Transcribed from the 1922 William Heinemann (1765 text)edition ,
THE BEGGAR’S OPERA
INTRODUCTION
BEGGAR, PLAYER.
Beggar.
If Poverty be a Title to Poetry, Iam sure no-body can dispute mine. I own myself of theCompany of Beggars; and I make one at their Weekly Festivals atSt. Giles’s. I have a small Yearly Salary formy Catches, and am welcome to a Dinner there whenever I please,which is more than most Poets can say.
Player. As we live by the Muses, it is butGratitude in us to encourage Poetical Merit wherever we findit. The Muses, contrary to all other Ladies, pay noDistinction to Dress, and never partially mistake the Pertness ofEmbroidery for Wit, nor the Modesty of Want for Dulness. Bethe Author who he will, we push his Play as far as it willgo. So (though you are in Want) I wish you successheartily.
Beggar. This piece I own was originally writ forthe celebrating the Marriage of James Chaunter and MollLay, two most excellent Ballad-Singers. I haveintroduced the Similes that are in all your celebrated Operas:The Swallow, the Moth, the Bee, theShip, the Flower, &c. Besides, I have aPrison-Scene, which the Ladies always reckon charminglypathetic. As to the Parts, I have observed such a niceImpartiality to our two Ladies, that it is impossible for eitherof them to take Offence. I hope I may be forgiven, that Ihave not made my Opera throughout unnatural, like those in vogue;for I have no Recitative; excepting this, as I have consented tohave neither Prologue nor Epilogue, it must be allowed an Operain all its Forms. The Piece indeed hath been heretoforefrequently represented by ourselves in our Great Room at St.Giles’s, so that I cannot too often acknowledge yourCharity in bringing it now on the Stage.
Player. But I see it is time for us to withdraw;the Actors are preparing to begin. Play away theOverture.
[Exeunt.
OVERTURE
ACT I. SCENE I.
Scene, Peachum’s House.
Peachum sittingat a Table with a large Book of Accounts before him.
AIR I. An old Woman clothed in Gray, &c.
Through all the Employments of Life
Each Neighbour abuses his Brother;
Whore and Rogue they call Husband and Wife:
All Professions be-rogue one another:
The Priest calls the Lawyer a Cheat,
The Lawyer be-knaves the Divine:
And the Statesman, because he’s so great,
Thinks his Trade as honest as mine.
A Lawyer is an honest Employment, so is mine. Like metoo he acts in a double Capacity, both against Rogues and for’em; for ’tis but fitting that we should protect andencourage Cheats, since we live by them.
Enter Filch.
Filch. Sir, Black Moll hath sent word herTrial comes on in the Afternoon, and she hopes you will orderMatters so as to bring her off.
Peachum. As the Wench is very active andindustrious, you may satisfy her that I’ll soften theEvidence.
Filch. Tom Gagg, Sir, is found