Pob. What brought you into thefe countries?

Polly. To find my hufband. Why had not the love of virtue directed my heart? But, alas! 'tis outward appearance alone that generally engage a woman's affection! And my heart is in the poffeffion of the most profligate of mankind.

Pob. Why this difguife?

Polly. To protect me from the violences and infults to which my fex might have expos'd me.

Caw. Had he not been married, I might have been happy.

[Afide. Polly. He ran into the madness of every vice. I deteft his principles, tho' I am fond of his perfon to distraction. Could your commands for fearch and enquiry, restore him to me, you reward me at once with all my wishes. For fure my love fill might reclaim

him.

Caw. Had you conceal'd your fex, I had been happy in your friendship; but now, how uneafy, how refflefs is my heart!

AIR LXV. Whilft I gaze on Chloe.
Whilst I gaze in fond defiring,
Every former thought is loft;
Sighing, willing, and admiring,
How my troubled foul is tot !
Hot and cold my blood is flowing,
How it thrills in every vein !
Liberty and life are going,

Hope can ne'er relieve my pain.

Enter Indian.

Ind. The reft of the troops, Sir, are return'd from the purfuit with more prifoners. They attend your majelly's commands.

Pob. Let them be brought before us. [Exit Indian.] Give not yourself up to defpair; for every thing in my power you may command. [To Polly. Caw. And every thing in mine. But, alas! I have none; for I am not in my own!

Enter

Enter Ducat and Jenny, guarded, &c.

Jen. Spare my husband, Morano is my hufband. Pob. Then I have reliev'd you from the fociety of a monster.

Jen. Alas, Sir! there are many husbands who are furious monsters to the reft of mankind, that are the tameft creatures alive to their wives. I can be anfwerable for his duty and fubmiffion to your majesty, for I know I have fo much power over him, that I can even make him good.

Pob. Why then had not you made him so before?

Jen. I was, indeed, like other wives, too indulgent to him; and as it was agreeable to my own humour, I was loth to baulk his ambition. I muft, indeed, own too, that I had the frailty of pride. But where is the woman who hath not an inclination to be as great and rich as fhe can be?

Pob. With how much ease and unconcern these Europeans talk of vices, as if they were neceffary qualifications.

Jen.

AIR LXVI. The Jamaica.

The fex, we find,

Like men inclin'd

To guard against reproaches;

And none neglect

To pay refpect

To rogues who keep their coaches.

Indeed, Sir, I had determin'd to be honeft myself, and to have made him fo too, as foon as I had put myself upon a reasonable foot in the world; and that is more felf-denial than is commonly practis'd.

Pob. Woman, your profligate fentiments offend me ; and you deferve to be cut off from fociety, with your husband. Mercy would be fcarce excufable in pardoning you. Have done then. Morano is now under the

ftroke of justice.

Jen. Let me implore your majefty to refpite his fenSend me back again with him into flavery, from

tence.

G 3

whence

whence we efcap'd. Give us an occafion of being honeft, for we owe our lives and liberties to one another. Duc. Yes, Sir, I find fome of my run-away flaves among the crew; and I hope my fervices at least will allow me to claim my own again.

Jen. Morano, Sir, I must confefs, hath been a free liver, and a man of so many gallantries, that no woman could efcape him. If Macheath's misfortune were known, the whole fex would be in tears.

Polly. Macheath !

Jen. He is no black, Sir; but under that disguise, for my fake, fkreen'd himself from the claims and importunities of other women. May love interceed for him?

Polly. Macheath! Is it poffible? Spare him, fave. him, I afk no other reward.

Pob. Hafte, let the fentence be fufpended.

[Exit Indian. Polly. Fly; a moment may make me miferable. Why could not I know him? All his diftreffes brought upon him by my hand! Cruel love, how could't thou blind me fo?

AIR LXVII. Tweed fide.

The flag, when chas'd all the long day
O'er the lawn, thro' the foreft and brake;

Now panting for breath and at bay,

Now ftemming the river or lake;
When the treacherous fcent is all cold,
And at eve he returns to his hind,
Can her joy, can her pleasure be told?
Such joy and fuch pleasure I find.

heart.

But, alas! now again reflection turns fear upon my
His pardon may come too late, and I may never fee

him more.

Pob. Take hence that profligate woman. kept under ftrict guard till my commands.

Let her be

Jen. Slavery, Sir, flavery is all I afk. Whatever be comes of him, fpare my life; fpare an unfortunate woman. What can be the meaning of this sudden turn !

Conti

Confider, Sir, if a husband be never so bad, a wife is bound to duty.

Poh. Take her hence, I fay; let my orders be obeyed. [Exit Jenny, guarded. Polly. What, no news yet? Not yet returned? Caw. If justice hath overtaken him, he was unworthy of you.

Polly. Not yet!-Oh, how I fear!

AIR LXVIII. One evening as I lay.

My heart forebodes he's dead;
That thought how can I bear?

He's gone, for ever fled;

My foul is all despair !

I fee him pale and cold,·

The noose hath stopp'd his breath,

Just as my dream foretold:

Oh, had that fleep been death!

Enter Indians.

. He's dead, he's dead! -their looks confefs it!Your tongues have no need to give it utterance, to confirm my misfortunes! I know, I fee, I feel it! Support me! Oh, Macheath!

Duc. Mercy upon me! now I look upon her nearer, blefs me! it must be Polly. This woman, Sir, is my flave; and I claim her as my own. I hope, if your majefty thinks of keeping her, you will reimburfe me, and not let me be a lofer. She was an honest girl, to be sure, and had too much virtue to thrive; for, to my knowledge, money could not tempt her.

Pob. And if fhe is virtuous, European, doft thou think I'll act the infamous part of a ruffian, and force her? 'Tis my duty, as a king, to cherish and protect virtue.

Carv. Juftice hath relieved you from the fociety of a wicked man. If an honest heart can recompenfe your lofs, you would make me happy in accepting mine. I hope my father will confent to my happiness.

Pob. Since your love of her is founded upon the love of virtue and gratitude, I leave you to your own difpofal.

Caw.

Caw. What, no reply?

Polly. Abandon me to my forrows, for in indlging them is my only relief.

Pob. Let the chiefs have immediate execution. For the reft, let them be restored to their owners, and return to their flavery.

Cary.

AIR LXIX. Buff-coat.

Why that languish!

Polly. Oh, he's dead! Oh, he's loft for ever!

Cary. Ceafe your anguish, and forget your grief.

Polly.

Car.

Ah, never!
What air, grace, and stature!

How falfe in his nature!

Polly. To virtue my love might have won him.

Caw.

Polly.

How bafe and deceiving!

But love is believing.

Caw. Vice, at length, as 'tis meet, hath undone him.

By your confent, you might, at the fame time, give me happiness, and procure your own. My titles, my treafures are all at your command.

AIR LXX. An Italian ballad.

Polly. Frail is ambition, how weak the foundation! Riches have wings as inconftant as wind; My heart is proof against either temptation, Virtue, without them, contentment can find.

I am charmed, prince, with your generofity and virtues. 'Tis only by the purfuit of thofe we fecure real happiness. Thofe that know and feel virtue in themselves, must love it in others. Allow me to give a decent time to my forrows. But my misfortunes, at prefent, interrupt the joys of victory.

Caw. Fair princess, for fo, I hope, fhortly, to make you, permit me to attend you, either to divide your griefs, or, by converfation, to foften your forrows.

Pob. 'Tis a pleafure to me, by this alliance, to recompenfe your merits. [Exeunt Caw, and Polly. Let the fports and dances, then, celebrate our victory.

[Exit. DANCE.