How I dread to hear your Advice! Yet I must beg you to explain yourself.

PEACHUM. Secure what he hath got, have him peach'd the next Sessions, and then at once you are made a rich Widow.

POLLY. What, murder the Man I love! The Blood runs cold at my Heart with the very Thought of it.

PEACHUM. Fye, Polly! What hath Murder to do in the Affair? Since the thing sooner or later must happen, I dare say, the Captain himself would like that we should get the Reward for his Death sooner than a Stranger. Why, Polly, the Captain knows, that as 'tis his Employment to rob, so 'tis ours to take Robbers; every Man in his Business. So that there is no Malice in the Case.

MRS PEACHUM. Ay, Husband, now you have nick'd the Matter. To have him peach'd is the only thing could ever make me forgive her.

 

Air XII. Now ponder well, ye Parents dear.

POLLY.

Oh, ponder well! be not severe;

So save a wretched Wife!

For on the Rope that hangs my Dear

Depends poor Polly's Life.

 

MRS PEACHUM. But your Duty to your Parents, Hussy, obliges you to hang him. What would many a Wife give for such an Opportunity!

POLLY. What is a Jointure, what is Widow-hood to me? I know my Heart. I cannot survive him.

 

Air XIII. Le printemps rappelle aux armes.

The Turtle thus with plaintive crying,

Her Lover dying,

The Turtle thus with plaintive crying,

Laments her Dove.

Down she drops quite spent with sighing,

Pair'd in Death, as pair'd in Love.

 

Thus, Sir, it will happen to your poor Polly.

MRS PEACHUM. What, is the Fool in Love in earnest then? I hate thee for being particular: Why, Wench, thou art a Shame to thy very Sex.

POLLY. But hear me, Mother. – If you ever lov'd –

MRS PEACHUM. Those cursed Play-books she reads have been her Ruin. One Word more, Hussy, and I shall knock your Brains out, if you have any.

PEACHUM. Keep out of the way, Polly, for fear of Mischief, and consider of what is propos'd to you.

MRS PEACHUM. Away, Hussy. Hang your Husband, and be dutiful.

 

Scene XI

Mrs Peachum, Peachum.

 

Polly listning.

 

MRS PEACHUM. The Thing, Husband, must and shall be done. For the sake of Intelligence we must take other Measures, and have him peach'd the next Session without her Consent. If she will not know her Duty, we know ours.

PEACHUM. But really, my Dear, it grieves one's Heart to take off a great Man. When I consider his Personal Bravery, his fine Stratagem, how much we have already got by him, and how much more we may get, methinks I can't find in my Heart to have a Hand in his Death. I wish you could have made Polly undertake it.

MRS PEACHUM. But in a Case of Necessity – our own Lives are in danger.

PEACHUM. Then, indeed, we must comply with the Customs of the World, and make Gratitude give way to Interest.