The Beggar's Opera (Excerpts)

Air I.An old woman clothed in gray, &c.1- Through all the employments of life - Each neighbour abuses his brother; - Whore and rogue they call husband and wife: - All professions be-rogue one another. - The priest calls the lawyer a cheat, - The lawyer be-knaves the divine; - And the statesman, because he's so great, - Thinks his trade as honest as mine.Air XI.A Soldier and a Sailor2- A fox may steal your hens, sir, - A whore your health and pence, sir, - Your daughter rob your chest, sir, - Your wife may steal your rest, sir, - A thief your goods and plate. - But this is all but picking, - With rest, pence, chest and chicken; - It ever was decreed, sir, - If lawyer's hand is fee'd, sir, - He steals your whole estate.Air XXII.Cotillon3- Youth's the season made for joys, - Love is then our duty, - She alone who that employs, - Well deserves her beauty. - Let's be gay, - While we may, - Beauty's a flower, despised in decay.CHORUS.3- Youth's the season, &c.Cotillon3- Let us drink and sport to-day, - Ours is not to-morrow. - Love with youth flies swift away, - Age is nought but sorrow. - Dance and sing, - Time's on the wing, - Life never knows the return of spring.CHORUS.3- Let us drink, &c.Air XXVI.4- Courtiers, Courtiers think it no harm, &c.4- Man may escape from rope and gun; - Nay, some have out-liv'd the doctor's pill; - Who takes a woman must be undone, - That basilisk is sure to kill. - The fly that sips treacle is lost in the sweets, - So he that tastes woman, woman, woman, - He that tastes woman, ruin meets.