had a handsome gold watch of us t'other day for feven guineas-a Confidering we must have our profit- -to a gentleman upon the road, a gold watch will be fcarce worth the taking. Trap. Confider, Mr. Peachum, that watch was remarkable, and not of very f. fe fale-If you have any black velvet fcarfs- they are a handfome winter wear; and take with moft gentlemen who deal with my cufto'Tis I that put the ladies upon a good foot. 'Tis not youth or beauty that fixes their price. The gentlemen always pay according to their drefs, from half a crown to two guineas; and yet thofe huffies make nothing of bilking of me- Then too, allowing for accidents. mers I have eleven fine customers now down under the furgeon's hand-what with fees and other expences, there are great goings-out, and no comings-in, and not a farthing to pay for at least a month's cloathing. run great rifques great rifques indeed. -We Peach. As I remember, you faid something just now of Mrs. Coaxer. Trap. Yes, Sir,-To be fure I ftripped her of a fuit of my own cloaths about two hours ago; and have left her as the fhould be, in her shift, with a lover of hers at my houfe. She called him up stairs, as he was going to Marybone in a hackney-coach- And I hope, for her own fake and mine, fhe will perfuade the Captain to redeem her, for the Captain is very generous to the ladies. Lock Lock. What Captain? Trap. He thought I did not know him— mate acquaintance of yours, Mr. PeachumCaptain Macheath -as fine as a lord. -An inti -only Peach. To-morrow, dear Mrs. Dye, you fhall fet your own price upon any of the goods you like We have your fervice. at least half a dozen velvet fcarfs, and all at Will you give me leave to make you a prefent of this fuit of night-cloaths for your own wearing? you fure it is Captain Macheath! But are Trap. Though he thinks I have forgot him; nobody knows him better. I have taken a great deal of the Captain's money in my time, at fecond-hand, for he always loved to have his ladies well drest. Peach. Mr. Lockit and I have a little business with the Captain ; -you understand me and we will fatisfy you for Mrs. Coaxer's debt. Lock. Depend upon it—we will deal like men of ho nour. Trap. I don't enquire after your affairs fo whatever happens, I wash my hands on't-It hath always been my maxim, that one friend fhould affift anotherBut if you please, I'll take one of the fcarfs home with me; 'tis always good to have something in hand. [Exeunt. SCENE, Newgate. Enter Lucy. Jealoufy, rage, love, and fear are at once tearing me to pieces. How I am weather-beaten and shattered with diftreffes! AIR XLVII. One evening having loft my way. I'm like a fkiff on the ocean toft, Now high, now low, with each billow borne, While thus I lie rolling and toffing all night, I have the rats-bane ready. I run no rifque; for I naturally, can lay her death upon the gin, and fo many die of that E 2 But naturally, that I fhall never be called in queftion fay I were to be hanged-I never could be hanged for any thing that would give me greater comfort, than the poisoning that flut. Enter Filch. Filch. Madam, here's Mifs Polly come to wait upon Lucy. Dear Madam, your fervant-I hope you will pardon my paffion, when I was fo happy to fee you laft--I was fo over-run with the spleen, that I was perfectly out of myself. And really when one hath the fpleen, every thing is to be excufed by a friend. AIR XLVIII. Now, Roger, I'll tell thee, becaufe thou'rt my fon. When a wife's in her pout, (As flie's fometimes, no doubt) The good husband as meek as a lamb, First grants her her will, And the quieting draught is a dram. Poor man! And the quieting draught is a dram ; I wifh all our quarrels might have fo comfortable a reconciliation. Polly. I have no excufe for my own behaviour, Madam, but my misfortunes -And really, Madam, I fuffer too upon your account. Lucy. But, Mifs Polly-in the way of friendship, will you give me leave to propofe a glafs of cordial to you? Polly. Strong-waters are apt to give me the head-achI hope, Madam, you will excufe me. Lucy. Not the greatest lady in the land could have better in her closet, for her own private drinking feem mighty low in fpirits, my dear. me to accept of your offer You Polly. I an forry, Madam, my health will not allow I fhould not have left in the rude manner I did when we met laft, Madam, had you not my papa hauled me away fo unexpectedly. -I was indeed fomewhat provoked, and perhaps might ufe fome expreffions that were difrefpectful-But really, Madam, the Captain treated me with fo much contempt and cruelty, that I deferved your pity, rather than your refentment. Lucy. But fince his escape, no doubt all matters are made up again- Ab, Polly Polly! 'tis I am the unhappy wife; and he loves you as if you were only his mistress. Polly. Sure, Madam, you cannot think me fo happy as to be the object of your jealousy - A man is al ways afraid of a woman who loves him too well that I must expect to be neglected and avoided. fo Lucy. Then our cafes, my dear Polly, are exactly alike. Both of us indeed have been too fond. AIR XLIX. O Belly Bell, &c. Polly. A curfe attends that woman's love Lucy. The pertnefs of the billing dove, Polly. What then in love can woman do? Lucy. Polly. And when we fly them, they pursue: Lucy. But leave us when they've won us. Lucy. Love is fo very whimfical in both fexes, that it is impoffible to be lafting But my heart is particu lar, and contradicts my own observation. Polly. But really, Mistress Lucy, by his last behaviour, I think I ought to envy you When I was forced -But from him, he did not fhew the least tenderness perhaps, he hath a heart not capable of it. AIR L. Wou'd fate to me Belinda give. Among the men, coquets we find, E 3 The 1 The coquets of both fexes are felf-lovers, and that is a love no other whatever can difpoffefs. I fear, my dear Lucy, our husband is one of those. Lucy. Away with thefe melancholy reflections, indeed, my dear Polly, we are both of us a cup too low. Let me prevail upon you, to accept of my offer. AIR LI. Come, feet lafs Come, fweet lafs, Let's take a chirping glass. Wine can clear The vapours of despair; And make us light as air; I can't bear, child, to fee you in fuch low fpirits And I must perfuade you to what I know will do you good. I fhall now foon be even with the hypocritical ftrumpet. [Afide.] [Exit Polly. All this wheedling of Lucy cannot be for nothingAt this time too! when I know the hates me!- -The diffembling of a woman is always the fore-runner of mifchiefBy pouring ftrong-waters down my throat, fhe thinks to pump fome fecrets out of -I'll be upon my guard, and won't taste a drop of her liquor, I'm refolved. me Enter Lucy, with firong-waters. Lucy. Come, Mifs Polly. Polly. Indeed, child, you have given yourself trouble to no purpose-You must, my dear, excufe me. Lucy. Really, Mifs Polly, you are as fqueamishly affected about taking a cup of firong-waters, as a lady before company. I vow, Polly, I fhall take it monftroufly ill if refufe meyou -Brandy and men (though women love them never fo well) are always taken by us with fome reluctance- -unlefs 'tis in private. Polly. I proteft, Madam, it goes against me-What do I fee! Macheath again in cuftody!Now every glimmering of happiness is loft. [Drops the glass of liquor on the ground. Lucy. |