_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 entertain’d 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 handsom 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 over-reach the other. SCENE II. _A Gaming-House_. Macheath _in a fine tarnish’d 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 every thing 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_.