THE BEGGAR'S OPERA. The lines diftinguifbed by inverted comas, thus,' are omitted in the representation. Peachum fitting at a table, with a large book of accounts before him. AIR I. An old woman cloathed in grey. The lawyer be-knaves the divine; A lawyer is an honeft emplopment, fo 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, fince we live by 'em. Enter Filch. Filch. Sir, Black Moll hath fent word her trial comes on in the afternoon, and fhe hopes you will order matters fo as to bring her off. Peach. Why, the may plead her belly at worft; to my knowledge the hath taken care of that fecurity. But as the wench is very active and industrious, you may fatisfy her that I'll foften the evidence. Filch. Tom Gagg, Sir, is found guilty. Peach. 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 fave her from tranfportation, for I can get more by her staying in Eng land. Filch. Betty hath brought more goods into our lock toyear, than any five of the gang; and in truth, 'tis pity to lose fo good a customer, Peach. If none of the gang takes her off, the may, in the common course of bufinefs, live a twelve-month longer. I love to let women 'fcape. A good fportsman always lets the hen-partridges fly, because the breed of the game depends upon them. Befides, here the law allows us no reward: there is nothing to be got by the death of women- -except our wives. Filch. Without difpute, fhe is a fine woman! 'Twas to her I was obliged for my education, (to fay a bold world) fhe hath trained up more young fellows to the bufinefs, than the gaming-table. Peach. Truly, Filch, thy obfervation is right. We and the furgeons are more beholden to women, than all the profeffions befides. AIR.II. The bonny grey-ey'd morn, &c. Filch. 'Tis woman that feduces 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 practife ev'ry fraud to bribe her charms; For fuits of love, like law, are won by pay, And beauty must be fee'd into our arms. Peach. But make hafte to Newgate, boy, and let my friends know what I intend; for I love to make them eafy one way or other. I Filcho Filch. When a gentleman is long kept in fufpence, penitence may break his spirit ever after. Befides, certainty gives a man a good air upon his trial, and makes him rifque another without fear or fcruple. But I'll away, for 'tis a pleasure to be the meffenger of comfort to friends in affliction. [Exit. A Peach. But 'tis now high time to look about me for a decent execution against next feffions. I hate a lazy rogue, by whom one can get nothing 'till he is hanged. A register of the gang. [Reading.] Crook-fingered Jack. year and a half in the fervice: let me fee how much the stock owes to his industry; one, two, three, four, five gold watches, and feven filver ones. A mighty clean-handed fellow! fixteen fnuff-boxes, five of them of true gold. Six dozen of handkerchiefs, four filverhilted fwords, half a dozen of fhirts, three tye-perriwigs, and a piece of broad cloth. Confidering thefe are only fruits of his leifure hours, I don't know a prettier fellow, for no man alive hath a more engaging prefence of mind upon the road. Wat Dreary, alias Brown Will, an irregular dog, who hath an underhand way of dif pofing of his goods. I'll try him only for a feffions or two longer upon his good behaviour. Harry Paddington, a poor petty-larceny rafcal, without the leaft genius; that fellow, though he were to live thefe fix months, will never come to the gallows with any credit. Slippery Sam; he goes off the next feffions, for the villain hath the impudence to have views of following his trade as a taylor, which he calls an honest employment. Mat of the Mint; lifted not above a month ago, a promifing sturdy fellow, and diligent in his way; fomewhat too bold and hafty, and may raise good contributions on the public, if he does not cut himself short by murder. Tom Tipple, a guzzling foaking fot, who is always too drunk to ftand himself, or to make others ftand. A cart is absolutely neceffary for him. Robin of Bagshot, alias Gorgon, alias Bluff Bob, alias Carbuncle, alias Bob Booty. Enter Mrs. Peachum. Mrs. Peach. What of Bob Booty, hufband? I hope nothing bad hath betided him. You know, my dear, he's a favourite customer of mine. 'Twas he made me a prefent of this ring. Peach. Peach. I have fet his name down in the black-lift, that's all, my dear; he fpends his life among women, and as foon as his money is gone, one or other of the ladies will hang him for the reward, and there's forty pounds loft to us for ever. Mrs. Peach. You know, my dear, I never meddle in matters of death; I always leave thofe affairs to you. Women indeed are bitter bad judges in these cafes, for they are so partial to the brave, that they think every man handsome who is going to the camp or the gallows. AIR III. Cold and rasv, If any wench Venus's girdle wear, But really, hufband, you should not be too hard-hearted, for you never had a finer, braver fet of men than at prefent. We have not had a murder among them all, thefe feven months. And truly, my dear, that is a great bleffing. Peach. What a dickens is the woman always a whimpering about murder for? No gentleman is ever looked upon the worse for killing a man in his own defence; and if business cannot be carried on without it, what would you have a gentleman do? Mrs. Peach. If I am in the wrong, my dear, you muft excufe me, for nobody can help the frailty of an over-fcrupulous confcience. Peach. Murder is as fashionable a crime as a man can be guilty of. How many fine gentlemen have we in Newgate every year, purely upon that article? If they have wherewithal to perfuade the jury to bring it in manflaughter, what are they the worfe for it? So, my dear, have done upon this fubject. Was Captain Macheath here this morning, for the bank-notes he left with you laft week? Mrs. Mrs. Peach. Yes, my dear; and though the bank hath ftopt payment, he was fo chearful and fo agreeable! Sure there is not a finer gentleman upon the road than the Captain! if he comes from Bagfhot at any reafonable hour, he hath promised to make one this evening with Polly, me, and Bob Booty, at a party at quadrille. Pray, my dear, is the Captain rich? Peach. The Captain keeps too good company ever to grow rich. Marybone and the chocolate-houfes are his undoing. The man that proposes to get money by play, fhould have the education of a fine gentleman, and be trained up to it from his youth. Mrs. Peach. Really, I am forry, upon Polly's account, the Captain hath not more difcretion. What business hath he to keep company with lords and gentlemen? he fhould leave them to prey upon one another. Peach. Upon Polly's account! What, a plague, does the woman mean ?-Upon Polly's account! Mrs. Peach. Captain Macheath is very fond of the girl. Peach. And what then? Mrs. Peach. If I have any fkill in the ways of women, I am fure Polly thinks him a very pretty man. Peach. And what then? you would not be fo mad to have the wench marry him! Gamefters and highwaymen are generally very good to their whores, but they are very devils to their wives. Mrs. Peach. But if Polly fhould be in love, how fhould we help her, or how can the help herself? Poor girl, I'm in the utmost concern about her. AIR IV. Why is your faithful flave disdain'd? If love the virgin's heart invade, How, like a moth, the fimple maid Still plays about the flame! If foon the be not made a wife, Her honour's fing'd, and then for life, 'She's what I dare not name.' Peach. Look ye, wife. A handfome wench, in our way of bufinefs, is as profitable as at the bar of a Temple coffee |