Gentlemen, well met. My heart hath been with you this hour; but an unexpected affair hath detained me. No ceremony, I beg you.
Matt
We were just breaking up to go upon duty. Am I to have the honour of taking the air with you, sir, this evening upon the heath? I drink a dram now and then with the stagecoachmen in the way of friendship and intelligence; and I know that about this time there will be passengers upon the western road, who are worth speaking with.
Macheath
I was to have been of that party—but—
Matt
But what, sir?
Macheath
Is there any man who suspects my courage?
Matt
We have all been witnesses of it.
Macheath
My honour and truth to the gang?
Matt
I’ll be answerable for it.
Macheath
In the division of our booty, have I ever shown the least marks of avarice or injustice?
Matt
By these questions something seems to have ruffled you. Are any of us suspected?
Macheath
I have a fixed confidence, gentlemen, in you all, as men of honour, and as such I value and respect you. Peachum is a man that is useful to us.
Matt
Is he about to play us any foul play? I’ll shoot him through the head.
Macheath
I beg you, gentlemen, act with conduct and discretion. A pistol is your last resort.
Matt
He knows nothing of this meeting.
Macheath
Business cannot go on without him. He is a man who knows the world, and is a necessary agent to us. We have had a slight difference, and ’till it is accommodated I shall be obliged to keep out of his way. Any private dispute of mine shall be of no ill consequence to my friends. You must continue to act under his direction, for the moment we break loose from him, our gang is ruined.
Matt
As a bawd to a whore, I grant you, he is to us of great convenience.
Macheath
Make him believe I have quitted the gang, which I can never do but with life. At our private quarters I will continue to meet you. A week or so will probably reconcile us.
Matt
Your instructions shall be observed. ’Tis now high time for us to repair to our several duties; so ’till the evening at our quarters in Moor-Fields we bid you farewell.
Macheath
I shall wish myself with you. Success attend you. Sits down melancholy at the table.
Air XX. March in Rinaldo, with drums and trumpets.
Matt
Let us take the road. Hark! I hear the sound of coaches! The hour of attack approaches, To your arms, brave boys, and load. See the ball I hold! Let the chemists toil like asses, Our fire their fire surpasses, And turns all our lead to gold.
The gang, ranged in the front of the stage, load their pistols, and stick them under their girdles; then go off singing the first part in chorus.
Macheath
What a fool is a fond wench! Polly is most confoundedly bit.—I love the sex. And a man who loves money, might as well be contented with one guinea, as I with one woman. The town perhaps have been as much obliged to me, for recruiting it with free-hearted ladies, as to any recruiting officer in the army. If it were not for us, and the other gentlemen of the sword, Drury Lane would be uninhabited.
Air XXI. Would you have a young virgin, etc.
If the heart of a man is depressed with cares, The mist is dispelled when a woman appears; Like the notes of a fiddle, she sweetly, sweetly Raises the spirits, and charms our ears, Roses and lilies her cheeks disclose, But her ripe lips are more sweet than those. Press her, Caress her, With blisses, Her kisses Dissolve us in pleasure, and soft repose.
I must have women. There is nothing unbends the mind like them. Money is not so strong a cordial for the time. Drawer—Enter Drawer. Is the porter gone for all the ladies according to my directions?
Drawer
I expect him back every minute. But you know, sir, you sent him as far as Hockley in the Hole for three of the ladies, for one in Vinegar-Yard, and for the rest of them somewhere about Lewkner’s-Lane. Sure some of them are below, for I hear the bar-bell. As they come I will show them up. Coming, coming.
Enter Mrs. Coaxer, Dolly Trull, Mrs. Vixen, Betty Doxy, Jenny Diver, Mrs. Slammekin, Suky Tawdry, and Molly Brazen.
Macheath
Dear Mrs. Coaxer, you are welcome. You look charmingly today. I hope you don’t want the repairs of quality, and lay on paint.—Dolly Trull! kiss me, you slut; are you as amorous as ever, hussy? You are always so taken up with stealing hearts, that you don’t allow yourself time to steal anything else.—Ah Dolly, thou wilt ever be a coquette! Mrs. Vixen, I’m yours, I always loved a woman of wit and spirit; they make charming mistresses, but plaguy wives—Betty Doxy! Come hither, hussy. Do you drink as hard as ever? You had better stick to good wholesom beer; for in troth, Betty, strong-waters will in time ruin your constitution. You should leave those to your betters.—What! and my pretty Jenny Diver too! As prim and demure as ever! There is not any prude, though ever so high bred, hath a more sanctified look, with a more mischievous heart. Ah! thou art a dear artful hypocrite.—Mrs. Slammekin! as careless and genteel as ever! all you fine ladies, who know your own beauty, affect an undress.—But see, here’s Suky Tawdry come to contradict what I was saying. Everything she gets one way she lays out upon her back. Why, Suky, you must keep at least a
