– But see, here's Suky Tawdry come to contradict what I was saying. Every thing she gets one way she lays out upon her Back. Why, Suky, you must keep at least a dozen Tally-men. Molly Brazen!

 

She kisses him.

 

That's well done. I love a free-hearted Wench. Thou hast a most agreeable Assurance, Girl, and art as willing as a Turtle. – But hark! I hear musick. The Harper is at the Door. If Musick be the Food of Love, play on. E'er you seat your selves, Ladies, what think you of a Dance? Come in.

 

Enter Harper.

 

Play the French Tune, that Mrs. Slammekin was so fond of.

 

A Dance a la ronde in the French Manner; near the End of it this Song and Chorus.

 

Air XXII Cotillon.

 

MACHEATH.

Youth's the Season made for Joys,

Love is then our Duty,

She alone who that employs,

Well deserves her Beauty.

Let's be gay,

While we may,

Beauty's a Flower, despis'd in decay.

CHORUS.

Youth's the Season etc.

MACHEATH.

Let us drink and sport to-day,

Ours is not to-morrow.

Love with Youth flies swift away,

Age is nought but Sorrow.

Dance and sing,

Time's on the Wing,

Life never knows the return of Spring.

CHORUS.

Let us drink etc.

 

MACHEATH. 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 chuse Ginn, I hope they will be so free to call for it.

JENNY DIVER. 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 Cholic.

MACHEATH. Just the Excuse of the fine Ladies! Why, a Lady of Quality is never without the Cholic. I hope, Mrs. Coaxer, you have had good Success of late in your Visits among the Mercers.

MRS COAXER. We have so many Interlopers – Yet with Industry, one may still have a little Picking. I carried a silver flower'd Lutestring, and a Piece of black Padesoy to Mr. Peachum's Lock but last Week.

MRS VIXEN. There's Molly Brazen hath the Ogle of a Rattle-Snake. She rivetted a Linnen- draper's Eye so fast upon her, that he was nick'd of three Pieces of Cambric before he could look off.

MOLLY BRAZEN. 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!

MRS VIXEN. Lace, Madam, lyes in a small Compass, and is of easy Conveyance. But you are apt, Madam, to think too well of your Friends.

MRS COAXER. 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 cooly, as if Money were her only Pleasure. Now that is a Command of the Passions uncommon in a Woman!

JENNY DIVER. 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.