_Virgins are like the fair Flower in its Lustre_, _Which in the Garden enamels the Ground_; _Near it the Bees in play flutter and cluster_, _And gaudy Butterflies frolick around_. _But_, _when once pluck’d_, _’tis no longer alluring_, _To Covent-Garden ’tis sent_ (_as yet sweet_), _There fades_, _and shrinks_, _and grows past all enduring_, _Rots_, _stinks_, _and dies_, _and is trod under feet_. _Peachum_. You know, _Polly_, I am not against your toying and trifling with a Customer in the way of Business, or to get out a Secret, or so. But if I find out that you have play’d the Fool and are married, you Jade you, I’ll cut your Throat, Hussy. Now you know my Mind. _Enter_ Mrs. Peachum, _in a very great Passion_. AIR VII. Oh London is a fine Town. _Our_ Polly _is a sad Slut_! _nor heeds what we have taught her_. _I wonder any Man alive will ever rear a Daughter_! _For she must have both Hoods and Gowns_, _and Hoops to swell her Pride_, _With Scarfs and Stays_, _and Gloves and Lace_; _and she will have Men beside_; _And when she’s drest with Care and Cost_, _all tempting_, _fine and gay_, _As Men should serve a Cucumber_, _she flings herself away_. _Our_ Polly _is a sad Slut_! &c. You Baggage! you Hussy! you inconsiderate Jade! had you been hang’d, it would not have vex’d me, for that might have been your Misfortune; but to do such a mad thing by Choice; The Wench is married, Husband. _Peachum_. Married! the Captain is a bold Man, and will risk any thing for Money; to be sure he believes her a Fortune. Do you think your Mother and I should have liv’d comfortably so long together, if ever we had been married? Baggage! _Mrs. Peachum_. I knew she was always a proud Slut; and now the Wench hath play’d the Fool and Married, because forsooth she would do like the Gentry. Can you support the Expence of a Husband, Hussy, in Gaming, Drinking and Whoring? Have you Money enough to carry on the daily Quarrels of Man and Wife about who shall squander most? There are not many Husbands and Wives, who can bear the Charges of plaguing one another in a handsom way. If you must be married, could you introduce no body into our Family but a Highwayman? Why, thou foolish Jade, thou wilt be as ill-us’d, and as much neglected, as if thou hadst married a Lord! _Peachum_. Let not your Anger, my Dear, break through the Rules of Decency, for the Captain looks upon himself in the Military Capacity, as a Gentleman by his Profession. Besides what he hath already, I know he is in a fair way of getting, or of dying; and both these ways, let me tell you, are most excellent Chances for a Wife. Tell me, Hussy, are you ruin’d or no? _Mrs. Peachum_. With _Polly’s_ Fortune, she might very well have gone off to a Person of Distinction. Yes, that you might, you pouting Slut!