_Mrs. Peachum_. Yes, indeed, the Sex is frail. But the first time a Woman is frail, she should be somewhat nice methinks, for then or never is the time to make her Fortune. After that, she hath nothing to do but to guard herself from being found out, and she may do what she pleases. _Peachum_. Make yourself a little easy; I have a Thought shall soon set all Matters again to rights. Why so melancholy, _Polly_? since what is done cannot be undone, we must all endeavour to make the best of it. _Mrs. Peachum_. Well, _Polly_; as far as one Woman can forgive another, I forgive thee.—Your Father is too fond of you, Hussy. _Polly_. Then all my Sorrows are at an end. _Mrs. Peachum_. A mighty likely Speech in troth, for a Wench who is just married! AIR X. _Thomas_, I cannot, &c. Polly. _I_, _like a Ship in Storms_, _was tost_; _Yet afraid to put in to Land_: _For seiz’d in the Port the Vessel’s lost_, _Whose Treasure is contreband_. _The Waves are laid_, _My Duty’s paid_. _O Joy beyond Expression_! _Thus_, _safe a-shore_, _I ask no more_, _My All is in my Possession_. _Peachum_. I hear Customers in t’other Room: Go, talk with ’em, _Polly_; but come to us again, as soon as they are gone.—But, hark ye, Child, if ’tis the Gentleman who was here Yesterday about the Repeating Watch; say, you believe we can’t get Intelligence of it ’till to-morrow. For I lent it to _Suky Straddle_, to make a figure with it to-night at a Tavern in _Drury-Lane_. If t’other Gentleman calls for the Silver-hilted Sword; you know _Beetle-brow’d Jemmy_ hath it on, and he doth not come from _Tunbridge_ ’till Tuesday Night; so that it cannot be had ’till then. [_Exit_ Polly. _Peachum_. Dear Wife, be a little pacified, Don’t let your Passion run away with your Senses. _Polly_, I grant you, hath done a rash thing. _Mrs. Peachum_. If she had only an Intrigue with the Fellow, why the very best Families have excus’d and huddled up a Frailty of that sort. ’Tis Marriage, Husband, that makes it a Blemish. _Peachum_. But Money, Wife, is the true Fuller’s Earth for Reputations, there is not a Spot or a Stain but what it can take out. A rich Rogue now-a-days is fit Company for any Gentleman; and the World, my Dear, hath not such a Contempt for Roguery as you imagine. I tell you, Wife, I can make this Match turn to our Advantage. _Mrs. Peachum_. I am very sensible, Husband, that Captain _Macheath_ is worth Money, but I am in doubt whether he hath not two or three Wives already, and then if he should die in a Session or two, _Polly’s_ Dower would come into Dispute. _Peachum_. That, indeed, is a Point which ought to be consider’d. AIR XI. A Soldier and a Sailor.