it would not have vex'd me, for that might have been your Misfortune;
but to do such a mad thing by Choice; The Wench is married, Husband.

PEACHUM. Married! the Captain is a bold Man, and will risk any thing
for Money; to be sure he believes her a Fortune. Do you think your
Mother and I should have liv'd comfortably so long together, if ever
we had been married? Baggage!

MRS. PEACHUM. I knew she was always a proud Slut; and now the Wench
hath play'd the Fool and Married, because forsooth she would do like
the Gentry. Can you support the Expence of a Husband, Hussy, in
Gaming, Drinking and Whoring? Have you Money enough to carry on the
daily Quarrels of Man and Wife about who shall squander most? There
are not many Husbands and Wives, who can bear the Charges of plaguing
one another in a handsom way. If you must be married, could you
introduce no body into our Family but a Highwayman? Why, thou
foolish Jade, thou wilt be as ill-us'd, and as much neglected, as if
thou hadst married a Lord!

PEACHUM. Let not your Anger, my Dear, break through the Rules of
Decency, for the Captain looks upon himself in the Military Capacity,
as a Gentleman by his Profession. Besides what he hath already, I
know he is in a fair way of getting, or of dying; and both these
ways, let me tell you, are most excellent Chances for a Wife. Tell
me, Hussy, are you ruin'd or no?

MRS. PEACHUM. With Polly's Fortune, she might very well have gone
off to a Person of Distinction. Yes, that you might, you pouting
Slut!