The Beggar's Opera Part 2

_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 train'd up to it from his Youth.

_Mrs. Peachum._ 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.

_Peachum._ Upon _Polly's_ Account! What, a Plague, does the Woman mean?

--Upon _Polly's_ Account!

_Mrs. Peachum._ Captain _Macheath_ is very fond of the Girl.

_Peachum._ And what then?

_Mrs. Peachum._ If I have any Skill in the Ways of Women, I am sure _Polly_ thinks him a very pretty Man.

_Peachum._ And what then? You would not be so mad to have the Wench marry him! Gamesters and Highwaymen are generally very good to their Wh.o.r.es, but they are very Devils to their Wives.

_Mrs. Peachum._ But if _Polly_ should be in Love, how should we help her, or how can she help herself? Poor Girl, I am in the utmost Concern about her.

AIR IV. Why is your faithful Slave disdain'd? &c.

[Music]

If Love the Virgin's Heart invade, How, like a Moth, the simple Maid Still plays about the Flame!

If soon she be not made a Wife, Her Honour's sing'd, and then for Life, She's-- what I dare not name.

_Peachum._ 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. You see I would indulge the Girl as far as prudently we can. In any thing, but Marriage!

After that, my Dear, how shall we be safe? Are we not then in her Husband's Power? For a Husband hath the absolute Power over all a Wife's Secrets but her own. If the Girl had the Discretion of a Court-Lady, who can have a Dozen young Fellows at her Ear without complying with one, I should not matter it; but _Polly_ is Tinder, and a Spark will at once set her on a Flame. Married! If the Wench does not know her own Profit, sure she knows her own Pleasure better than to make herself a Property!

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 Example of our Neighbours.

_Mrs. Peachum._ May-hap, my Dear, you may injure the Girl. She loves to imitate the fine Ladies, and she may only allow the Captain Liberties in the view of Interest.

_Peachum._ 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 meantime, Wife, rip out the Coronets and Marks of these Dozen of Cambric Handkerchiefs, for I can dispose of them this Afternoon to a Chap in the City.

[Exit _Peachum_.

_Mrs. Peachum._ Never was a Man more out of the way in an Argument than my Husband! Why must our _Polly_, forsooth, differ from her s.e.x, and love only her Husband? And why must _Polly's_ Marriage, contrary to all Observations, 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.

AIR V. Of all the simple Things we do, &c.

[Music]

A Maid is like the Golden Ore, Which hath Guineas intrinsical in't, Whose Worth is never known before It is try'd and imprest in the Mint.

A Wife's like a Guinea in Gold, Stampt with the Name of her Spouse; Now here, now there; is bought, or is sold; And is current in every House.

Enter _Filch_.

_Mrs. Peachum._ 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-finger'd as a Juggler. If an unlucky Session does not cut the Rope of thy Life, I p.r.o.nounce, 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. Peachum._ Colour'd ones, I see. They are of sure Sale from our Warehouse at _Redriff_ among the Seamen.

_Filch._ And this Snuff-box.

_Mrs. Peachum._ 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 forc'd 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 pumpt) I have Thoughts of taking up and going to Sea.

_Mrs. Peachum._ You should go to _Hockley in the 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 Baily_! For the first Fact I'll insure thee from being hang'd; and going to Sea, _Filch_, will come time enough upon a Sentence of Transportation. But now, since you have nothing better to do, ev'n 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 Lye; for you know I hate a Liar. Do you know of anything that hath pa.s.s'd between Captain _Macheath_ and our _Polly_?

_Filch._ I beg you, Madam, don't ask me; for I must either tell a Lye to you or to Miss _Polly_; for I promis'd her I would not tell.

_Mrs. Peachum._ But when the Honour of our Family is concern'd--

_Filch._ I shall lead a sad Life with Miss _Polly_, if ever she comes to know that I told you. Besides, I would not willingly forfeit my own Honour by betraying any body.

_Mrs. Peachum._ 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 Gla.s.s of a most delicious Cordial that I keep for my own drinking.

[Exeunt.

Enter _Peachum_, _Polly_.

_Polly._ I know as well as any of the fine Ladies how to make the most of myself and of my Man too. A Woman knows how to be mercenary, though she hath never been in a Court or at an a.s.sembly. We have it in our Natures, Papa. If I allow Captain _Macheath_ some trifling 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 Common.

AIR VI. What shall I do to shew how much I love her, &c.

[Music]

Virgins are like the fair Flower in its l.u.s.tre, Which in the Garden enamels the Ground; Near it the Bees in play flutter and cl.u.s.ter, And gaudy b.u.t.terflies frolick around.

But, when once pluck'd, 'tis no longer alluring, To _Covent-Garden_ 'tis sent (as yet sweet), There fades, and shrinks, and grows past all enduring, Rots, stinks, and dies, and is trod under feet.

_Peachum._ 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 play'd the Fool and are married, you Jade you, I'll cut your Throat, Hussy. Now you know my Mind.

Enter _Mrs. Peachum_, in a very great Pa.s.sion.

AIR VII. Oh _London_ is a fine Town.

[Music]

Our _Polly_ is a sad s.l.u.t!

nor heeds what we have taught her.

I wonder any Man alive will ever rear a Daughter!

For she must have both Hoods and Gowns, and Hoops to swell her Pride, With Scarfs and Stays, and Gloves and Lace; and she will have Men beside; And when she's drest with Care and Cost, all tempting, fine and gay, As Men should serve a Cuc.u.mber, she flings herself away.

Our _Polly_ is a sad s.l.u.t! &c.