Like a city wife or beauty, When you are a queen, Jenny, you fhall keep your coach and fix, and fhall game as deep as you please. So, there's the two chief ends of a woman's ambition fatisfied. AIR XXX. Sarney was tall, and of noble race. Shall I not be bold when honour calls? You've a heart that would upbraid me then. Jen. But, ah! I fear, if my hero falls, Thy Jenny fhall ne'er know pleasure again. Mor. To deck their wives fond tradesmen cheat; conquer but to make thee great. Jen. I But if my hero falls-ah, then, Thy Jenny shall ne'er know pleasure again! Morano. Infinuating creature! but you must own, Jenny, you have had convincing proofs of my fondness and if you were reasonable in your love, you should have fome regard to my honour, as well as my person. Jenny. Have I ever betrayed you, fince you took me to yourself? That's what few women can fay, who ever were trusted. : Morano. In love, Jenny, you cannot out-do me. Was it not entirely for you that I disguised myself as a black, to fcreen myself from women who laid claim to me wherever I went? Is not the rumour of my death, which I purpofely spread, credited thro' the whole country? Macheath is dead to all the world but you. Not one of the crew have the least fufpicion of me. Jenny. But, dear Captain, you would not, fure, perfuade me that I have all of you. For tho' women cannot claim you, you now and then lay claim to other But my jealoufy was never teazing or vexatious. You will pardon me, my dear. Morano. Now you are filly, Jenny. women. Pr'ythee-poh ! Nature, girl, is not to be corrected at once. What do you propofe? What would you have me do? Speak out; let me know your mind. Jenny. Know when you are well. Morano. Explain yourself; speak your fentiments freely. Jenny. You have a competence in your power. Rob the crew, and steal off to England. Believe me, Captain, you will be rich enough to be refpected by your neighbours. Morano. Your opinion of me startles me: for I never in my life was treacherous, but to women; and you know, men of the nicest punctilio make nothing of that. Jenny. Look round among all the fnug fortunes that are made, and you will find most of them were fecured by a judicious retreat. Why will you bar yourself from the customs of the times? AIR XXXI. Northern Nancy. How many men have found the skill, For to be difgrac'd, Is the end of too high afpiring. Enter Sailor. Sailor. Sir, Lieutenant Vanderbluff wants to speak with you, and he hopes your honour will give him the hearing.. [Exit. Morano. Leave me, Jenny, for a few minutes. Perhaps he would fpeak with me in private. Jenny. Think of my advice before it is too late. By this kifs, I beg it of you. [Exit. Enter Vanderbluff. 1 Van. For fhame, Captain! What, hampered in the arms of a woman, when your hnoour and glory are all at ftake! While a man is grappling with thefe gill-flirts, pardon the expreffion, Captain, he runs his reafon a-ground; and there must be a woundy deal of labour to fet it a-float again. AIR AIR XXXII. Amante fugitte cadente belta. Fine women are devils, complete in their way, They always are roving and cruifing for prey. When we flounce on their hook, their views they obtain, Like thofe too their pleasure is giving us pain. Excufe my plain fpeaking, Captain; a boatswain muft fwear in a storm; and a man must speak plain, when he fees foul weather a-head of us. Mor. Do you think me like the wheat-ear, only fit for fun-fhine, who cannot bear the least cloud over him? No, Vanderbluff, I have a heart that can face a tempeft of dangers. Your bluftering will but make me obstnate. You feem frightened, Lieutenant. Van. From any body but you, that speech would have had another-guefs answer than words.. Death, Captain! are not the Indies in difpute? An hour's delay may maketheir hands too many for us. Give the word, Captain, this hand fhall take the Indian king prifoner, and keelhaul him afterwards, till I make him difcover his gold. I have known you eager to venture your life for a less prize. Mor. Are Hacker, Culverin, Capitern, Laguerre, and the reft, whom we fent out for intelligence, returned, that you are under this immediate alarm? Van. No, Sir; but from the top of yon hill, I myself faw the enemy putting themfelves in order of battle. Mor. But we have nothing at all to apprehend; for we have ftill a fafe retreat to our fhips. Van. To our women, you mean. Furies! you talk like one. If our Captain is bewitched, fhall we be bedevil'd, and lofe the footing we have got? [Draws. Mor. Take care, Lieutenant; this language may provoke me, I fear nothing, and that you know. Put up your cutlafs, Lieutenant; for I fhall not ruin our cause by a private quarrel. Van. Noble Captain, I afk pardon. Mor. A brave man fhould be cool till action, Lieutenant. When danger preffes us, I am always ready. Be fatisfied! I will take my leave of my wife, and then take the command. Van. That's what you can never do, till you have her leave. leave. She is but just gone from you, Sir. See her not, hear her not; the breath of a woman has ever proved a contrary wind to great actions. Mor. I tell you I will fee her. I have got rid of many a woman in my time, and you may trust me Van. With any woman but her. The husband that is governed, is the only man that never finds out that he is fo. Mor. This, then, Lieutenant, fhall try my refolution. In the mean time, fend out parties and scouts, to observe the motions of the Indians. AIR XXXIII. Since all the world's turn'd upfide down. Doubt me not, Lieutenant; but I'll now go with you to give the neceffary commands, and after that, return to take my leave, before the battle. Enter Jenny, Capftern, Culverin, Hacker, Laguerre, and Polly. Jen. Hacker, Sir, and the rest of the party, are returned with a prifoner. Perhaps from him you may learn fome intelligence that may be useful. See, here they are A clever fprightly young fellow-I like him. [Afide. Van. What cheer, my lads? Has fortune fent you a good prize? Jen. He feems fome rich planter's fon. Van. In the common practice of commerce, you should never flip an opportunity; and for his ranfom, no doubt there will be room for comfortable extortion. Mor. Hath he informed you of any thing that may be of fervice? Where picked you him up? Whence is he? Hack. We found him upon the road. He is a stranger, it seems, in these parts. And as our heroes generally fet out, extravagance, gaming, and debauchery have qualified him for brave man. Mor Mor. What are you, friend? Pally. A young fellow, who hath been robbed by the world; and I came on purpose to join you, to rob the world by way of retaliation. An open war with the whole world is brave and honourable. I hate the clandestine, pilfering war that is practifed among friends and neighbours in civil focieties. I would ferve, Sir. AIR XXXIV. Hunt the Squirrel. The world is always jarring; Friends with friends are warring, In a falfe cowardly way. Spurr'd on by emulations, Envy keeps up the fray. Wounds and robs his friends. In civil life, Even man and wife Squabble for felfifh ends. fen. He really is a mighty pretty man. [Afide Van. The lad promifes well, and has juft notions of the world. Mor. Whatever other great men do, I love to encourage merit. The youth pleafes me; and if he answers in action Do you hear me, my lad? your fortune is made. Now, Lieutenant Vanderbluff, I am for you. Van. Difcipline must not be neglected. Mor. When every thing is fettled, my dear Jenny, I will return to take my leave. After that, young gentleman, I fhall try your mettle. In the mean time, Jenny, I leave you to fift him with farther questions. He has lived in the world, you find, and may have learnt to be treacherous. [Exit with the rest of the Pirates. Jen. How many women have you ever ruined, young gentleman? Polly. |