When young at the Bar you first taught me to score, And bid me be free of my Lips, and no more; I was kiss'd by the Parson, the Squire, and the Sot, When the Guest was departed, the Kiss was forgot. But his Kiss was so sweet, and so closely he prest, That I languish'd and pin'd till I granted the rest. If you can forgive me, Sir, I will make a fair Confession, for to be sure he hath been a most barbarous Villain to me. _Lockit._ And so you have let him escape, Hussy-- Have you? _Lucy._ When a Woman loves; a kind Look, a tender Word can persuade her to any thing-- And I could ask no other Bribe. _Lockit._ Thou wilt always be a vulgar Slut, _Lucy_. --If you would not be look'd upon as a Fool, you should never do any thing but upon the foot of Interest. Those that act otherwise are their own Bubbles. _Lucy._ But Love, Sir, is a Misfortune that may happen to the most discreet Women, and in Love we are all Fools alike-- Notwithstanding all he swore, I am now fully convinc'd that _Polly Peachum_ is actually his Wife. --Did I let him escape, (Fool that I was!) to go to her? --_Polly_ will wheedle herself into his Money, and then _Peachum_ will hang him, and cheat us both. _Lockit._ So I am to be ruin'd, because, forsooth, you must be in Love! --a very pretty Excuse! _Lucy._ I could murder that impudent happy Strumpet: --I gave him his Life, and that Creature enjoys the Sweets of it. --Ungrateful _Macheath_! AIR XLI. _South-Sea_ Ballad. [Music] 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. [Music]