The Beggar’s Opera

villain to me. Lockit And so you have let him escape, hussy⁠—Have you? Lucy When a woman loves; a kind look, a tender word can persuade her to anything⁠—And I could ask no other bribe. Lockit Thou wilt always be a vulgar slut, Lucy.⁠—If you would not be looked upon as a fool, you should never do anything but upon the foot of interest. Those that act otherwise are their own bubbles. Lucy But love, sir, is a misfortune that may happen to the most discreet women, and in love we are all fools alike⁠—Notwithstanding all he swore, I am now fully convinced that Polly Peachum is actually his wife.⁠—Did I let him escape, (Fool that I was!) to go to her?⁠—Polly will wheedle herself into his money, and then Peachum will hang him, and cheat us both. Lockit So I am to be ruined, because, forsooth, you must be in love!⁠—a very pretty excuse! Lucy I could murder that impudent happy strumpet:⁠—I gave him his life, and that creature enjoys the sweets of it.⁠—Ungrateful Macheath!

Air XLI. South-Sea ballad.

My love is all madness and folly,
Alone I lie,
Toss, tumble, and cry,
What a happy creature is Polly!
Was e’er such a wretch as I!
With rage I redden like scarlet,
That my dear inconstant varlet,
Stark blind to my charms,
Is lost in the arms
Of that jilt, that inveigling harlot!
Stark blind to my charms,
Is lost in the arms
Of that jilt, that inveigling harlot!
This, this my resentment alarms.

Lockit

And so, after all this mischief, I must stay here to be entertained with your catterwauling, Mrs. Puss!⁠—Out of my sight, wanton strumpet! you shall fast and mortify yourself into reason, with now and then a little handsome discipline to bring you to your senses.⁠—Go. Exit Lucy.

Peachum then intends to outwit me in this affair; but I’ll be even with him.⁠—The dog is leaky in his liquor, so I’ll ply him that way, get the secret from him, and turn this affair to my own advantage.⁠—Lions, wolves, and vultures don’t live together in herds, droves or flocks.⁠—Of all animals of prey, man is the only sociable one. Every one of us preys upon his neighbour, and yet we herd together.⁠—Peachum is my companion, my friend.⁠—According to the custom of the world, indeed, he may quote thousands of precedents for cheating me⁠—And shall not I make use of the privilege of friendship to make him a return.

Air XLII. Packington’s Pound.

Thus gamesters united in friendship are found,
Though they know that their industry all is a cheat;
They flock to their prey at the dice-box’s sound,
And join to promote one another’s deceit.
But if by mishap
They fail of a chap,
To keep in their hands, they each other entrap.
Like pikes, lank with hunger, who miss of their ends,
They bite their companions, and prey on their friends.

Now, Peachum, you and I, like honest tradesmen, are to have a fair trial which of us two can overreach the other.

Scene II

A Gaming-House

Macheath in a fine tarnished coat, Ben Budge, Matt of the Mint.

Macheath	I am sorry, gentlemen, the road was so barren of money. When my friends are in difficulties, I am always glad that my fortune can be serviceable to them. Gives them money. You see, gentlemen, I am not a mere court friend, who professes everything and will do nothing.
Air XLIII. Lillibullero.
	The modes of the court so common are grown, That a true friend can hardly be met; Friendship for interest is but a loan, Which they let out for what they can get. ’Tis true, you find Some friends so kind, Who will give you good counsel themselves to defend. In sorrowful ditty, They promise, they pity, But shift for your money, from friend to friend. But we, gentlemen, have still honour enough to break through the corruptions of the world.⁠—And while I can serve you, you may command me.
Ben	It grieves my heart that so generous a man should be involved in such difficulties, as oblige him to live with such ill company, and herd with gamesters.
Matt	See the partiality of mankind!⁠—One man may steal a horse, better than another look over a hedge.⁠—Of all mechanics, of all servile handicrafts-men, a gamester is the vilest. But yet, as many of the quality are of the profession, he is admitted amongst the politest company. I wonder we are not more respected.
Macheath	There will be deep play tonight at Marybone, and consequently money may be picked up upon the road. Meet me there, and I’ll give you the hint who is worth setting.
Matt	The fellow with a brown coat with a narrow gold binding, I am told, is never without money.
Macheath	What do you mean, Matt?⁠—Sure you will not think of meddling with him!⁠—He’s a good honest kind of a fellow, and one of us.
Ben	To be sure, sir, we will put ourselves under your direction.
Macheath	Have an eye upon the moneylenders.⁠—A rouleau, or two, would prove a pretty sort of an expedition. I hate extortion.
Matt	Those rouleaus are very pretty things.⁠—I hate your bank bills.⁠—There is such a hazard in putting them off.
Macheath	There is a certain man of distinction, who in his time hath nicked me out of a great deal of the ready. He is in my cash, Ben;⁠—I’ll point him out to you this evening, and you shall draw upon him for the debt.⁠—The company are met; I hear the dice-box in the other room. So, gentlemen, your servant. You’ll meet me at Marybone.

Scene III

Peachum’s Lock

A table with wine, brandy, pipes and tobacco.

Peachum,