The Beggar's Opera
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The opening
SCENE I.
Scene, Peachum’s House.
Peachum sitting at a Table with a large Book of Accounts before him.
AIR I. An old Woman clothed in Gray, &c. Through all the Employments of Life Each Neighbour abuses his Brother; Whore and Rogue they call Husband and Wife: All Professions be-rogue one another: The Priest calls the Lawyer a Cheat, The Lawyer be-knaves the Divine: And the Statesman, because he’s so great, Thinks his Trade as honest as mine. 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.
Enter Filch.
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About this edition
- The words
- The author's text, copied word for word.
- Copied from
- Left out
- The source library's header, footer and license, in 2 places
- The title page and opening pages before chapter 1
- The printed act label (ACT I.) moved to the chapter's part field, not kept in its heading
- The printed act label (ACT II.) moved to the chapter's part field, not kept in its heading
- The printed act label (ACT III.) moved to the chapter's part field, not kept in its heading