"THE BEGGAR'S OPERA" - читать интересную книгу автора (Gay John)

WOMEN

Mrs. Peachum.
Polly Peachum.
Lucy Lockit.
Diana Trapes.
Mrs. Coaxer, }
Dolly Trull, }
Mrs. Vixen, }
Betty Doxy, } Women of the Town.
Jenny Diver, }
Mrs. Slammekin, }
Sukey Tawdrey, }
Molly Brazen, }


INTRODUCTION.

BEGGAR, PLAYER

Beggar.
If Poverty be a Title to Poetry, I am sure nobody 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 a 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 Chanter 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 pathetick. 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 now I see it is time for us to withdraw; the Actors are
preparing to begin. Play away the Overture.
[Exeunt.