In the Days of my Youth I could bill like a Dove, fa, la la, &c.
Like a Sparrow at all times was ready for Love, fa, la la, &c.
The Life of all Mortals in Kissing should pass,
Lip to Lip while we're young--then the Lip to the Glass, fa, la la, &c.
But now, Mr. Peachum, to our Business.----If you have Blacks of any kind,
brought in of late; Mantoes--Velvet Scarfs----Petticoats----Let it be
what it will----I am your Chap----for all my Ladies are very fond of
Mourning.
PEACHUM. Why, look ye, Mrs. Dye----you deal so hard with us, that we can
afford to give the Gentlemen, who venture their Lives for the Goods, little
or nothing.
TRAPES. The hard Times oblige me to go very near in my Dealing.----To be
sure, of late Years I have been a great Sufferer by the Parliament.----Three
thousand Pounds would hardly make me amends.----The Act for destroying the
Mint, was a severe Cut upon our Business----'Till then, if a Customer
stept out of the way----we knew where to have her----No doubt you know Mrs.
Coaxer----there's a Wench now ('till to-day) with a good Suit of Clothes of
mine upon her Back, and I could never set eyes upon her for three Months
together.----Since the Act too against Imprisonment for small Sums, my
Loss there too hath been very considerable, and it must be so, when a Lady
can borrow a handsome Petticoat, or a clean Gown, and I not have the least
Hank upon her! And, o' my Conscience, now-a-days most Ladies take a Delight
in cheating, when they can do it with Safety.
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