Tawd. Now for my part, I own I like an old fellow for we always make them pay for what they can't do. Vix. A fpruce 'prentice, let me tell you, ladies, is no ill thing; they bleed freely. I have fent at least two or three dozen of them, in my time, to the plantations. Jenny. But to be fure, fir, with fo much good fortune as you have had upon the road, you must be grown immenfely rich. Mach. The road, indeed, hath done me justice, but the gaming-table hath been my ruin. AIR XXIV. When once I lay with another man's wife, &c. Jenny. The gameflers and lawyers are jugglers alike, A man of courage fhould never put any thing to the rifque, but his life. These are the tools of a man of honour. Cards and dice are only fit for cowardly cheats, who prey upon their friends. [She takes up his piftol. Tawdry takes up the other. Tawd. This, fir, is fitter for your hand. Besides your lofs of money, 'tis a lofs to the ladies. Gaming takes you off from women. How fond could I be of you! but before company, 'tis ill bred. Mach. Wanton huffies! zeit. Jen. I muft and will have a kifs to give my wine a [They take him about the neck, and make figns to Peachum and Conftables, who rub in upon him. SCENE V: Enter to them Peachum and Conftables. Peach. I feize you, fir, as my prifoner. Women are decoy ducks; who can truft them! Beasts, jades, jilts, harpies, furies, whores! Peach. Your cafe, Mr. Macheath, is not particular. The greateft heroes have been ruin'd by women. But, to to do them justice, I must own they are a pretty fort of creatures, if we could truft them. You must now, fir, take your leave of the ladies, and if they have a mind to make you a vifit, they will be fure to find you at home. The gentleman, ladies, lodges in Newgate. Constables wait upon the captain to his lodgings. AIR XXV. When first I laid fiege to my Chloris. Mach. At the tree I shall fuffer with pleasure, At the tree I fball fuffer with pleasure, Let me go where I will, In all kinds of ill, I fball find no fuch furies as these are. Peach. Ladies, I'll take care the reckoning fhall be discharged. [Exit Macheath guarded, with Peachum and Conflables; the women remain. Vix. Look ye, Mrs. Jenny, though Mr. Peachum may have made a private bargain with you and Suky Tawdry, for betraying the captain, as we were all affifting, we ought all to fhare alike. Coax. I think Mr. Peachum, after fo long an acquaintance, might have trufted me as well as Jenny Diver. Slam. I am fure at least three men of his hanging, and in a year's time too, (if he did me justice) should be fet down to my account. Trull. Mrs. Slammekin, that is not fair: for you know one of them was taken in bed with me. Jenny. As far as a bowl of punch or a treat, I believe Mrs. Suky will join with me.As for any thing elfe, ladies, you cannot in conscience expect it. Slam Dear madam Trull. I would not for the world. Slam. 'Tis impoffible for me Trull. As I hope to be faved, madamı Slam. Nay, then I muft ftay here all night- Trull. Since you command me. [Exeunt, with great ceremony. SCENE, SCENE, Newgate. Lockit, Turnkeys, Macheath, and Conftables. Lock. Noble captain, you are welcome. You have not been a lodger of mine this year and half. You know the custom, fir; garnish, captain, garnish. Hand me down thofe fetters there. Mach. Thofe, Mr. Lockit, feem to be the heaviest of the whole fet. With your leave, I should like the further pair better. Lock. Look ye, captain, we know what is fitteft for our prifoners. When a gentleman ufes me with civility, I always do the best I can to please him.-Hand them down I fay-We have them of all prices, from one guinea to ten, and 'tis fitting every gentleman fhould please himself. Mach. I understand you, fir, [Gives money.] The fees here are fo many, and fo exorbitant, that few fortunes can bear the expence of getting off handsomely, or of dying like a gentleman. Lock. Thofe, I fee, will fit the captain better.Take down the further pair.-Do but examine them, fir-Never was better work.- -How genteelly they are made! -They will fit as eafy as a glove, and the niceft man in England might not be ashamed to wear them. [He puts on the chains.] If I had the best gentleman in the land in my cuftody, I could not equip him more handsomely. And fo, fir,-I now leave you to your private meditations. [Exeunt Lockit, Turnkeys, and Conftables. AIR XXVI. Courtiers, courtiers think it no harm. Nay, fome bave out-liv'd the doctor's pill: The fly that fips treacle is loft in the fweets, To what a woful plight have I brought myfelf! Here muft I (all day long, till I am hanged) be confin'd to hear hear the reproaches of a wench, who lays her ruin at my door.I am in the cuftody of her father, and to be fure, if he knows of the matter, I fhall have a fine time on't betwixt this and my execution.-——But I promised the wench marriage.-What fignifies a promife to a woman? does not a man in marriage itself promife a hundred things that he never means to perform? Do all we can, women will believe us ; for they look upon a promise as an excufe for following their own inclinations.--But here comes Lucy, and I cannot get from her-wou'd I were deaf. Lucy. You bafe man, you,- -how can you look me in the face, after what hath past between us?————— See here, perfidious wretch, how I am forced to bear about the load of infamy you have laid upon me-○ Macbeath! thou hast robb'd me of my quiet--to fee thee tortur'd would give me pleafure. AIR XXVII. A lovely lafs to a friar came. To the dog or cat, To be worried, crush'd, and shaken. Mach. Have you no bowels, no tenderness, Lucy, to fee a husband in these circumstances? Lucy. A hufband? my dear Mach. In ev'ry refpect but the form, and that, my dear, may be faid over us at any time -Friends fhould not infift upon ceremonies. From a man of honour, his word is as good as his bond. the Lucy. "Tis the pleasure of all you fine men to infult women you have ruin'd. AIR XXVIII. 'Twas when the fea was roaring. How cruel are the traytors, Whoever |