A few Weeks, perhaps, may reconcile us all. Shall thy Polly hear from thee?

MACHEATH. Must I then go?

POLLY. And will not Absence change your Love?

MACHEATH. If you doubt it, let me stay – and be hang'd.

POLLY. O how I fear! how I tremble! – Go – but when Safety will give you leave, you will be sure to see me again; for 'till then Polly is wretched.

 

Air XVIII. O the Broom, etc.

Parting, and looking back at each other with fondness; he at one Door, she at the other.

 

MACHEATH.

The Miser thus a Shilling sees,

Which he's oblig'd to pay,

With Sighs resigns it by degrees,

And fears 'tis gone for aye.

 

POLLY.

The Boy, thus, when his Sparrow's flown,

The Bird in Silence eyes;

But soon as out of Sight 'tis gone,

Whines, whimpers, sobs and cries.

 

 

Act II

Scene I

A Tavern near Newgate.

 

Jemmy Twitcher, Crook-Finger'd Jack, Wat Dreary, Robin of Bagshot, Nimming Ned, Henry Padington, Matt of the Mint, Ben Budge, and the rest of the Gang, at the Table, with Wine, Brandy and Tobacco.

 

BEN BUDGE. But pr'ythee, Matt, what is become of thy Brother Tom? I have not seen him since my Return from Transportation.

MATT OF THE MINT. Poor Brother Tom had an Accident this time Twelve-month, and so clever a made Fellow he was, that I could not save him from those fleaing Rascals the Surgeons; and now, poor Man, he is among the Otamys at Surgeon's Hall.

BEN BUDGE. So it seems, his Time was come.

JEMMY TWITCHER. But the present Time is ours, and no Body alive hath more. Why are the Laws levell'd at us? are we more dishonest than the rest of Mankind? What we win, Gentlemen, is our own by the Law of Arms, and the Right of Conquest.

CROOK-FINGER'D JACK. Where shall we find such another Set of practical Philosophers, who to a Man are above the Fear of Death?

WAT DREARY. Sound Men, and true!

ROBIN OF BAGSHOT. Of try'd Courage, and indefatigable Industry!

NIMMING NED. Who is there here that would not dye for his Friend?

HARRY PADINGTON. Who is there here that would betray him for his Interest?

MATT OF THE MINT. Show me a Gang of Courtiers that can say as much.

BEN BUDGE. We are for a just Partition of the World, for every Man hath a Right to enjoy Life.

MATT OF THE MINT. We retrench the Superfluities of Mankind. The World is avaritious, and I hate Avarice. A covetous fellow, like a Jack-daw, steals what he was never made to enjoy, for the sake of hiding it. These are the Robbers of Mankind, for Money was made for the Free-hearted and Generous, and where is the Injury of taking from another, what he hath not the Heart to make use of?

JEMMY TWITCHER. Our several Stations for the Day are fixt. Good luck attend us all. Fill the Glasses.

 

Air XIX. Fill ev'ry Glass, etc.

 

MATT OF THE MINT.

Fill ev'ry Glass, for Wine inspires us,

And fires us

With Courage, Love and Joy.

Women and Wine should Life employ.

Is there ought else on Earth desirous?

CHORUS.

Fill ev'ry Glass, etc.

 

Scene II

To them enter Macheath.

 

MACHEATH. Gentlemen, well met. My Heart hath been with you this Hour; but an unexpected Affair hath detain'd me. No Ceremony, I beg you.

MATT OF THE MINT.