THE BEGGAR'S OPERA by JOHN GAY

Transcribed by Richard Bear <RBEAR@OREGON.UOREGON.EDU>
at the University of Oregon, August 1992.

Originally published 1728, this is based on the printed 
text of 1765. Copyrighted annotations by Mr. Bear have been
removed (please contact him if you are interested.)

This text is in the PUBLIC DOMAIN, posted to Wiretap January 1994.

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                                   T H E
 
                               B E G G A R' S
 
                                 O P E R A.
 
                             ------------------
                             Written by Mr. GAY
                             ------------------
 
                        Nos haec novimus esse nihil.
                                   Mart.
 
 
 
 
                             DRAMATIS PERSONAE
                             -----------------
 
                                    MEN
 
Mr. Peachum.
Lockit.
Macheath.
Filch.
Jemmy Twitcher,               }
Crook-Finger'd Jack,          }
Wat Dreary,                   }
Robin of Bagshot,             }
Nimming Ned,                  }   Macheath's Gang.
Harry Padington,              }
Mat of the Mint,              }
Ben Budge,                    }
Beggar.
Player.
 
                                   WOMEN
 
Mrs. Peachum.
Polly Peachum.
Lucy Lockit.
Diana Trapes.
Mrs. Coaxer,                  }
Dolly Trull,                  }
Mrs. Vixen,                   }
Betty Doxy,                   }   Women of the Town.
Jenny Diver,                  }
Mrs. Slammekin,               }
Sukey Tawdrey,                }
Molly Brazen,                 }
 
 
                               INTRODUCTION.
 
                               BEGGAR, PLAYER
 
                                  Beggar.
If Poverty be a Title to Poetry, I am sure nobody 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 a 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 Chanter 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 pathetick. 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 now I see it is time for us to withdraw; the Actors are 
preparing to begin. Play away the Overture.
                                                                   [Exeunt.