But really, Husband, you should not be too hard-hearted, for you never had a finer, braver set of Men than at present. We have not had a Murder among them all, these seven Months. And truly, my Dear, that is a great Blessing. _Peachum_. What a dickens is the Woman always a whimpring about Murder for? No Gentleman is ever look’d upon the worse for killing a Man in his own Defence; and if Business cannot be carried on without it, what would you have a Gentleman do? _Mrs. Peachum_. If I am in the wrong, my Dear, you must excuse me, for no body can help the Frailty of an over-scrupulous Conscience. _Peachum_. Murder is as fashionable a Crime as a Man can be guilty of. How many fine Gentlemen have we in _Newgate_ every Year, purely upon that Article! If they have wherewithal to persuade the Jury to bring it in Manslaughter, what are they the worse for it? So, my Dear, have done upon this Subject. Was Captain _Macheath_ here this Morning, for the Bank-Notes he left with you last Week? _Mrs. Peachum_. Yes, my Dear; and though the Bank hath stopt Payment, he was so chearful and so agreeable! Sure there is not a finer Gentleman upon the Road than the Captain! if he comes from _Bagshot_ at any reasonable Hour, he hath promis’d to make one this Evening with _Polly_ and me, and _Bob Booty_ at a Party of Quadrille. Pray, my Dear, is the Captain rich? _Peachum_. The Captain keeps too good Company ever to grow rich. _Marybone_ and the Chocolate-houses are his Undoing. The Man that proposes to get Money by play should have the Education of a fine Gentleman, and be train’d up to it from his Youth. _Mrs. Peachum_. Really, I am sorry upon _Polly’s_ Account the Captain hath not more Discretion. What Business hath he to keep Company with Lords and Gentlemen? he should leave them to prey upon one another. _Peachum_. Upon _Polly’s_ Account! What, a Plague, does the Woman mean?—Upon _Polly’s_ Account! _Mrs. Peachum_. Captain _Macheath_ is very fond of the Girl. _Peachum_. And what then? _Mrs. Peachum_. If I have any Skill in the Ways of Women, I am sure _Polly_ thinks him a very pretty Man. _Peachum_. And what then? You would not be so mad to have the Wench marry him! Gamesters and Highwaymen are generally very good to their Whores, but they are very Devils to their Wives. _Mrs. Peachum_. But if _Polly_ should be in Love, how should we help her, or how can she help herself? Poor Girl, I am in the utmost Concern about her. AIR IV. Why is your faithful Slave disdain’d? &c. _If Love the Virgin’s Heart invade_, _How_, _like a Moth_, _the simple Maid_ _Still plays about the Flame_! _If soon she be not made a Wife_, _Her Honour’s sing’d_, _and then for Life_, _She’s_—_what I dare not name_.