The Beggars Opera | Page 3

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THE BEGGAR'S OPERA

INTRODUCTION

BEGGAR, PLAYER.
BEGGAR. If Poverty be a Title to Poetry, I am sure no-body can
dispute mine. I own myself of the Company of Beggars; and I make
one at their Weekly Festivals at St. Giles's. I have a small Yearly Salary
for my 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 but Gratitude in us to
encourage Poetical Merit wherever we find it. The Muses, contrary to
all other Ladies, pay no Distinction to Dress, and never partially
mistake the Pertness of Embroidery for Wit, nor the Modesty of Want
for Dulness. Be the Author who he will, we push his Play as far as it
will go. So (though you are in Want) I wish you success heartily.
BEGGAR. This piece I own was originally writ for the celebrating the
Marriage of James Chaunter and Moll Lay, two most excellent Ballad-
Singers. I have introduced the Similes that are in all your celebrated
Operas: The Swallow, the Moth, the Bee, the Ship, the Flower, &c.
Besides, I have a Prison-Scene, which the Ladies always reckon
charmingly pathetic. As to the Parts, I have observed such a nice
Impartiality to our two Ladies, that it is impossible for either of them to
take Offence. I hope I may be forgiven, that I have not made my Opera
throughout unnatural, like those in vogue; for I have no Recitative;
excepting this, as I have consented to have neither Prologue nor
Epilogue, it must be allowed an Opera in all its Forms. The Piece
indeed hath been heretofore frequently represented by ourselves in our
Great Room at St. Giles's, so that I cannot too often acknowledge your
Charity 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 the Overture.
[Exeunt.]
OVERTURE

ACT I. SCENE I.

SCENE, Peachum's House.
Peachum sitting at 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 me too he acts in
a double Capacity, both against Rogues and for 'em; for 'tis but fitting
that we should protect and encourage Cheats, since we live by them.
[Enter Filch.]
FILCH. Sir, Black Moll hath sent word her Trial comes on in the
Afternoon, and she hopes you will order Matters so