Mrs. Peachum. How the Mother is to be pitied who hath handsom Daughters! Locks, Bolts, Bars, and Lectures of Morality are nothing to them: They break through them all. They have as much Pleasure in cheating a Father and Mother, as in cheating at Cards.
Peachum. Why, Polly, I shall soon know if you are married, by Macheath’s keeping from our House.
AIR VIII. Grim King of the Ghosts, &c.
Polly. Can Love be control’d by Advice?
Will Cupid our Mothers obey?
Though my Heart were as frozen as Ice,
At his Flame ’twould have melted away.
When he kist me so closely he prest,
’Twas so sweet that I must have comply’d:
So I thought it both safest and best
To marry, for fear you should chide.
Mrs. Peachum. Then all the Hopes of our Family are gone for ever and ever!
Peachum. And Macheath may hang his Father and Mother-in-law, in hope to get into their Daughter’s Fortune.
Polly. I did not marry him (as ’tis the Fashion) coolly and deliberately for Honour or Money. But, I love him.
Mrs. Peachum. Love him! worse and worse! I thought the Girl had been better bred. Oh Husband, Husband! her Folly makes me mad! my Head swims! I’m distracted! I can’t support myself—Oh!
[Faints.
Peachum. See, Wench, to what a Condition you have reduc’d your poor Mother! a Glass of Cordial, this instant. How the poor Woman takes it to heart!