{"product_id":"2940015806700","title":"THE BEGGAR'S OPERA","description":"INTRODUCTION\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBEGGAR, PLAYER.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBEGGAR.  If Poverty be a Title to Poetry, I am sure no-body can \u003cbr\u003edispute mine.  I own myself of the Company of Beggars; and I make one \u003cbr\u003eat their Weekly Festivals at St. Giles's.  I have a small Yearly \u003cbr\u003eSalary for my Catches, and am welcome to a Dinner there whenever I \u003cbr\u003eplease, which is more than most Poets can say.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePLAYER.  As we live by the Muses, it is but Gratitude in us to \u003cbr\u003eencourage Poetical Merit wherever we find it.  The Muses, contrary to \u003cbr\u003eall other Ladies, pay no Distinction to Dress, and never partially \u003cbr\u003emistake the Pertness of Embroidery for Wit, nor the Modesty of Want \u003cbr\u003efor Dulness.  Be the Author who he will, we push his Play as far as \u003cbr\u003eit will go.  So (though you are in Want) I wish you success heartily.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBEGGAR.  This piece I own was originally writ for the celebrating the \u003cbr\u003eMarriage of James Chaunter and Moll Lay, two most excellent Ballad-\u003cbr\u003eSingers.  I have introduced the Similes that are in all your \u003cbr\u003ecelebrated Operas:  The Swallow, the Moth, the Bee, the Ship, the \u003cbr\u003eFlower, \u0026amp;c.  Besides, I have a Prison-Scene, which the Ladies always \u003cbr\u003ereckon charmingly pathetic.  As to the Parts, I have observed such a \u003cbr\u003enice Impartiality to our two Ladies, that it is impossible for either \u003cbr\u003eof them to take Offence.  I hope I may be forgiven, that I have not \u003cbr\u003emade my Opera throughout unnatural, like those in vogue; for I have \u003cbr\u003eno Recitative; excepting this, as I have consented to have neither \u003cbr\u003ePrologue nor Epilogue, it must be allowed an Opera in all its Forms.  \u003cbr\u003eThe Piece indeed hath been heretofore frequently represented by \u003cbr\u003eourselves in our Great Room at St. Giles's, so that I cannot too \u003cbr\u003eoften acknowledge your Charity in bringing it now on the Stage.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePLAYER.  But I see it is time for us to withdraw; the Actors are \u003cbr\u003epreparing to begin.  Play away the Overture.","brand":"SAP","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47080930738416,"sku":"2940015806700","price":0.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/2940015806700","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}