ow what is fittest for our Prisoners.
When a Gentleman uses me with Civility, I always do the best I can to
please him. --Hand them down I say. --We have them of all Prices, from
one Guinea to ten, and 'tis fitting every Gentleman should please
himself.

_Macheath._ I understand you, Sir. [Gives Money.] The Fees here are so
many, and so exorbitant, that few Fortunes can bear the Expence of
getting off handsomly, or of dying like a Gentleman.

_Lockit._ Those, I see, will fit the Captain better-- Take down the
further Pair. Do but examine them, Sir. --Never was better work. --How
genteely they are made! --They will fit as easy as a Glove, and the
nicest Man in _England_ might not be asham'd to wear them. [He puts on
the Chains.] If I had the best Gentleman in the Land in my Custody I
could not equip him more handsomly. And so, Sir-- I now leave you to
your private Meditations.

[Exeunt leaving _Macheath_ solus.

_Macheath._

AIR XXV. Courtiers, Courtiers, think it no Harm, &c.

[Music]

Man may escape from Rope and Gun;
Nay, some have out liv'd the Doctor's Pill;
Who takes a Woman must be undone,
That Basilisk is sure to kill.
The Fly that sips Treacle is lost in the Sweets,
So he that tastes Woman, Woman, Woman,
He that tastes Woman, ruin meets.

To what a woful Plight have I brought myself! Here must I (all Day long,
'till I am hang'd) be confin'd to hear the Reproaches of a Wench who
lays her Ruin at my Door-- I am in the Custody of her Father, and to be
sure, if he knows of the matter, I shall have a fine time on't betwixt
this and my Execution. --But I promis'd the Wench Marriage-- What
signifies a Promise to a Woman? Does not Man in Marriage itself promise
a hundred things that he never means to perform? Do all we can, Women
will believe us; for they look upon a Promise as an Excuse for following
their own Inclinations. --But here comes _Lucy_, and I cannot get from
her. --Wou'd I were deaf!

Enter _Lucy_.

_Lucy._ You base Man you, --how can you look me in the Face after what
hath passed between us? --See here, perfidious Wretch, how I am forc'd
to bear about the Load of Infamy you have laid upon me-- O _Macheath_!
thou hast robb'd me of my Quiet-- to see thee tortur'd would give me
Pleasure.

AIR XXVI. A lovely Lass to a Friar came, &c.

[Music]

Thus when a good Housewife sees a Rat
In her Trap in the Morning taken,
With Pleasure her Heart goes pit-a-pat,