Quotes from John Gay

AIR VII—Oh London Is a Fine Town 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 dressed 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! etc.

MRS. PEACHUM Well, Polly; as far as one woman can forgive another, I forgive thee.—Your father is too fond of you, hussy. POLLY Then all my sorrows are at an end. MRS. PEACHUM A mighty likely speech in troth, for a wench who is just married!

money is made for the free-hearted and generous, and where is the injury of taking from another, what he hath not the heart to make use of?

MACHEATH Is there any power, any force that could tear me from thee? You might sooner tear a pension out of the hands of a courtier, a fee from a lawyer, a pretty woman from a looking glass, or any woman from quadrille.—But to tear me from thee is impossible! AIR XVI—Over the Hills and Far Away Were I laid on Greenland's coast, And in my arms embrac'd my lass; Warm amidst eternal frost, Too soon the half-year's night would pass.

'While there is life, there's hope,' he cried; 'Then why such haste?' so groaned and died

To friendship every burden's light.

Who friendship with a knave hath made, Is judged a partner in the trade.

Here Shock, the pride of all his kind, is laid, Who fawned like man, but ne'er like man betrayed.

To cheat a man is nothing; but the woman must have fine parts, indeed, who cheats a woman.

Tis woman that seduces all mankind, By her we first were taught the wheedling arts.