-toed shoes, but I have taken considerable liberties in the
manner in which I have shorn them of ribbons and laces and--for the sake
of dramatic simplicity, be it remembered--I have eliminated yards of
trimming.

Just so much explanation is, I consider, due to the public, but whether
I have been justified by results or whether, under the sacred mask of
Drama, I have erred unpardonably, are points which, so long as this
revival draws attention to a forgotten masterpiece, can be of no very
great importance.

C. LOVAT FRASER.

_Chelsea_,

_February 1921_.

[Illustration]

DRAMATIS PERSONAE.

MEN.

MR. PEACHUM
LOCKIT
MACHEATH
FILCH
JEMMY TWITCHER }
CROOK-FINGER'D JACK }
WAT DREARY }
ROBIN OF BAGSHOT } _Macheath's_ Gang.
NIMMING NED }
HARRY PADDINGTON }
MAT OF THE MINT }
BEN BUDGE }
BEGGAR
PLAYER

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 }
SUKY TAWDRY }
MOLLY BRAZEN }

Constables, Drawers, Turnkey, etc.

[Illustration]

INTRODUCTION

BEGGAR, PLAYER.

Beggar.

If Poverty be a Title to Poetry, I am sure no-body 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 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 Chaunter_ 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 pathetic. As to the Parts, I have observed such
a nice Impartiality to our two Ladies, that it is impossible for ei