Macheath comes in and announces to the gang that he must go into hiding for a week or two and is left alone to ruminate upon life:
"A Man who loves Money, might as well be contented with one Guinea, as I with one Woman ..." and is immediately joined by a gang of lovely ladies, by far the most attractive of whom is Jenny Diver.
"As prim and demure as ever! There is not any Prude, though ever so high bred, hath a more sanctify'd Look, with a more mischievous Heart. Ah! thou art a dear artful Hypocrite...." Jenny, who never drinks "Strong-Waters" but when she has "the Cholic," who never goes "to the Tavern with a Man, but in the View of Business." "I have other Hours, and other sort of Men for my Pleasure." It is Jenny who sings one of the sweetest songs in the play:
"Before the Barn-door crowing, The Cock by Hens attended, His Eyes around him throwing, Stands for a while suspended. Then One he singles from the Crew, And cheers the happy Hen; With how do you do, and how do you do, And how do you do again."
It is Jenny who then blindfolds him and betrays him to Peachum and the constables.
We accompany, loath as Macheath to part company with Jenny, the Captain to Newgate, where Lucy Lockit appears to add to his discomfiture by wishing to "be made an honest woman of."
The two jailers then come in and fight over a point of honour and depart. Meanwhile Macheath endeavours to make Lucy free him and is on the point of succeeding when Polly appears and the fat is properly in the fire. The situation gives rise to the most famous song in the play:
"How happy I could be with either, Were t'other dear charmer away! But while you thus teaze me together, To neither a word will I say: But tol de rol...."
As a result of which the two girls turn on each other and Peachum enters, giving Macheath a chance to reassure Lucy of his love for her, so she gets the keys and lets him escape.
We then have an exquisite passage between Peachum and Mrs Trapes, beginning in an inimitable vein:
_Peachum._ One may know by your Kiss, that your Ginn is excellent.
_Trapes._ I was always very curious in my Liquors.... Fill it up--I take as large Draughts of Liquor, as I did of Love.... I hate a Flincher in either.