THE BEGGAR'S OPERA. As written by JOHN GAY. DISTINGUISHING ALSO THE VARIATIONS OF THE THEATRE, AS PERFORMED AT THE Theatre Royal in Dury-Lane. Regulated from the Prompt-Book, By PERMISSION of the MANAGERS, Printed for JoHN BELL, near Exeter-Exchange, in the Strand; and C. ETHERINGTON, at York. MDCCLXXVII. INTRODUCTION. BEGGAR, PLAYER. BEGGAR. IF a to ponyfelf of the company of F poverty be a title to poetry, I am fure nobody can beggars; and I make one at their weekly feftivals at St. Giles's. I have a fmall yearly falary for my catches, and am welcome to a dinner there whenever I please, which is more than most poets can fay. Player. As we live by the Mufes, it is but gratitude in us to encourage poetical merit wherever we find it. The Mufes, contrary to all other ladies, pay no diftinction to drefs, and never partially mistake the pertnefs of embroidery for wit, nor the modefty of want for dullness. Be the author who he will, we pufh his play as far as it will go. So (though you are in want) I wish you fuccefs heartily. Beggar. This piece I own was originally writ for the celebrating the marriage of James Chanter and Moll Lay, two most excellent ballad-fingers. I have introduced the fimilies that are in all your celebrated operas: the Swallow, the Moth, the Bee, the Ship, the Flower, &c. Befides I have a prifon fcene, which the ladies always reckon charmingly pathetic. As to the parts, I have obferved fuch a nice impartiality to our two ladies, that it is impoffible for either of them take offence, I hope I may be forgiven, that I have not made my 'opera throughout unnatural, like thofe in vogue; for I have no recitative; excepting this, as I have confented to have neither prologue nor epilogue, it must be allowed an opera in all its forms. The piece indeed hath been heretofore frequently reprefented by ourselves in our great room at St. Giles's, fo that I cannot too often acknowledge your charity in bringing it now on the stage. Player. But I fee it is time for us to withdraw; the actors are preparing to begin. Play away the overture. [Exeunt. THE |