Origin Of The Beggar's Opera
It was Swift that first suggested to Gay the idea of the Beggar's
Opera, by remarking, what an odd, pretty sort of a thing a Newgate
pastoral might make! "Gay," says Pope, "was inclined to try at such a
thing for some time; but afterwards thought it would be better to write
a comedy on the same plan. This was what gave rise to the Beggar's
Opera. He began on it; and when he first mentioned it to Swift, the
doctor did n
what he wrote to both of us; and we now and then gave a correction, or a
word or two of advice, but it was wholly of his own writing. When it was
done, neither of us thought it would succeed. We showed it to Congreve,
who, after reading it over, said, 'It would either take greatly, or be
damned confoundedly.' We were all, at the first sight of it, in great
uncertainty of the event, till we were very much encouraged by hearing
the Duke of Argyle, who sat in the next box to us, say, 'It will do--I
see it in the eyes of them.' This was a good while before the first act
was over, and so gave us ease soon; for the Duke (besides his own good
taste) has as particular a knack as any one now living, in discovering
the taste of the public. He was quite right in this, as usual; the good
nature of the audience appeared stronger and stronger every act, and
ended in a clamour of applause."
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