THE BEGGAR's OPERA. ACTI. SCENE I. Peachum's Houfe. Peachum fitting at a table, with a large book of accounts before him. T AIR I. An old woman cloathed in grey. HROUGH all the employments of life A lawyer is an honeft employment, 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. Filch Sir, black Moll hath fent word her trial comes on in the afternoon, and the hopes you will order mat ters fo as to bring her off. Peach. 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 ftaying in England. Filch. Betty hath brought more goods into our lock this year than any five of the gang; and in truth, 'tis pity to lofe fo good a customer. Peach. If none of the gang takes her off, the may, in the common courfe of bufinefs, live a twelve-month longer. I love to let women 'fcape. A good fportfinan 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 word) the 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. Byber we firft were taught the wheedling arts: 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. Filcb. Filch. When a gentleman is long kept in fufpenfe, penitence may break his fpirit 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 it's a pleasure to be the meffenger of comfort to friends in affliction. SCENE III. Peachum. 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's hang'd. A regifter of the gang, [reading] Crook-finger'd Jack. A year and a half in the fervice; let me fee how much the ftock owes to his induftry; one, two, three, four, five gold watches, and seven filver ones. A mighty clean handed fellow! Sixteen fnuff-boxes, five of them of true gold. Six dozen of handkerchiefs, four filver-hilted fwords, half a dozen of shirts, three tye perriwigs, and a piece of broad-cloth. Considering thefe are only the fruits of his leifure 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 difpofing 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 these fix months, will never come to the gallows with any credit. Slippery Sam; he goes off the next fellions, 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 fturdy fellow, and diligent in his way, fomewhat too bold and hafty, and may raife good contributions on the publick, if he does not cut himself fhort by murder. Tom Tipple, a guzzling, foaking fot, who is always too drunk to ftand himself, or to make others ftand. A cart is abfolutely neceffary for him. Robin of Bagfoot, alias Gorgan, alias Bluff Bob, alias Carbuncle, alias Bob Booty. SCENE SCENE IV. Peachum, 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. 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 thefe cafes, for they are fo partial to the brave that they think every nan handfome who is going to the camp or the gallows. AIR III. Cold and raw, &c. If any wench Venus's girdle wear, But really, husband, you should not be too hardhearted, 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 blefling. Peach. What a dickens is the woman always a whimpering about murder for? No gentleman is ever look'd upon the worse for killing a man in his own defence; and if bufinefs cannot be carried on without it, what would you have a gentleman do? Mrs. Peach. If I am in the wrong, my dear, you must excufe me, for nobody can help the fcrupulous confcience. frailty of an over Peach. Peach. Murder is as fathionable 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 perfunde the jury to bring it in manslaughter, what are they the worfe for it? So, my dear, have done upon this subjec Was captain Macbeath here this morning, for the Bank notes he left with you last week? Mrs. Peach. Yes, my dear, and tho' the bank hath ftopt payment, he was fo chearful and fo agreeable! sure there's not a finer gentleman upon the road than the captain! If he comes from Bagshot at any reasonable hour, he hath promifed to make one this evening with Polly and me, and Bob Booty, at a party of 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 propofes to get morey by play fhould have the education of a fine gentleman, and be trained up to it from his youth.. Mrs. Peach. Really, I an 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 accounti 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, Jam 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 should be in love, how should we help her, or how can flie help herfelf? Poor girl, I am under the utmost concern about her. AIR IV. Why is your faithful Slave difdain'd? &c. |