air 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.

[Music]

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