The Beggar's Opera Part 8

AIR XXIV. When first I laid Siege to my _Chloris_, &c.

[Music]

_Macheath._ At the Tree I shall suffer with Pleasure, At the Tree I shall suffer with Pleasure, Let me go where I will, In all kinds of Ill, I shall find no such Furies as these are.

_Peachum._ Ladies, I'll take care the Reckoning shall be discharged.

[Exit _Macheath_, guarded with _Peachum and Constables_.

_Mrs. Vixen._ 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 a.s.sisting, we ought all to share alike.

_Mrs. Coaxer._ I think Mr. _Peachum_, after so long an Acquaintance, might have trusted me as well as _Jenny Diver_.

_Mrs. Slammekin._ I am sure at least three Men of his hanging, and in a Year's time too (if he did me Justice) should be set 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 else, Ladies, you cannot in Conscience expect it.

_Mrs. Slammekin._ Dear Madam--

_Trull._ I would not for the World--

_Mrs. Slammekin._ 'Tis impossible for me--

_Trull._ As I hope to be sav'd, Madam--

_Mrs. Slammekin._ Nay, then I must stay here all Night--

_Trull._ Since you command me.

[Exeunt with great Ceremony.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

[Ill.u.s.tration]

SCENE II. _Newgate._

_Lockit_, Turnkeys, _Macheath_, Constables.

_Lockit._ n.o.ble Captain, you are welcome. You have not been a Lodger of mine this Year and half. You know the Custom, Sir. Garnish, Captain, Garnish. Hand me down those Fetters there.

_Macheath._ Those, Mr. _Lockit_, seem to be the heaviest of the whole Set. With your Leave, I should like the further Pair better.

_Lockit._ Look ye, Captain, we know what is fittest for our Prisoners.

When a Gentleman uses me with Civility, I always do the best I can to please him. --Hand them down I say. --We have them of all Prices, from one Guinea to ten, and 'tis fitting every Gentleman should please himself.

_Macheath._ I understand you, Sir. [Gives Money.] The Fees here are so many, and so exorbitant, that few Fortunes can bear the Expence of getting off handsomly, or of dying like a Gentleman.

_Lockit._ Those, I see, will fit the Captain better-- Take down the further Pair. Do but examine them, Sir. --Never was better work. --How genteely they are made! --They will fit as easy as a Glove, and the nicest Man in _England_ might not be asham'd to wear them. [He puts on the Chains.] If I had the best Gentleman in the Land in my Custody I could not equip him more handsomly. And so, Sir-- I now leave you to your private Meditations.

[Exeunt leaving _Macheath_ solus.

_Macheath._

AIR XXV. Courtiers, Courtiers, think it no Harm, &c.

[Music]

Man may escape from Rope and Gun; Nay, some have out liv'd the Doctor's Pill; Who takes a Woman must be undone, That Basilisk is sure to kill.

The Fly that sips Treacle is lost in the Sweets, So he that tastes Woman, Woman, Woman, He that tastes Woman, ruin meets.

To what a woful Plight have I brought myself! Here must I (all Day long, 'till I am hang'd) be confin'd to hear the Reproaches of a Wench who lays her Ruin at my Door-- I am in the Custody of her Father, and to be sure, if he knows of the matter, I shall have a fine time on't betwixt this and my Execution. --But I promis'd the Wench Marriage-- What signifies a Promise to a Woman? Does not Man in Marriage itself promise 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 Excuse for following their own Inclinations. --But here comes _Lucy_, and I cannot get from her. --Wou'd I were deaf!

Enter _Lucy_.

_Lucy._ You base Man you, --how can you look me in the Face after what hath pa.s.sed between us? --See here, perfidious Wretch, how I am forc'd to bear about the Load of Infamy you have laid upon me-- O _Macheath_!

thou hast robb'd me of my Quiet-- to see thee tortur'd would give me Pleasure.

AIR XXVI. A lovely La.s.s to a Friar came, &c.

[Music]

Thus when a good Housewife sees a Rat In her Trap in the Morning taken, With Pleasure her Heart goes pit-a-pat, In Revenge for her Loss of Bacon.

Then she throws him To the Dog or Cat, To be worried, crush'd and shaken.

_Macheath._ Have you no Bowels, no Tenderness, my dear _Lucy_, to see a Husband in these Circ.u.mstances?

_Lucy._ A Husband!

_Macheath._ In ev'ry Respect but the Form, and that, my Dear, may be said over us at any time. --Friends should not insist upon Ceremonies.

From a Man of Honour, his Word is as good as his Bond.

_Lucy._ 'Tis the Pleasure of all you fine Men to insult the Women you have ruin'd.

AIR XXVII. 'Twas when the Sea was roaring, &c.

[Music]

How cruel are the Traitors, Who lye and swear in jest, To cheat unguarded Creatures Of Virtue, Fame, and Rest!

Whoever steals a s.h.i.+lling, Through Shame the Guilt conceals: In Love the perjur'd Villain With Boasts the Theft reveals.

_Macheath._ The very first Opportunity, my Dear, (have but Patience) you shall be my Wife in whatever manner you please.