Enter Peachum and 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 assembly. 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 show for it. A girl who cannot grant some things and refuse what is most material, will make a poor hand of her beauty and soon be thrown upon the common.
Air.—What shall I do to show how much I love her?
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 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.
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
Air.—O London is a fine town
Mrs. Peachum [in a very great passion]
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 dressed with care and cost, all tempting, 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 anything 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 expense of a husband, hussy, in gaming, drinking, and whoring? Have you money enough to carry on the daily quarrels of man and wife about who shall squander most? There are not many husbands and wives who can bear the charges of plaguing one another in a handsome way. 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!
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 he hath already, I know he is in a fair way of 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?
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!
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