2 Roberts del. Publid for Bells British Theatre Feb 1.1777 Ja Roberts fouly MACKHEATH. M. VERNON in the Character of MACK THE BEGGAR'S OPERA. BY JOHN GAY. AS PERFORMED AT THE TEATRE-ROYAL DRURY-LAane. Regulated from the Prompt-Book, by permission of the Managers, CHARACTERISTICKS. 'Tis but fitting that we fhould protect and encourage cheats fince we live by 'em.-Let Betty Sly know that I'll fave her from transportation, for I can get more by her staying in England. But it is 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 is hanged. Have him peach'd the next feffions, and then at once you are made a rich widow. PEACHUM. Peachum intends to outwit me in this affair, but I'll be even with him.-The dog is leaky in his liquor; I'll ply him that way, get the fecret from him, and turn this affair to my own advantage.-Peachum is my companion, my friend.-According to the cuftom of the world indeed he may quote thousands of precedents for cheating me-and shall not I make ufe of the privilege of friendship to make him a return? LOCKIT. Any private dispute of mine fhall be of no ill confequence to my friends.When my friends are in difficulties I am always glad that my fortune can be ferviceable to them. I am not a mere court friend, who profeffes every thing and will do nothing.I love the fex, and a man who loves money might as well be contented with one guinea as I with one woman. -The Town perhaps hath been as inuch obliged to me for recruiting it with free-hearted ladies as to any recruiting officer in the army.-1 muft have women: there is nothing unbends the mind like them: money is not fo ftrong a cordial for the time. MACHEATH. These seven handkerchiefs Madam, and this fnuffbox.-I had a fair tug at a charming gold watch. Pox take the tailors for making the fobs fo deep and narrow! it fluck by the way, and I was forced to make my efcape under a coach. Really, Madam, I fear I fhall be cut off in the flower of my youth, fo that every now and then, fince I was pumpt, I have thoughts of taking up and going to fea.-I would not willingly forfeit my own honour by betraying any body. Since the favourite child-getter was difabled by a mishap I have picked up a little money by helping the ladies to a pregnancy against their being called down to fentence but if a man cannot get an honeft livelihood any cafier way, I am fure it is what I can't undertake for another feffion. FILCHI. Why are the laws levell'd at us? are we more difhoneft than the reft of mankind? What we win, gentlemen, is our own by the law of arms and the right of conqueft. JEM. TWITCH. Where shall we find fuch another fet of practical philofophers, who to a man are above the fear of death? Sound men and true! Of tried courage and indefatigable industry! CROOKFINGER'D JACK. WAT. DREARY. ROBIN OF BAGSHOT. NIMMING NED. HARRY PADDINGTON. is avaricious, and I hate and where is the injury MAT. OF THE MINT. Who is there here that would not die for his friend? Who is there here that would betray him for his intereft? Shew me a gang of courtiers that can fay as much. The world avarice. A covetous fellow fteals what he was never made to enjoy of taking from another what he hath not the heart to make ufe of? We are for a just partition of the world, for every man hath a right to enjoy life. B. BUDGE. 'Tis marriage, husband, that makes it a blemish. To have him peach'd is the only thing could ever make me forgive her.-Away huffy! hang your husband, and be dutiful. Mrs. PEACH. What! murder the man I love! the blood runs cold at my heart with the very thought of it. -I know my heart; I cannot furvive him.-Oh how I fear! how I tremble!-I'll stay with thee till death.-No force fhall tear thy dear wife from thee now.-Oh! twift thyfetters about me, that he may not haul me from thee! POLLY PEACHUM. Oh Macheath! to fee thee tortured would give me pleasure.-I could tear thy eyes out.Hadft thou been hanged five months ago I had been happy-for I love thee fo that I could fooner bear to fee thee hang'd than in the arms of another. LUCY LOCKIT. EDINBURG: At the Apollo Piefs, by THE MARTINS, for Bell, LONDON, 1782. |