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The Beggar's Opera
John Gay
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The Beggar's Opera
John Gay
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About This Book
When Polly Peachum, daughter to a local fence and thief-catcher, marries infamous highwayman Macheath, it sets off a comically dangerous chain of events as Polly's father is determined to have his new son-in-law killed. However, Polly isn't the only woman in Macheath's life, and he soon gets caught up in the consequences of his many indiscretions.
The Beggar's Opera is the most famous surviving example of satirical ballad opera to come out of the Restoration period. Generally considered to be John Gay's masterpiece, the drama pokes fun at Italian opera while lampooning several prominent public figures of the time, including statesman Robert Whalpole.
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Act II
Scene I
A tavern near Newgate.
JEMMY TWITCHER, CROOK-FINGERâD JACK, WAT DREARY, ROBIN OF BAGSHOT, NIMMING NED, HENRY PADDINGTON, MATT OF THE MINT, BEN BUDGE, and the rest of the gang, at the table, with wine, brandy and tobacco.
BEN
But prâythee, Matt, what is become of thy brother Tom? I have not seen him since my return from transportation.
MATT
Poor brother Tom had an accident this time twelve-month, and so clever a made fellow he was, that I could not save him from those fleeing rascals the surgeons; and now, poor man, he is among the Otamys at Surgeonsâ Hall.
BEN
So it seems, his time was come.
JEMMY
But the present time is ours, and nobody alive hath more. Why are the laws levellâd at us? are we more dishonest than the rest of mankind? What we win, gentlemen, is our own by the law of arms, and the right of conquest.
CROOK
Where shall we find such another set of practical philosophers, who to a man are above the fear of death?
WAT
Sound men, and true!
ROBIN
Of tryâd courage, and indefatigable industry!
NED
Who is there here that would not die for his friend?
HARRY
Who is there here that would betray him for his interest?
MATT
Show me a gang of courtiers that can say as much.
BEN
We are for a just partition of the world, for every man hath a right to enjoy life.
MATT
We retrench the superfluities of mankind. The world is avaricious, and I hate avarice. A covetous fellow, like a jackdaw, steals what he was never made to enjoy, for the sake of hiding it. These are the robbers of mankind, for money was made for the free-hearted and generous, and where is the injury of taking from another, what he hath not the heart to make use of?
JEMMY
Our several stations for the day are fixed. Good luck attend us all. Fill the glasses.
AIR XIXâFill Every Glass, Etc.
MATT
Fill every glass, for wine inspires us,
And fires us with courage, love and joy.
Women and wine should life employ.
Is there ought else on Earth desirous?
CHORUS
Fill every glass, etc.
(To them enter MACHEATH)
MACHEATH
Gentlemen, well met. My heart hath been with you this hour; but an unexpected affair hath detainâd me. No ceremony, I beg you.
MATT
We were just breaking up to go upon duty. Am I to have the honour of taking the air with you, sir, this evening upon the heath? I drink a dram now and then with the stage-coach men in the way of friendship and intelligence; and I know that about this time there will be passengers upon the western road, who are worth speaking with.
MACHEATH
I was to have been of that partyâbutâ
MATT
But what, sir?
MACHEATH
Is there any man who suspects my courage?
MATT
We have all been witnesses of it.
MACHEATH
My honour and truth to the gang?
MATT
Iâll be answerable for it.
MACHEATH
In the division of our booty, have I ever shown the least marks of avarice or injustice?
MATT
By these questions something seems to have ruffled you. Are any of us suspected?
MACHEATH
I have a fixed confidence, gentlemen, in you all, as men of honour, and as such I value and respect you. Peachum is a man that is useful to us.
MATT
Is he about to play us any foul play? Iâll shoot him through the head.
MACHEATH
I beg you, gentlemen, act with conduct and discretion. A pistol is your last resort.
MATT
He knows nothing of this meeting.
MACHEATH
Business cannot go on without him. He is a man who knows the world, and is a necessary agent to us. We have had a slight difference, and âtill it is accommodated I shall be obligâd to keep out of his way. Any private dispute of mine shall be of no ill consequence to my friends. You must continue to act under his direction, for the moment we break loose from him, our gang is ruinâd.
MATT
As a bawd to a whore, I grant you, he is to us of great convenience.
MACHEATH
Make him believe I have quitted the gang, which I can never do but with life. At our private quarters I will continue to meet you. A week or so will probably reconcile us.
MATT
Your instructions shall be observâd. âTis now high time for us to repair to our several duties; so âtill the evening at our quarters in Moorfields we bid you farewell.
MACHEATH
I shall wish myself with you. Success attend you.
(Sits down melancholy at the table)
AIR XXâMarch in Rinaldo, with Drums and Trumpets
MATT
Let us take the road.
Hark! I hear the sound of coaches!
The Hour of attack approaches,
To your arms, brave boys, and load.
See the ball I hold!
Let the chemists toil like asses,
Our fire their fire surpasses,
And turns all our lead to gold.
(The gang, rangâd in the front of the stage, load their pistols, and stick them under their girdles; then go off singing the first part in chorus.)
MACHEATH
What a fool is a fond wench! Polly is most confoundedly bit.âI love the sex. And a man who loves money, might as well be contented with one guinea, as I with one woman. The town perhaps have been as much obliged to me, for recruiting it with free-hearted ladies, as to any recruiting officer in the army. If it were not for us, and the other gentlemen of the sword, Drury Lane would be uninhabited.
AIR XXIâWould You Have a Young Virgin, Etc.
If the heart of a man is depressed with cares,
The mist is dispellâd when a woman appears;
Like the notes of a fiddle, she sweetly, sweetly
Raises the spirits, and charms our ears,
Roses and lilies her cheeks disclose,
But her ripe lips are more sweet than those.
Press her,
Caress her,
With blisses,
Her kisses
Dissolve us in pleasure, and soft repose.
I must have women. There is nothing unbends the mind like them. Money is not so strong a cordial for the time. Drawerâ(Enter DRAWER) Is the porter gone for all the ladies according to my directions?
DRAWER
I expect him back every minute. But you know, sir, you sent him as far as Hockley in the Hole for three of the ladies, for one in Vinegar Yard, and for the rest of them somewhere about Lewknerâs Lane. Sure some of them are below, for I hear the bar bell. As they come I will show them up. Coming, coming.
(Enter MRS. COAXER, DOLLY TRULL, MRS. VIXEN, BETTY DOXY, JENNY DIVER, MRS. SLAMMEKIN, SUKY TAWDRY, and MOLLY BRAZEN)
MACHEATH
Dear Mrs. Coaxer, you are welcome. You look charmingly today. I hope you donât want the repairs of quality, and lay on paint.âDolly Trull! ...