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Onto the wagon climbs a third actor, a serving maid all in green, her belly big with child. She weeps and wails in blustery snorts:

In comes I, called Pretty Polly,

A maid forlorn and ruined by folly.

My lover’s gone to be a soldier.

Who will help this lady and console her?

Blind Man: (addresses crowd; reties bandage over eyes)

Polly's front makes plain to every man Jack

That she does acrobatics on her back.

Pretty Polly:

This boy is murdered and I am witness.

It’s a hanging offense. You must admit this.

Pay me, and I will swear you’re innocent.

I’ll testify that his fall was accident.

Blind Man: (gropes her and pinches)

When wenches like you are paid a sum

It means hinchy-pinchy on the bum.

Pretty Polly: (slaps him so his head boggles again)

You’ll be married soon, to the rope-maker’s daughter.

She’ll teach you to fly — the gallows your altar.

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Lively’s Way - Bear Boy a: GB0188