The Beggar's Opera
The Beggar's Opera Return to Renascence Editions The Beggar's Opera John Gay Transcribed, with an Introduction, Notes, and Bibliography, by R.S. Bear, University of Oregon, August 1992; html version created November 1995. Note on this edition: This text was prepared by R.S. Bear from a 1921 B. Huebsch edition of the 1765 text. The text is in the public domain; markup is copyright © The University of Oregon, 1995. Additions, emendations, or commments to the Publisher. Skip to: ● Act I. ● Act II. ● Act III. ● Notes. ● Bibliography. INTRODUCTION http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/%7Erbear/beggar.html (1 of 82)4/5/2005 4:27:43 AM The Beggar's Opera British Museum BAptized at Barnstaple, Devon, on September 16, 1685, during the reign of Charles II, John Gay was orphaned by the age of ten but raised by a kind uncle, who saw to his education at the local grammar school. On reaching adulthood, Gay was apprenticed to a mercer, but he disliked this occupation and found a post, in or near 1712, as secretary to the Duchess of Monmouth. In 1714, with the sponsorship of Jonathan Swift, Gay joined the household of Lord Clarendon, and journeyed with him to the Continent. Gay's friendly and ingratiating character won him many friends, not a few of whom were courtiers who found employment for him, either in their own households, or with the Government, throughout his life. Immediately after losing a small fortune in the South Sea Bubble, Gay was appointed Lottery Commissioner (!!), a post he held nearly to the end of his life.
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