The lady was the
_chere amie_ of the unfortunate youth Hayward (designated as the modern
Macheath), who suffered an ignominious death. He was betrayed and sold
to the ~344~~officers by this very woman, upon whom he had lavished the
earnings of his infamy, when endeavouring to secrete himself from the
searching eye of justice. The unhappy female on the other side was early
in life seduced by the once celebrated Lord B----, by whose title, to
his lasting infamy, she is still known: what she might have been, but
for his arts, reflection too often compels her to acknowledge, when
sober and sinking under her load of misery; at other times she has
recourse to liquor to drown her complicated misfortunes; when wild and
infuriated, she more nearly resembles a demon than a woman, spreading
forth terror and destruction upon all around; in this state she is often
brought to the police-office, where the humanity of the magistrates,
softened perhaps by a recollection of her wrongs, generally operates to
procure for her some very trifling and lenient sentence.{5}
5 THE LIFE OF A WOMAN OF THE TOWN.
Ah! what avails how once appear'd the fair,
When from gay equipage she falls obscure?
In vain she moves her livid lips in prayer;
What man so mean to recollect the poor?
From place to place, by unfee'd bailiffs drove,
As fainting fawns from thirsty bloodhounds fly;
See the sad remnants of unhallow'd love
In prisons perish, or on dunghills die.
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