The Beggar's Opera

The Beggar's Opera

John Gay

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