The Beggar’s Opera

epub:type="z3998:persona">Lockit.

Lockit	The coronation account, brother Peachum, is of so intricate a nature, that I believe it will never be settled.
Peachum	It consists indeed of a great variety of articles.⁠—It was worth to our people, in fees of different kinds, above ten instalments.⁠—This is part of the account, brother, that lies open before us.
Lockit	A lady’s tail of rich brocade.⁠—that, I see, is disposed of.
Peachum	To Mrs. Diana Trapes, the tally-woman, and she will make a good hand on’t in shoes and slippers, to trick out young ladies, upon their going into keeping.⁠—
Lockit	But I don’t see any article of the jewels.
Peachum	Those are so well known that they must be sent abroad⁠—You’ll find them entered under the article of exportation.⁠—As for the snuffboxes, watches, swords, etc.⁠—I thought it best to enter them under their several heads.
Lockit	Seven and twenty women’s pockets complete; with the several things therein contained; all sealed, numbered, and entered.
Peachum	But, brother, it is impossible for us now to enter upon this affair⁠—We should have the whole day before us.⁠—Besides, the account of the last half year’s plate is in a book by itself, which lies at the other office.
Lockit	Bring us then more liquor⁠—Today shall be for pleasure⁠—Tomorrow for business⁠—Ah, brother, those daughters of ours are two slippery hussies⁠—Keep a watchful eye upon Polly, and Macheath in a day or two shall be our own again.
Air XLIV. Down in the north country, etc.
Lockit	What gudgeons are we men! Ev’ry woman’s easy prey. Though we have felt the hook, again We bite and they betray. The bird that hath been trapped, When he hears his calling mate, To her he flies, again he’s clapped Within the wiry grate.
Peachum	But what signifies catching the bird, if your daughter Lucy will set open the door of the cage?
Lockit	If men were answerable for the follies and frailties of their wives and daughters, no friends could keep a good correspondence together for two days.⁠—This in unkind of you, brother; for among good friends, what they say or do goes for nothing.
	Enter a Servant.
Servant	Sir, here’s Mrs. Diana Trapes wants to speak with you.
Peachum	Shall we admit her, brother Lockit?
Lockit	By all means⁠—She’s a good customer, and a fine-spoken woman⁠—And a woman who drinks and talks so freely, will enliven the conversation.
Peachum	Desire her to walk in. Exit servant.
	Peachum, Lockit, Mrs. Trapes.
Peachum	Dear Mrs. Dye, your servant⁠—One may know by your kiss, that your gin is excellent.
Mrs. Trapes	I was always very curious in my liquors.
Lockit	There is no perfumed breath like it⁠—I have been long acquainted with the flavour of those lips⁠—Han’t I, Mrs. Dye.
Mrs. Trapes	Fill it up⁠—I take as large draughts of liquor, as I did of love.⁠—I hate a flincher in either.
Air XLV. A shepherd kept sheep, etc.
	In the days of my youth I could bill like a dove, fa, la, la, etc. Like a sparrow at all times was ready for love, fa, la, la, etc. The life of all mortals in kissing should pass, Lip to lip while we’re young⁠—then the lip to the glass, fa, la, etc. But now, Mr. Peachum, to our business.⁠—If you have blacks of any kind, brought in of late; mantoes⁠—Velvet scarfs⁠—Petticoats⁠—Let it be what it will⁠—I am your chap⁠—for all my ladies are very fond of mourning.
Peachum	Why, look ye, Mrs. Dye⁠—you deal so hard with us, that we can afford to give the gentlemen, who venture their lives for the goods, little or nothing.
Mrs. Trapes	The hard times oblige me to go very near in my dealing.⁠—To be sure, of late years I have been a great sufferer by the parliament.⁠—Three thousand pounds would hardly make me amends.⁠—The act for destroying the mint, was a severe cut upon our business⁠—’Till then, if a customer stepped out of the way⁠—we knew where to have her⁠—No doubt you know Mrs. Coaxer⁠—there’s a wench now (’till today) with a good suit of clothes of mine upon her back, and I could never set eyes upon her for three months together.⁠—Since the act too against imprisonment for small sums, my loss there too hath been very considerable, and it must be so, when a lady can borrow a handsome petticoat, or a clean gown, and I not have the least hank upon her! And, o’ my conscience, nowadays most ladies take a delight in cheating, when they can do it with safety.
Peachum	Madam, you had a handsome gold watch of us ’tother day for seven guineas.⁠—Considering we must have our profit.⁠—To a gentleman upon the road, a gold watch will be scarce worth the taking.
Mrs. Trapes	Consider, Mr. Peachum, that watch was remarkable, and not of very safe sale.⁠—If you have any black velvet scarfs⁠—they are a handsome winter-wear, and take with most gentlemen who deal with my customers.⁠—’Tis I that put the ladies upon a good foot. ’Tis not youth or beauty that fixes their price. The gentlemen always pay according to their dress, from half a crown to two guineas; and yet those hussies make nothing of bilking of me.⁠—Then too, allowing for accidents.⁠—I have eleven fine customers now down under the surgeon’s hands⁠—what with fees and other expenses, there are great goings-out, and no comings in, and not a farthing to pay for at least a month’s clothing.⁠—We run great risks⁠—great risks indeed.
Peachum	As I remember, you said something just now of Mrs. Coaxer.
Mrs. Trapes	Yes, sir.⁠—To be sure I stripped her of a suit of my own clothes about two hours ago; and have left her as she should be, in her shift, with a lover of hers at my house. She called him upstairs, as he was going to Marybone in