Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD   Dramatis Personæ

John Gay (1685–1732). The Beggar’s Opera. 1922.

Act I

A Lawyer is an honest Employment, so 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, since we live by them.

FILCH.Sir, Black Moll hath sent word her Trial comes on in the Afternoon, and she hopes you will order Matters so as to bring her off.

PEACHUM.Why, she may plead her Belly at worst; to my Knowledge she hath taken care of that Security. But, as the Wench is very active and industrious, you may satisfy her that I’ll soften the Evidence.

FILCH.Tom Gagg, Sir, is found guilty.

PEACHUM.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 save her from Transportation, for I can get more by her staying in England.

FILCH.Betty hath brought more goods into our Lock to-year than any five of the Gang; and in truth, ’tis a pity to lose so good a Customer.

PEACHUM.If none of the Gang take her off, she may, in the common course of Business, live a Twelve-month longer. I love to let Women scape. A good Sportsman always lets the Hen Partridges fly, because the Breed of the Game depends upon them. Besides, here the Law allows us no Reward; there is nothing to be got by the Death of Women——except our Wives.

FILCH.Without dispute, she is a fine Woman! ’Twas to her I was obliged for my Education, and (to say a bold Word) she hath trained up more young Fellows to the Business than the Gaming table.

PEACHUM.Truly, Filch, thy Observation is right. We and the Surgeons are more beholden to Women than all the Professions besides.

PEACHUM.But make haste to Newgate, Boy, and let my Friends know what I intend; for I love to make them easy one way or other.

FILCH.When a Gentleman is long kept in suspence, Penitence may break his Spirit ever after. Besides, Certainty gives a Man a good Air upon his Trial, and makes him risque another without Fear or Scruple. But I’ll away, for ’tis a Pleasure to be the Messenger of Comfort to Friends in Affliction.

But ’tis now high time to look about me for a decent Execution against next Sessions. I hate a lazy Rogue, by whom one can get nothing ’till he is hang’d. A Register of the Gang, [Reading] Crook-finger’d Jack. A Year and a half in the Service; Let me see how much the Stock owes to his Industry; one, two, three, four, five Gold Watches, and seven Silver ones. A mighty clean-handed Fellow! Sixteen Snuff-boxes, five of them of true Gold. Six Dozen of Handkerchiefs, four silver-hilted Swords, half a Dozen of Shirts, three Tye-Periwigs, and a piece of Broad-Cloth. Considering these are only the Fruits of his leisure 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 disposing of his Goods. I’ll try him only for a Sessions or two longer upon his Good-behaviour. Harry Padington, a poor petty-larceny Rascal, without the least Genius; that Fellow, though he were to live these six Months, will never come to the Gallows with any Credit. Slippery Sam; he goes off the next Sessions, for the Villain hath the Impudence to have Views of following his Trade as a Tailor, which he calls an honest Employment. Mat of the Mint; listed not above a Month ago, a promising sturdy Fellow, and diligent in his way; somewhat too bold and hasty, and may raise good Contributions on the Public, if he does not cut himself short by Murder. Tom Tipple, a guzzling soaking Sot, who is always too drunk to stand himself, or to make others stand. A Cart is absolutely necessary for him. Robin of Bagshot, alias Gorgon, alias Bluff Bob, alias Carbuncle, alias Bob Booty.

Mrs. PEACHUM.What of Bob Booty, Husband? I hope nothing bad hath betided him. You know, my Dear, he’s a favourite Customer of mine. ’Twas he made me a present of this Ring.

PEACHUM.I have set his Name down in the Black List, that’s all, my Dear; he spends his Life among Women, and as soon as his Money is gone, one or other of the Ladies will hang him for the Reward, and there’s forty Pounds lost to us for-ever.

Mrs. PEACHUM.You know, my Dear, I never meddle in matters of Death; I always leave those Affairs to you. Women indeed are bitter bad Judges in these cases, for they are so partial to the Brave that they think every Man handsome who is going to the Camp or the Gallows.

But really Husband, you should not be too hard-hearted, for you never had a finer, braver set of Men than at present. We have not had a Murder among them all, these seven Months. And truly, my Dear, that is a great Blessing.

PEACHUM.What a dickens is the Woman always a whimpring about Murder for? No Gentleman is ever look’d 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. PEACHUM.If I am in the wrong, my Dear, you must excuse me, for no body can help the Frailty of an over-scrupulous Conscience.

PEACHUM.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 persuade the Jury to bring it in Manslaughter, what are they the worse for it? So, my Dear, have done upon this Subject. Was Captain Macheath here this Morning for the Bank-Notes he left with you last Week?

Mrs. PEACHUM.Yes, my Dear; and though the Bank hath stopt Payment, he was so cheerful and so agreeable! Sure there is not a finer Gentleman upon the Road than the Captain! If he comes from Bagshot at any reasonable Hour, he hath promis’d to make one this Evening with Polly and me, and Bob Booty at a Party of Quadrille. Pray, my Dear, is the Captain rich?

PEACHUM.The Captain keeps too good Company ever to grow rich. Marybone and the Chocolate-houses are his Undoing. The Man that proposes to get Money by Play should have the Education of a fine Gentleman, and be train’d up to it from his Youth.

Mrs. PEACHUM.Really, I am sorry upon Polly’s Account the Captain hath not more Discretion. What Business hath he to keep Company with Lords and Gentlemen? he should leave them to prey upon one another.

PEACHUM.Upon Polly’s Account! What a Plague does the Woman mean?——Upon Polly’s Account!

Mrs. PEACHUM.Captain Macheath is very fond of the Girl.

PEACHUM.And what then?

Mrs. PEACHUM.If I have any Skill in the Ways of Women, I am sure Polly thinks him a very pretty Man.

PEACHUM.And what then? You would not be so mad to have the Wench marry him! Gamesters and Highwaymen are generally very good to their Whores, but they are very Devils to their Wives.

Mrs. PEACHUM.But if Polly should be in Love, how should we help her, or how can she help herself? Poor Girl, I am in the utmost Concern about her.

PEACHUM.Look ye, Wife. A handsome Wench in our way of Business is as profitable as at the Bar of a Temple Coffee-House, who looks upon it as her livelihood to grant every Liberty but one. You see I would not indulge the Girl as far as prudently we can. In anything, but Marriage! After that, my Dear, how shall we be safe? Are we not then in her Husband’s Power? For a Husband hath the absolute Power over all a Wife’s Secrets but her own. If the Girl had the Discretion of a Court-Lady, who can have a Dozen young Fellows at her Ear without complying with one, I should not matter it; but Polly is Tinder, and a Spark will at once set her on a Flame. Married! If the Wench does not know her own Profit, sure she knows her own Pleasure better than to make herself a Property! My Daughter to me should be, like a Court-Lady to a Minister of State, a Key to the whole Gang. Married! If the Affair is not already done, I’ll terrify her from it, by the Example of our Neighbours.

Mrs. PEACHUM.May-hap, my Dear, you may injure the Girl. She loves to imitate the fine Ladies, and she may only allow the Captain Liberties in the view of Interest.

PEACHUM.But ’tis your Duty, my Dear, to warn the Girl against her Ruin, and to instruct her how to make the most of her Beauty. I’ll go to her this moment, and sift her. In the mean time, Wife, rip out the Coronets and Marks of these Dozen of Cambric Handkerchiefs, for I can dispose of them this Afternoon to a Chap in the City.

Never was a Man more out of the way in an Argument than my Husband. Why must our Polly, forsooth, differ from her Sex, and love only her Husband? And why must Polly’s Marriage, contrary to all Observation, make her the less followed by other Men? All Men are Thieves in Love, and like a Woman the better for being another’s Property.

Mrs. PEACHUM.Come hither, Filch. I am as fond of the Child, as though my Mind misgave me he were my own. He hath as fine a Hand at picking a Pocket as a Woman, and is as nimble-finger’d as a Juggler. If an unlucky Session does not cut the Rope of thy Life, I pronounce, Boy, thou wilt be a great Man in History. Where was your Post last Night, my Boy?

FILCH.I ply’d at the Opera, Madam; and considering ’twas neither dark nor rainy, so that there was no great Hurry in getting Chairs and Coaches, made a tolerable Hand on’t. These seven Handkerchiefs, Madam.

Mrs. PEACHUM.Colour’d ones, I see. They are of sure Sale from our Warehouse at Redriff among the Seamen.

FILCH.And this Snuff-box.

Mrs. PEACHUM.Set in Gold! A pretty Encouragement this to a young Beginner.

FILCH.I had a fair Tug at charming Gold Watch. Pox take the Tailors for making the Fobs so deep and narrow! It stuck by the way, and I was forc’d to make my Escape under a Coach. Really, Madam, I fear I shall be cut off in the Flower of my Youth, so that every now and then (since I was pumpt) I have Thoughts of taking up and going to Sea.

Mrs. PEACHUM.You should go to Hockley in the Hole, and to Marybone, Child, to learn Valour. These are the Schools that have bred so many brave Men. I thought, Boy, by this time, thou hadst lost Fear as well as Shame. Poor Lad! how little does he know yet of the Old Baily! For the first Fact I’ll insure thee from being hang’d; and going to Sea, Filch, will come time enough upon a Sentence of Transportation. But now, since you have nothing better to do, ev’n go to your Book, and learn your Catechism; for really a Man makes but an ill Figure in the Ordinary’s Paper, who cannot give a satisfactory Answer to his Questions. But, hark you, my Lad. Don’t tell me a Lye; for you know I hate a Liar. Do you know of anything that hath pass’d between Captain Macheath and our Polly?

FILCH.I beg you, Madam, don’t ask me; for I must either tell a Lye to you or to Miss Polly; for I promis’d her I would not tell.

Mrs. PEACHUM.But when the Honour of our Family is concern’d——

FILCH.I shall lead a sad Life with Miss Polly, if ever she comes to know that I told you. Besides, I would not willingly forfeit my own Honour by betraying any body.

Mrs. PEACHUM.Yonder comes my Husband and Polly. Come, Filch, you shall go with me into my own Room, and tell me the whole Story. I’ll give thee a most delicious Glass of a Cordial that I keep for my own drinking.

POLLY.I know as well as any of the fine Ladies how to make the most of myself and of my Man too. A Woman knows how to be mercenary, though she hath never been in a Court or at an Assembly. We have it in our Natures, Papa. If I allow Captain Macheath some trifling Liberties, I have this Watch and other visible Marks of his Favour to show for it. A Girl who cannot grant some Things, and refuse what is most material, will make but a poor hand of her Beauty, and soon be thrown upon the Common.

PEACHUM.You know, Polly, I am not against your toying and trifling with a Customer in the way of Business, or to get out a Secret, or so. But if I find out that you have play’d the Fool and are married, you Jade you, I’ll cut your Throat, Hussy. Now you know my Mind.

You Baggage! you Hussy! you inconsiderate Jade! had you been hang’d, it would not have vex’d me, for that might have been your Misfortune; but to do such a mad thing by Choice! The Wench is married, Husband.

PEACHUM.Married! the Captain is a bold Man, and will risk anything for Money; to be sure he believes her a Fortune. Do you think your Mother and I should have liv’d comfortably so long together, if ever we had been married? Baggage!

Mrs. PEACHUM.I knew she was always a proud Slut; and now the Wench hath play’d the Fool and Married, because forsooth she would do like the Gentry. Can you support the Expence of a Husband, Hussy, in Gaming, Drinking and Whoring? Have you Money enough to carry on the daily Quarrels of Man and Wife about who shall squander most? There are not many Husbands and Wives, who can bear the Charges of plaguing one another in a handsome way. If you must be married, could you introduce no body into our Family but a Highwayman? Why, thou foolish Jade, thou wilt be as ill-us’d, and as much neglected, as if thou hadst married a Lord!

PEACHUM.Let not your Anger, my Dear, break through the Rules of Decency, for the Captain looks upon himself in the Military Capacity, as a Gentleman by his Profession. Besides what he hath already, I know he is in a fair way of getting, or of dying; and both these ways, let me tell you, are most excellent Chances for a Wife. Tell me, Hussy, are you ruin’d or no?

Mrs. PEACHUM.With Polly’s Fortune, she might very well have gone off to a Person of Distinction. Yes, that you might, you pouting Slut!

PEACHUM.What is the Wench dumb? Speak, or I’ll make you plead by squeezing out an Answer from you. Are you really bound Wife to him, or are you only upon liking?[Pinches her.

POLLY.Oh![Screaming.

Mrs. PEACHUM.How the Mother is to be pitied who hath handsome Daughters! Lock, Bolts, Bars, and Lectures of Morality are nothing to them: They break through them all. They have as much Pleasure in cheating a Father and Mother, as in cheating at Cards.

PEACHUM.Why, Polly, I shall soon know if you are married, by Macheath’s keeping from our House.

Mrs. PEACHUM.Then all the Hopes of our Family are gone for ever and ever!

PEACHUM.And Macheath may hang his Father and Mother-in-law, in hope to get into their Daughter’s Fortune.

POLLY.I did not marry him (as ’tis the Fashion) coolly and deliberately for Honour or Money. But, I love him.

Mrs. PEACHUM.Love him! worse and worse! I thought the Girl had been better bred. Oh Husband, Husband! her Folly makes me mad! my Head swims! I’m distracted! I can’t support myself——Oh![Faints.

PEACHUM.See, Wench, to what a Condition you have reduc’d your poor Mother! a Glass of Cordial, this instant. How the poor Woman takes it to heart![Polly goes out, and returns with it.
Ah, Hussy, now this is the only Comfort your Mother has left!

POLLY.Give her another Glass, Sir! my Mama drinks double the Quantity whenever she is out of Order. This, you see, fetches her.

Mrs. PEACHUM.The Girl shows such a Readiness, and so much Concern, that I could almost find it in my Heart to forgive her.

Mrs. PEACHUM.Not with a Highwayman.——You sorry Slut!

PEACHUM.A Word with you, Wife. ’Tis no new thing for a Wench to take Man without Consent of Parents. You know ’tis the Frailty of Woman, my Dear.

Mrs. PEACHUM.Yes, indeed, the Sex is frail. But the first time a Woman is frail, she should be somewhat nice methinks, for then or never is the time to make her Fortune. After that, she hath nothing to do but to guard herself from being found out, and she may do what she pleases.

PEACHUM.Make yourself a little easy; I have a Thought shall soon set all Matters again to rights. Why so melancholy, Polly? since what is done cannot be undone, we must all endeavour to make the best of it.

Mrs. PEACHUM.Well, Polly; as far as one Woman can forgive another, I forgive thee.——Your Father is too fond of you, Hussy.

POLLY.Then all my Sorrows are at an end.

Mrs. PEACHUM.A mighty likely Speech in troth, for a Wench who is just married!

PEACHUM.I hear Customers in t’other Room: Go, talk with ’em, Polly; but come to us again, as soon as they are gone——But, hark ye, Child, if ’tis the Gentleman who was here Yesterday about the Repeating Watch; say, you believe we can’t get Intelligence of it till to-morrow. For I lent it to Suky Straddle, to make a figure with it to-night at a Tavern in Drury-Lane. If t’other Gentleman calls for the Silver-hilted Sword; you know Beetle-brow’d Jemmy hath it on, and he doth not come from Tunbridge ’till Tuesday Night; so that it cannot be had ’till then.

PEACHUM.Dear Wife, be a little pacified, Don’t let your Passion run away with your Senses. Polly, I grant you, hath done a rash thing.

Mrs. PEACHUM.If she had had only an Intrigue with the Fellow, why the very best Families have excus’d and huddled up a Frailty of that sort. ’Tis Marriage, Husband, that makes it a Blemish.

PEACHUM.But Money, Wife, is the true Fuller’s Earth for Reputations, there is not a Spot or a Stain but what it can take out. A rich Rogue now-a-days is fit Company for any Gentleman; and the World, my Dear, hath not such a contempt for Roguery as you imagine. I tell you, Wife, I can make this Match turn to our Advantage.

Mrs. PEACHUM.I am very sensible, Husband, that Captain Macheath is worth Money, but I am in doubt whether he hath not two or three Wives already, and then if he should die in a Session or two, Polly’s Dower would come into a Dispute.

PEACHUM.That, indeed, is a Point which ought to be consider’d.

The Lawyers are bitter Enemies to those in our Way. They don’t care that any body should get a clandestine Livelihood but themselves.

POLLY.’Twas only Nimming Ned. He brought in a Damask Window-Curtain, a Hoop-Petticoat, a pair of Silver Candlesticks, a Periwig, and one Silk Stocking, from the Fire that happen’d last Night.

PEACHUM.There is not a Fellow that is cleverer in his way, and saves more Goods out of the Fire than Ned. But now, Polly, to your Affair; for Matters must be left as they are. You are married, then, it seems?

POLLY.Yes, Sir.

PEACHUM.And how do you propose to live, Child?

POLLY.Like other Women, Sir, upon the Industry of my Husband.

Mrs. PEACHUM.What, is the Wench turn’d Fool? A Highwayman’s Wife, like a Soldier’s, hath as little of his Pay, as of his Company.

PEACHUM.And had not you the common Views of a Gentlewoman in your Marriage, Polly?

POLLY.I don’t know what you mean, Sir.

PEACHUM.Of a Jointure, and of being a Widow.

POLLY.But I love him, Sir; how then could I have Thoughts of parting with him?

PEACHUM.Parting with him! Why, this is the whole Scheme and Intention of all Marriage Articles. The comfortable Estate of Widow-hood, is the only Hope that keeps up a Wife’s Spirits. Where is the Woman who would scruple to be a Wife, if she had it in her Power to be a Widow, whenever she pleas’d? If you have any Views of this sort, Polly, I shall think the Match not so very unreasonable.

POLLY.How I dread to hear your Advice! Yet I must beg you to explain yourself.

PEACHUM.Secure what he hath got, have him peach’d the next Sessions, and then at once you are made a rich Widow.

POLLY.What, murder the Man I love! The Blood runs cold at my Heart with the very Thought of it!

PEACHUM.Fie, Polly! What hath Murder to do in the Affair? Since the thing sooner or later must happen, I dare say, the Captain himself would like that we should get the Reward for his Death sooner than a Stranger. Why, Polly, the Captain knows that as ’tis his Employment to rob, so ’tis ours to take Robbers; every Man in his Business. So there is no Malice in the Case.

Mrs. PEACHUM.Ay, Husband, now you have nick’d the Matter. To have him peach’d is the only thing could ever make me forgive her.

Mrs. PEACHUM.But your Duty to your Parents, Hussy, obliges you to hang him. What would many a Wife give for such an Opportunity!

POLLY.What is a Jointure, what is Widow-hood to me? I know my heart. I cannot survive him.

Thus, Sir, it will happen to your poor Polly.

Mrs. PEACHUM.What, is the Fool in Love in earnest then? I hate thee for being particular: Why, Wench, thou art a Shame to thy very Sex.

POLLY.But hear me, Mother.——If you ever lov’d——

Mrs. PEACHUM.Those cursed Play-Books she reads have been her Ruin. One Word more, Hussy, and I shall knock your Brains out, if you have any.

PEACHUM.Keep out of the way, Polly, for fear of Mischief, and consider what is propos’d to you.

Mrs. PEACHUM.Away, Hussy. Hang your Husband, and be dutiful.

Mrs. PEACHUM.The Thing, Husband, must and shall be done. For the sake of Intelligence we must take other Measures, and have him peach’d the next Session without her Consent. If she will not know her Duty, we know ours.

PEACHUM.But really, my Dear, it grieves one’s Heart to take off a great Man. When I consider his Personal Bravery, his fine Stratagem, how much we have already got by him, and how much more we may get, methinks I can’t find it in my Heart to have a hand in his Death. I wish you could have made Polly undertake it.

Mrs. PEACHUM.But in a Case of Necessity——our own Lives are in danger.

PEACHUM.Then, indeed, we must comply with the Customs of the World, and make Gratitude give way to Interest.——He shall be taken off.

Mrs. PEACHUM.I’ll undertake to manage Polly.

PEACHUM.And I’ll prepare Matters for the Old Baily.

Now I’m a Wretch, indeed.——Methinks I see him already in the Cart, sweeter and more lovely than the Nosegay in his Hand!——I hear the Crowd extolling his Resolution and Intrepidity!——What Vollies of Sighs are sent from the Windows of Holborn, that so comely a Youth should be brought to Disgrace!—I see him at the Tree! The whole Circle are in Tears!——even Butchers weep!——Jack Ketch himself hesitates to perform his Duty, and would be glad to lose his Fee, by a Reprieve. What then will become of Polly!——As yet I may inform him of their Design, and aid him in his Escape.——It shall be so——But then he flies, absents himself, and I bar myself from his dear dear Conversation! That too will distract me.——If he keep out of the way, my Papa and Mama may in time relent, and we may be happy.——If he stays, he is hang’d, and then he is lost for ever!——He intended to lie conceal’d in my Room, ’till the Dusk of the Evening: If they are abroad, I’ll this Instant let him out, lest some Accident should prevent him.[Exit, and returns.

POLLY.And are you as fond as ever, my Dear?

MACHEATH.Suspect my Honour, my Courage, suspect any thing but my Love.——May my Pistols miss Fire, and my Mare slip her Shoulder while I am pursu’d, if I ever forsake thee!

POLLY.Nay, my Dear, I have no Reason to doubt you, for I find in the Romance you lent me, none of the great Heroes were ever false in Love.

POLLY.Were you sentenc’d to Transportation, sure, my Dear, you could not leave me behind you——could you?

MACHEATH.Is there any Power, any Force that could tear me from thee? You might sooner tear a Pension out of the hands of a Courtier, a Fee from a Lawyer, a pretty Woman from a Looking-glass, or any Woman from Quadrille.——But to tear me from thee is impossible!

POLLY.Yes, I would go with thee. But oh!——how shall I speak it? I must be torn from thee. We must part.

MACHEATH.How! Part!

POLLY.We must, we must.——My Papa and Mama are set against thy Life. They now, even now are in Search after thee. They are preparing Evidence against thee. Thy Life depends upon a moment.

One Kiss and then—one Kiss—begone—farewell.

MACHEATH.My Hand, my Heart, my Dear, is so riveted to thine, that I cannot unloose my Hold.

POLLY.But my Papa may intercept thee, and then I should lose the very glimmering of Hope. A few Weeks, perhaps, may reconcile us all. Shall thy Polly hear from thee?

MACHEATH.Must I then go?

POLLY.And will not Absence change your Love?

MACHEATH.If you doubt it, let me stay—and be hang’d.

POLLY.O how I fear! how I tremble!——Go——but when Safety will give you leave, you will be sure to see me again; for ’till then Polly is wretched.