_Macheath._ Is there any Power, any Force that could tear me from thee? You might sooner tear a Pension out of the Hands of a Courtier, a Fee from a Lawyer, a pretty Woman from a Looking-glass, or any Woman from Quadrille. --But to tear me from thee is impossible! AIR XVI. Over the Hills and far away. [Music] Were I laid on _Greenland's_ Coast, And in my Arms embrac'd my Lass; Warm amidst eternal Frost, Too soon the Half Year's Night would pass. _Polly._ Were I sold on _Indian_ Soil, Soon as the burning Day was clos'd, I could mock the sultry Toil When on my Charmer's Breast repos'd. _Macheath._ And I would love you all the Day, _Polly._ Every Night would kiss and play, _Macheath._ If with me you'd fondly stray _Polly._ Over the Hills and far away. _Polly._ Yes, I would go with thee. But oh! --how shall I speak it? I must be torn from thee. We must part. _Macheath._ How! Part! _Polly._ We must, we must. --My Papa and Mama are set against thy Life. They now, even now are in Search after thee. They are preparing Evidence against thee. Thy Life depends upon a moment. AIR XVII. Gin thou wert mine awn thing-- [Music] Oh what Pain it is to part! Can I leave thee, can I leave thee? O what pain it is to part! Can thy _Polly_ ever leave thee? But lest Death my Love should thwart, And bring thee to the fatal Cart, Thus I tear thee from my bleeding Heart! Fly hence, and let me leave thee. One Kiss and then-- one Kiss-- be gone-- farewel. _Macheath._ My Hand, my Heart, my Dear, is so riveted to thine, that I cannot unloose my Hold. _Polly._ But my Papa may intercept thee, and then I should lose the very glimmering of Hope. A few Weeks, perhaps, may reconcile us all. Shall thy _Polly_ hear from thee? _Macheath._ Must I then go? _Polly._ And will not Absence change your Love? _Macheath._ If you doubt it, let me stay-- and be hang'd. _Polly._ O how I fear! how I tremble! --Go-- but when Safety will give you leave, you will be sure to see me again; for 'till then _Polly_ is wretched. AIR XVIII. O the Broom, &c. [Music] _Macheath._ The Miser thus a Shilling sees, Which he's oblig'd to pay, With sighs resigns it by degrees, And fears 'tis gone for ay. [Parting, and looking back at each other with fondness; he at one Door, she at the other. _Polly._ The Boy, thus, when his Sparrow's flown, The Bird in Silence eyes; But soon as out of Sight 'tis gone, Whines, whimpers, sobs and cries. [Illustration] [Illustration] ACT II. SCENE I. _A TAVERN near _Newgate_._ _Jemmy Twitcher_, _Crook-finger'd Jack_, _Wat Dreary_, _Robin of Bagshot_, _Nimming Ned_, _Henry Paddington_, _Matt of the Mint_, _Ben Budge_, and the rest of the Gang, at the Table, with Wine, Brandy and Tobacco. _Ben._ But pr'ythee, _Matt_, what is become of thy Brother _Tom_? I have not seen him since my Return from Transportation.