But had I your Address, Madam –

MACHEATH. Have done with your Compliments, Ladies; and drink about: You are not so fond of me, Jenny, as you use to be.

JENNY DIVER. '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 XXIII. All in a misty Morning, etc.

 

Before the Barn-door crowing,

The Cock by Hens attended,

His Eyes around him throwing,

Stands for a while suspended.

Then One he singles from the Crew,

And cheers the happy Hen;

With how do you do, and how do you do,

And how do you do again.

 

MACHEATH. Ah Jenny! thou art a dear Slut.

DOLLY TRULL. Pray, Madam, were you ever in keeping?

SUKY TAWDRY. I hope, Madam, I ha'nt been so long upon the Town, but I have met with some good Fortune as well as my Neighbours.

DOLLY TRULL. Pardon me, Madam, I meant no harm by the Question; 'twas only in the way of Conversation.

SUKY TAWDRY. Indeed, Madam, if I had not been a Fool, I might have liv'd very handsomely with my last Friend. But upon his missing five Guineas, he turn'd me off. Now I never suspected he had counted them.

MRS SLAMMEKIN. Who do you look upon, Madam, as your best sort of Keepers?

DOLLY TRULL. That, Madam, is thereafter as they be.

MRS SLAMMEKIN. I, Madam, was once kept by a Jew; and bating their Religion, to Women they are a good sort of People.

SUKY TAWDRY. Now for my part, I own I like an old Fellow: for we always make them pay for what they can't do.

MRS VIXEN. A spruce Prentice, let me tell you, Ladies, is no ill thing, they bleed freely. I have sent at least two or three dozen of them in my time to the Plantations.

JENNY DIVER. But to be sure, Sir, with so much good Fortune as you have had upon the Road, you must be grown immensely rich.

MACHEATH. The Road, indeed, hath done me justice, but the Gaming-Table hath been my ruin.

 

Air XXIV. When once I lay with another Man's Wife, etc.

JENNY DIVER.

The Gamesters and Lawyers are Jugglers alike,

If they meddle your All is in danger.

Like Gypsies, if once they can finger a Souse,

Your Pockets they pick, and they pilfer your House,

And give your Estate to a Stranger.

 

A Man of Courage should never put any Thing to the Risque, but his Life. These are the Tools of a Man of Honour. Cards and Dice are only fit for cowardly Cheats, who prey upon their Friends.

 

She takes up his Pistol. Suky Tawdry takes up the other.

 

SUKY TAWDRY. This, Sir, is fitter for your Hand. Besides your Loss of Money, 'tis a Loss to the Ladies. Gaming takes you off from Women. How fond could I be of you! but before Company, 'tis ill bred.

MACHEATH. Wanton Hussies!

JENNY DIVER. I must and will have a Kiss to give my Wine a zest.

 

They take him about the Neck, and make Signs to Peachum and Constables, who rush in upon him.

 

 

Scene V

To them, Peachum and Constables.

 

PEACHUM.