The Beggar's Opera (excerpts)
Air I.An old woman clothed in gray, &c.1-
Through all the employments of life
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Each neighbour abuses his brother;
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Whore and rogue they call husband and wife:
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All professions be-rogue one another.
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The priest calls the lawyer a cheat,
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The lawyer be-knaves the divine;
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And the statesman, because he's so great,
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Thinks his trade as honest as mine.Air XI.A Soldier and a Sailor2-
A fox may steal your hens, sir,
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A whore your health and pence, sir,
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Your daughter rob your chest, sir,
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Your wife may steal your rest, sir,
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A thief your goods and plate.
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But this is all but picking,
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With rest, pence, chest and chicken;
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It ever was decreed, sir,
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If lawyer's hand is fee'd, sir,
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He steals your whole estate.Air XXII.Cotillon3-
Youth's the season made for joys,
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Love is then our duty,
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She alone who that employs,
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Well deserves her beauty.
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Let's be gay,
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While we may,
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Beauty's a flower, despised in decay.CHORUS.3-
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poem by John Gay
Added by Poetry Lover
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