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time before, I told him what he would come togaging presence of mind upon the road. Wat if he did not mend his hand-This is death, without reprieve. I may venture to book him [Writes.]: for Tom Gagg, forty pounds. Let Betty Sly know, that I'll save her from transportation; for I can get more by her staying in England.

Filch. Betty hath brought more goods into our lock this year, than any five of the gang; and, in truth, 'tis pity to lose so good a cus

tomer.

Peach. If none of the gang takes her off, she may, in the common course of business, live a twelvemonth longer. I love to let women 'scape. A good sportsman always lets the henpartridges fly, because the breed of the game depends upon them. Besides, here the law allows us no reward. There is nothing to be got by the death of women-except our wives.

Filch. Without dispute she is a fine woman! 'twas to her I was obliged for my education. To say a bold word, she hath trained up more young fellows to the business than the gamingtable.

Peach. Truly, Filch, thy observation is right. We, and the surgeons, are more beholden to women than all the professions besides.

AIR.-The bonny grey-ey'd morn, &c.
FILCH.

'Tis woman that seduces all mankind;
By her we first were taught the wheedling arts;
Her
very eyes can cheat: when most she's kind,
She tricks us of our money, with our hearts!
For her, like wolves, by night we roam for prey,
And practise ev'ry fraud to bribe her charms;
For suits of love, like law, are won by pay,
And beauty must be fee'd into our arms.

Peach. But make haste to Newgate, boy, and let my friends know what I intend: for I love to make them easy one way or other.

Dreary, alias Brown Will; an irregular dog! who hath an underhand way of disposing of his goods. I'll try him only for a sessions or two longer upon his good behaviour. Harry Paddington-a poor petty-larceny rascal, without the least genius! that fellow, though he were to live these six months, will never come to the gallows with any credit! Slippery Sam; he goes off the next sessions; for the villain hath the impudence to have views of following his trade as a tailor, which he calls an honest employment. Mat of the Mint, listed not above a month ago; a promising sturdy fellow, and diligent in his way! somewhat too bold and hasty, and may raise good contributions on the public, if he does not cut himself short by murder. Tom Tipple; a guzzling, soaking sot, who is always too drunk to stand himself, or to make others stand! A cart is absolutely necessary for him. Robin of Bagshot, alias Gorgon, alias Bluff Bob, alias Carbuncle, alias Bob Booty

Enter MRS. PEACHUM.

Mrs. Peachum. What of Bob Booty, husband? I hope nothing bad hath betided him? You know, my dear, he's a favourite customer of mine; 'twas he made me a present of this ring.

Peach. I have set his name down in the blacklist; that's all, my dear! he spends his life among women, and, as soon as his money is gone, one or other of the ladies will hang him for the reward; and there's forty pounds lost to us for

ever!

Mrs. Peach. You know, my dear, I never meddle in matters of death; I always leave those affairs to you. Women, indeed, are bitter bad judges in these cases, for they are so partial to the brave, that they think every man handsome who is going to the camp or the gallows. But really husband, you should not be too hard-hearted; for you never had a finer, braver set of men, than at present. We have not had a murder among them all these seven months; and truly, my dear, that is a great blessing.

Peach. What a dickens is the woman always a whimpering about murder for? No gentleman is ever looked upon the worse for killing a man in his own defence; and, if business cannot be carried on without it, what would you have a gentleman do? So, my dear, have done upon this subject. Was captain Macheath here this morning for the banknotes he left with you last week?

Filch. When a gentleman is long kept in suspence, penitence may break his spirit ever after. Besides, certainty gives a man a good air upon his trial, and makes him risk another without fear or scruple. But I'll away; for 'tis a pleasure to be the messenger of comfort to friends in affliction. [Exit. Peach. But it is now high time to look about me for a decent execution against next sessions. I hate a lazy rogue, by whom one can get nothing till he is hanged. A register of the gang. [Reading.] Crook-fingered Jack, a year and a half in the service: let me see how much the stock owes to his industry; one, two three, Mrs. Peach. Yes, my dear; and though the four, five gold watches, and seven silver ones. bank hath stopt payment, he was so cheerful, A mighty clean-headed fellow! Sixteen snuff- and so agreeable! Sure there is not a finer genboxes, five of them of true gold; six dozen of tleman upon the road than the captain! If he handkerchiefs, four silver-hilted swords, half a comes from Bagshot at any reasonable hour, dozen of shifts, three tie-periwigs, and a piece he hath promised to make one this evening with of broad-cloth. Considering these are only Polly, me, and Bob Booty, at a party at quafruits of his leisure hours, I don't know a pret-drille. Pray, my dear, is the captain rich? tier fellow; for no man alive hath a more en- Peach. The captain keeps too good company

ever to grow rich. Marybone and the chocolate-houses are his undoing. The man, that proposes to get money by play, should have the education of a fine gentleman, and be trained up to it from his youth.

Mrs. Peach. Really I am sorry upon Polly's account, the captain hath not more discretion. What business hath he to keep company with lords and gentlemen? he should leave them to prey upon one another.

Peach. Upon Polly's account! Whet a plague does the woman mean? Upon Polly's

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Peach. Look ye, wife, a handsome wench in our way of business, is as profitable as at the bar of a Temple coffee-house, who looks upon it as her livelihood to grant every liberty but one. My daughter, to me, should be like a court-lady to a minister of state-a key to the whole gang. Married! if the affair is not already done, I'll terrify her from it, by the exampie of our neighbours.

Mrs. Peach. Mayhap, my dear, you may injure the girl: she loves to imitate the fiue ladies, and she may only allow the captain liberties in the view of interest.

Peach. But 'tis your duty, my dear, to warn the girl against her ruin, and to instruct her how to make the most of her beauty. I'll go to her this moment, and sift her. In the mean time, wife, rip out the coronets and marks of these dozen of cambric handkerchiets; for I can dispose of them this afternoon to a chap in the city. [Erit. Mrs. Peach. Never was a man more out of the way in an argument than my husband! Why must our Polly, forsooth, differ from her sex, and love only her husband? And why must Puay's marriage, contrary to all observation, make her the less followed by other men? All men are thieves in love, and like a woman the better for being another's property.

Enter FILCH.

Come hither, Filch! I am as fond of this child as though my mind misgave me he were my own. He hath as fine a hand at picking a pocket as a woman, and is as nimble-fingered as a juggler. If an unlucky session does not cut the rope of thy life, I pronounce, boy, thou

wilt be a great man in history. Where was your post last night, my boy?

Filch. I ply'd at the opera, madam; and considering 'twas neither dark nor rainy, so that there was no great hurry in getting chairs and coaches, made a tolerable hand on't. These seven handkerchiefs, madam.

Mrs. Peach. Coloured ones, I sce. They are of sure sale, from our warehouse at Redriff, among the seamen.

Filch. And this snuff-box.

Mrs. Peach. Set in gold! a pretty encouragement this to a young beginner!

Filch. I had a fair tug at a charming gold watch. Pox take the tailors for making the fobs so deep and narrow! It stuck by the way, and I was forced to make my escape under a coach. Really, madam, I fear I shall be cut off in the flower of my youth; so that, every now and then, since I was pumped, I have thoughts of taking up, and going to sea.

Mrs. Peach. You should go to Hockley-inthe-Hole, and to Marybone, child, to learn valour: these are the schools that have bred so many brave men. I thought, boy, by this time, thou hadst lost fear, as well as shame. Poor lad! how little does he know as yet of the Old Bailey! For the first fact I'll ensure thee from being hanged; and going to sea, Filch, will come time enough upon a sentence of transportation. But now, since you have nothing better to do, even go to your book, and learn your catechism; for really a man makes but an ill figure in the Ordinary's paper, who cannot give a satisfactory answer to his questions. But hark you, my lad? don't tell me a lie, for you know I hate a liar; Do you know of any thing that has passed between captain Macheath and our Polly?

Filch. I beg you, madam, don't ask me; for I must either tell a lie to you or to Miss Polly, for I promised her I would not tell.

Mrs. Peach. But when the honour of our family is concerned—

Filch. I shall lead a sad life with Miss Polly, if ever she come to know that I told you. Besides, I would not willingly forfeit my own honour, by betraying any body.

Mrs. Peach. Yonder comes my husband and Polly. Come, Filch, you shall go with me into my own room, and tell me the whole story. I'll give thee a glass of a most delicious cordial, that I keep for my own drinking. [Exeunt.

Enter PEACHUM and POLLY.

Polly. I know as well as any of the fine ladies how to make the inost of myself, and of my man too. A woman knows how to be mercenary, though she hath never been at court, or at an assembly: we have it in our natures, papa. If I allow captain Macheath some trilling liberties, I have this watch and other visible marks of his favour to shew for it. A girl, who cannot grant some things, and refuse what is

most material, will make but a poor hand of her beauty, and soon be thrown upon the

Peach. Let not your anger, my dear, break through the rules of decency; for the captain looks upon himself, in the military capacity, as a gentleman by his profession. Besides what AIR.—What shall I do to shew how much I love he hath already, I know he is in a fair way of

common.

her?

Virgins are like the fair flower in its lustre,
Which in the garden enamels the ground,
Near it the bees in play flutter and cluster,
And gaudy butterflies frolic around;
But when once plucked, 'tis no longer alluring,
To Covent-garden 'tis sent (as yet sweet),
There fades, and shrinks, and grows past all en-
during,

Rots, stinks, and dies, and is trod under feet.

Peach. You know, Polly, I am not against your toying and trifling with a customer in the way of business, or to get out a secret or so; but if I find out that you have played the fool, and are married, you jade you, I'll cut your throat, hussy! Now, you know my mind. Enter MRS, PEACHUM.

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For she must have both hoods and gowns, and hoops to swell her pride,

With scarfs and stays, and gloves and lace, and she'll have men beside;

And when she's drest with care and cost, alltempting, fine and gay,

As men should serve a cucumber, she flings herself away.

You baggage! you hussy! you inconsiderate jade! had you been hanged it would not have vexed me, for that might have been your misfortune; but to do such a mad thing by choice! The wench is married, husband!

Peach. Married! the captain is a bold man, and will risk any think for money: to be sure, he believes her a fortune. Do you think your mother and I should have lived comfortably so long together, if ever we had been married, baggage?

Mrs. Peach. I knew she was always a proud slut, and now the wench hath played the fool and married, because, forsooth, she would do like the gentry! Can you support the expence of a husband, hussy, in gaming, and drinking? have you money enough to carry on the daily quarrels of man and wife, about who shall squander most? If you must be married, could you introduce nobody into our family but a highwayman? Why, thou foolish jade, thou wilt be as ill used, and as much neglected, as if thou hadst married a lord!

getting, or of dying; and both these ways, let me tell you, are most excellent chances for a wife. Tell me, hussy, are you ruined or no?

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Mrs. Peach. With Polly's fortune, she might very well have gone off to a person of distinction: yes, that you might, you pouting

slut!

Peach. What is the wench dumb? speak, or I'll make you plead by squeezing out an answer from you. Are you really bound wife to him, or are you only upon liking?

[Pinches her. Polly. Oh! [Screaming Mrs. Peach. How the mother is to be pitied, who hath handsome daughters? Locks, bolts, bars, and lectures of morality, are nothing to them; they break through them all: they have as much pleasure in cheating a father and mother, as in cheating at cards.

Peach. Why, Polly, I shall soon know if you are married, by Macheath's keeping from our house.

AIR.-Grim king of the ghosts, &c.
Polly. Can love be controuled by advice?
Will Cupid our mothers obey ?

Though my heart was as frozen as ice,
At his flame 'twould have melted away.

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

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 'tis the fashion) coolly and deliberately for honour or 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 can't support myself.-Oh! [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 shews such a readiness, and so much concern, that I could almost find in my heart to forgive her.

AIR.-O Jenny, O Jenny ! where hast thou been?
O Polly! you might have toyed and kist ;
By keeping men off you keep them on:
Polly. But he so teased me,
And he so pleased me,
What I did you must have done.

Mrs. Peach. Not with a highwayman-you sorry slut!

Peach. A word with you, wife. Tis no new thing for a wench to take a man without consent of parents. You 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.

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 seized 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.

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 'tis the gentleman who was here yesterday about the repeating watch, say, you believe we can't get intelligence of it till to-morrow, for I lent it to Sakey Straddle to make a figure with it to night at a tavern in Drury-lane. If t'other gentleman calls for the silver-hilted sword, you know beetle-browed 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.

Mrs. Peach. If she 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

A rich rogue

| stain but what it can take out. 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.

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. 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 happened last night.

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 turned fool? a highwayman's wife, like a soldier's, hath as little of his pay as his company.

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. Polly. But I love him, sir; how, then, could I have thoughts of parting with him?

Peach. Parting with him! why that is the whole scheme and intention of all marriage articles. The comfortable estate of widowhood is the only hope that keeps up a wife's spirits.Where is the woman, who would scruple to be a wife, if she had it in her power to be a widow whenever she pleased? If you have any views of this sort, Polly, I shall think the match not so very unreasonable.

Polly. How I dread to hear your advice! yet I must beg you to explain yourself.

Peach. Secure what he hath got; have him peached the next sessions; and, then, at once, you are made a rich widow.

Polly. What! murder the man I love! the blood runs cold at my heart with the very thought of it!

Peach. Fie, Polly! what hath murder to do in the affair? Since the thing sooner or later must happen, I dare say the captain himself would like that we should get the reward for his death sooner than a stranger. Why, Polly, the captain knows that as 'tis his employment to

rob, so it is ours to take robbers; every man | circle are in tears! even butchers weep! Jack in his business: so that there is no malice in

the case.

Mrs. Peach. Ay, husband, now you have nicked the matter! To have him peached is the only thing could ever make me forgive her.

AIR.-Now, ponder well, ye parents dear.
Polly. Oh, ponder well! be not severe ;

To save a wretched wife;

For, on the rope, that hangs my dear,
Depends poor Polly's life.

Mrs. Peach. But your duty to your parents, hussy, obliges you to hang him. What would many a wife give for such an opportunity!

Polly. What is a jointure? what is widowhood to me? I know my heart; I cannot survive him.

AIR.-Le printemps rapelle aux armes.
The turtle thus, with plaintive crying,
Her lover dying,

The turtle thus, with plaintive crying,
Laments her dove!

Down she drops, quite spent with sighing,
Paired in death, as paired in love.

Thus, sir, it will happen to your poor Polly.

Mrs. Peach. What! is the fool in love in earnest, then? I hate thee for being particular. Why, wench, thou art a shame to thy

very sex.

Polly. But hear me, mother-if you

loved

ever Mrs. Peach. Those cursed play-books she reads have been her ruin! One word more, hussy, and I shall knock your brains out, if you have any.

Peach. Keep out of the way, Polly, for fear of mischief, and consider of what is proposed to you.

Mrs. Peach. Away, hussy! Hang your husband, and be dutiful. [POLLY listening.] The thing, husband, must and shall be done. If she will not know her duty, we know ours.

Peach. But really, my dear, it grieves one's heart to take off a great man. When I consider his personal bravery, his fine stratagems, how much we have already got by him, and how much more we may get, methinks I cannot find in my heart to have a hand in his death: I wish you could have made Polly undertake it.

Mrs. Peach. But in a case of necessityour own lives are in danger.

Peach. Then, indeed, we must comply with the customs of the world, and make gratitude give way to interest. He shall be taken off.

Mrs. Peach. I'll undertake to manage Polly. Peach. And I'll prepare matters for the Old Bailey. [Exeunt PEACHUM and MRS. PEACHUM.

Polly. Now, I am a wretch, indeed! Methinks I see him already in the cart, sweeter and more lovely than the nosegay in his hand! I hear the crowd extolling his resolution and intrepidity! I see him at the tree! the whole

Ketch himself hesitates to perform his duty, and would be glad to lose his fee by a reprieve! What, then, will become of Polly? As yet I may inform him of their design, and aid him in his escape. It shall be so. But then he flies; absents himself, and I bar myself from his dear, dear conversation! that, too, will distract me.If he keeps out of the way, my papa and mamma may in time relent, and we may be happy.— If he stays, he is hanged, and then he is lost for ever! He intended to lie concealed in my room till the dusk of the evening. If they are abroad, this instant let him out, lest some accident should prevent him.

[Exit, and returns with MACHEATH. AIR.-Pretty parrot say, &c. Mac. Pretty Polly, say

When I was away,

Did your fancy never stray
To some newer lover?

Polly. Without disguise,
Heaving sighs,

Doting eyes,

My constant heart discover,
Fondly let me loll.

Mac. O, pretty, pretty Poll!

Polly. And are you as fond of me as ever, my dear?

Mac. Suspect my honour, my courage; suspect any thing, but my love. May my pistols miss fire, may my mare slip her shoulder while I am pursued, if I ever forsake thee?

Polly. Nay, my dear! I have no reason to doubt you; for I find in the romance you lent me, none of the great herocs were ever false in love.

AIR.-Pray, fair one, be kind.
Mac. My heart was so free,

It roved like the bee,

Till Polly my passion requited;
I sipt each flower,

I changed every hour,

But here every flower is united. Polly. Were you sentenced to transportation, sure, my dear, you could not leave me behind you could you?

Mac. Is there any power, any force, that could tear me from thee? You might sooner tear a pension out of the hands of a courtier, a fee from a lawyer, a pretty woman from a looking-glass, or any woman from quadrille-But to tear me from thee, is impossible!

AIR. Over the hills and far away.
Mac. Were I laid on Greenland's coast,
And in my arms embraced my lass,
Warm amidst eternal frost,
Too soon the half year's night would pass.
Polly. Were I sold on Indian soil,

Soon as the burning day was closed,
I could mock the sultry toil,
When on my charmer's breast repos'd.

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