THE
 
                         B E G G A R'S   O P E R A
 
                              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.
 
                                  Scene 2.
                              Peachum, Filch.
  FILCH. Sir, Black Moll hath sent word her Trial comes on in the 
Afternoon, and she hopes you will order Matters so as to bring her off. 
  PEACHUM. Why, she may plead her Belly at worst; to my Knowledge she 
hath taken care of that Security. But, as the Wench is very active and 
industrious, you may satisfy her that I'll soften the Evidence. 
  FILCH. Tom Gagg, sir, is found guilty.
  PEACHUM. A lazy Dog! When I took him the time before, I told him what he 
would come to if he did not mend his Hand. This is Death without Reprieve. 
I may venture to Book him. [writes.] For Tom Gagg, forty Pounds. Let 
Betty Sly know that I'll save her from Transportation, for I can get 
more by her staying in England. 
  FILCH. Betty hath brought more goods into our Lock to-year than any five 
of the Gang; and in truth, 'tis a pity to lose so good a Customer.
  PEACHUM. If none of the Gang take her off, she may, in the common course 
of Business, live a Twelve-month longer. I love to let Women scape. A good 
Sportsman always lets the Hen Partridges fly, because the Breed of the Game 
depends upon them. Besides, here the Law allows us no Reward; there is 
nothing to be got by the Death of Women--except our Wives.
  FILCH. Without dispute, she is a fine Woman! 'Twas to her I was obliged 
for my Education, and (to say a bold Word) she hath trained up more young 
fellows to the Business than the Gaming table.
  PEACHUM. Truly, Filch, thy Observation is right. We and the Surgeons are 
more beholden to Women than all the Professions besides.
 
                   Air II.--The bonny gray-ey'd Morn, &c.
 
                                   FILCH.
              'Tis Woman that seduces all Mankind,
                By her we first were taught the wheedling Arts:
              Her very Eyes can cheat; when most she's kind,
                She tricks us of our Money with our Hearts.
              For her, like Wolves by Night we roam for Prey,
                And practise ev'ry Fraud, to bribe her Charms;
              For suits of Love, like Law, are won by Pay,
                And Beauty must be fee'd into our Arms.
 
  PEACHUM. But make haste to Newgate, Boy, and let my Friends know what I 
intend; for I love to make them easy one way or other.
  FILCH. When a Gentleman is long kept in suspence, Penitence may break his 
Spirit ever after. Besides, Certainty gives a Man a good Air upon his 
Trial, and makes him risque another without Fear or Scruple. But I'll away, 
for 'tis a Pleasure to be the Messenger of Comfort to Friends in 
Affliction.
 
 
                                  Scene 3.
 
                                  PEACHUM.
  But 'tis now high time to look about me for a decent Execution against 
next Sessions. I hate a lazy Rogue, by whom one can get nothing 'till he 
is hang'd. A Register of the Gang, [Reading] Crook-finger'd Jack. A Year 
and a half in the service; Let me see how much the Stock owes to his 
Industry; one, two, three, four, five Gold Watches, and seven Silver ones. 
A mighty clean-handed Fellow! Sixteen Snuff-boxes, five of them of true 
Gold. Six Dozen of Handkerchiefs, four silver-hilted Swords, half Dozen of 
Shirts, three Tye-Periwigs, and a piece of Broad-Cloth. Considering 
these are only the Fruits of his leisure Hours, I don't know a prettier 
Fellow, for no Man alive hath a more engaging Presence of Mind upon the 
Road. Wat Dreary, alias Brown Will, an irregular Dog, who hath an underhand 
way of disposing of his Goods. I'll try him only for a Sessions or two 
longer upon his Good-behaviour. Harry Padington, a poor petty-larceny 
Rascal, without the least Genius; that Fellow, though he were to live these 
six Months, will never come to the Gallows with any Credit. Slippery Sam; 
he goes off the next Sessions, for the Villain hath the Impudence to have 
Views of Following his Trade as a Tailor, which he calls an honest 
Employment. Mat of the Mint; listed not above a Month ago, a promising 
sturdy Fellow, and diligent in his way; somewhat too bold and hasty, and 
may raise good Contributions on the Public, if he does not cut himself 
short by Murder. Tom Tipple, a guzzling soaking Sot, who is always too 
drunk to stand himself, or to make others stand. A Cart is absolutely 
necessary for him. Robin of Bagshot, alias Gorgon, alias Bob Bluff, 
alias Carbuncle, alias Bob Booty.