The Beggar's Opera

John Gay

• Éditeur: HarperPerennial Classics
• Année: 2015
• ISBN:
  9781443451185
• Sujet: Literature
• Sous-sujet: Drama

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-FINGER’D 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 pr’ythee, 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 Surgeons’ 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 levell’d 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 try’d 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 XIX—Fill 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 detain’d 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 party—but—

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

I’ll 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? I’ll 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 ’till it is accommodated I shall be oblig’d 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 ruin’d.

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 observ’d. ’Tis now high time for us to repair to our several duties; so ’till 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 XX—March 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, rang’d 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.—I 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 XXI—Would You Have a Young Virgin, Etc.

If the heart of a man is depressed with cares,

The mist is dispell’d 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. Drawer—(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 Lewkner’s 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 don’t want the repairs of quality, and lay on paint.—Dolly Trull! ...