Plays Written by Mr. John Gay: Viz. The Captives, ... The Beggar's Opera. Polly, ... Achilles, ... The Distress'd Wife, ... The Rehearsal at Gotham, ... To which is Prefixed An Account of the Life and Writings of the Author

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W. Strahan, T. Lowndes, T. Caslon, W. Griffin, W. Nicoll, S. Bladon, and G. Kearsley, 1772 - 359 pages
 

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Page 130 - Through the whole Piece you may observe such a similitude of Manners in high and low Life, that it is difficult to determine whether (in the fashionable Vices) the fine Gentlemen imitate the Gentlemen of the Road, or the Gentlemen of the Road the fine Gentlemen.
Page 106 - I promis'd the Wench Marriage. What signifies a Promise to a Woman? Does not Man in Marriage itself promise a hundred things that he never means to perform? Do all we can, Women will believe us; for they look upon a Promise as an Excuse for following their own Inclinations.
Page 113 - Fellow is hang'd, hang yourself, to make your Family some amends. Polly. Dear, dear Father, do not tear me from him I must speak: I have more to say to him - Oh! twist thy Fetters about me, that he may not haul me from thee!
Page 102 - Before the Barn-door crowing. The Cock by Hens attended, His Eyes around him throwing, Stands for a while suspended. Then One he singles from the Crew, And cheers the happy Hen; With how do you do, and how do you do, And how do you do again.
Page 82 - You know, my dear, I never meddle in matters of death; I always leave those affairs to you. Women indeed are bitter bad judges in these cases, for they are so partial to the brave, that they think every man handsome who is going to the camp or the gallows.
Page 87 - If you must be married, could you introduce nobody into our family but a highwayman? Why, thou foolish jade, thou wilt be as ill used, and as much neglected, as if thou hadst married a lord! PEACH: Let not your anger, my dear, break through the rules of decency...
Page 115 - FILCH.] I'll go to him there, for I have many important affairs to settle with him; and in the way of those transactions, I'll artfully get into his secret. So that Macheath shall not remain a day longer out o* my clutches.
Page 88 - Then all the hopes of our family are gone for ever and ever! PEACH. And Macheath may hang his father and motherin-law, in hope to get into their daughter's fortune. POLLY. I did not marry him (as 'tis the fashion) coolly and deliberately for honour or money. But, I love him.
Page 92 - I dare say, the Captain himself would like that we should get the Reward for his Death sooner than a Stranger. Why, Polly, the Captain knows, that as 'tis his Employment to rob, so 'tis ours to take Robbers; every Man in his Business. So that there is no Malice in the Case.
Page 130 - For you must allow, that in this kind of Drama, 'tis no matter how absurdly things are brought about. — So — you Rabble there — run and cry a Reprieve — let the Prisoner be brought back to his Wives in Triumph.

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