The Beggar's Opera [antikvár]

IntroductionEnter Beggar and 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, 'tis but 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 intro-3title: Amtstitel.4to own o.s. of s.th.: sich zu etwas zählen.5to make one: teilnehmen.7 catch: Lied in Kanonform.10 'tis: it is.13 partially (adv.): parteiisch, voreingenommen.13f. pertness of embroidery: protzende Stickerei (pertness: Keckheit).14modesty of want: bescheidene Bedürfnisse.18 writ: written.