Languages & literature > Beggar's opera

22 THE BEGGAR’S OPERA.
You baggage ! you hufly ! you inconfiderate jade ! had
you been bang’d, it would not have vexed me, for that
might have been your misfortune; but to do fuch a mad
thing by choice! the wench is married, huiband.
PEACHUM.
Married ! the captain is a bold man, and will rifle
any thing for money : to be fure he believes her a for¬
tune. Do you think your mother and I Ihould have
liv’d comfortably fo long together, if ever we had been
married, baggage 2
MRIS EEACHUM.
I knew flie was always a proud flut; and now the
wench has play’d the fool and married, becaufe forfooth
Ihe would do like the gentry. Can you fupport the
expence of a hulband, bully, in gaming, drinking, and
whoring ? have you money enough to carry on the daily
quarrels of man and wife about who fliall fquander moft 2
There are not many hulbands and wives, who can b'ear
the charges of plaguing one another in a handfome way.
If you muft be married, could you introduce no body
into our family but a highwayman 2 why, thou foolilh
jade, thou wilt be as ill ufed, and as much negle&ed, as.
if thou hadlt married a lord !
PEACHUM.
Let not your anger, my dear, break through the rules
of decency, for the captain looks upon bimfelf in the
military capacity, as a gentleman by his profeflion. Be-
Cdes what he hath already, I know he is in a fair way of
getting, or of dying.; and both thefe ways, let me tell
you, are mofl: excellent chances for a wife. Tell me,
hufly, are you ruined or no 2
MRIS PEACHUM.
With Polly’s fortune (he might very well have gone
off to a perfon ofdiltinffion. Yes, that you might, you
pouting Hut!
PEACHUM.
What, is the wench dumb 2 Speak, or I’ll make you
plead by fqueezing out an anfwer from, you. Are you