Chorus.—Let us drink, etc.

Mac. Now pray, ladies, take your places. Here, fellow. [Pays the harper.] Bid the drawer bring us more wine. [Exit harper.] If any of the ladies choose gin, I hope they will be so free to call for it.

Fen. You look as if you meant me. Wine is strong enough for me. Indeed, sir, I never drink strong waters, but when I have the colic.

Mac. Just the excuse of the fine ladies. Why, a lady of quality is never without the colic. I hope, Mrs. Coaxer, you have had good success of late in your visits among the mercers?

Coax. We have so many interlopers; yet, with industry, one may still have a little picking. I carried a silver-flowered lutestring and a piece of black padesoy to Mr. Peachum’s lock but last week.

Vix. There’s Molly Brazen hath the ogle of a rattlesnake. She riveted a linen-draper’s eyes so fast upon her that he was nicked of three pieces of cambric before he could look off.

Braz. Oh, dear madam! But sure nothing can come up to your handling of laces; and then you have such a sweet, deluding tongue! To cheat a man is nothing; but the woman must have fine parts, indeed, who cheats a woman.

Vix. Lace, madam, lies in a small compass and is of easy conveyance. But you are apt, madam, to think too well of your friends.

Coax. If any woman hath more art than another, to be sure ’tis Jenny Diver. Though her fellow be never so agreeable, she can pick his pocket as coolly as if money were her only pleasure. Now that is a command of the passions uncommon in a woman.

Fen. I never go to the tavern with a man but in the view of business. I have other hours and other sort of men for my pleasure. But had I your address, madam—

Mac. Have done with your compliments, ladies, and drink about. You are not so fond of me, Jenny, as you use to be.

Fen. ’Tis not convenient, sir, to show my fondness among so many rivals. ’Tis your own choice and not the warmth of my inclination that will determine you.

Air.—All in a misty morning

Mac. Ah, Jenny, thou art a dear slut!

Trull. Pray, madam, were you ever in keeping?

Tawd. I hope, madam, I ha’n’t been so long upon the town but I have met with some good fortune as well as my neighbours.

Trull. Pardon me, madam, I meant no harm by the question; ’twas only in the way of conversation.

Tawd. Indeed, madam, if I had not been a fool, I might have lived very handsomely with my last friend; but upon his missing five guineas he turned me off. Now I never suspected he had counted them.

Slam. Who do you look upon, madam, as your best sort of keepers?