had pocketed nearly £4000. It was well said that this play made Rich gay, and Gay rich.
Lavinia Fenton had been tempted by Rich from the Haymarket to Lincoln's Inn Fields to act the part of Polly in The Beggars' Opera at a salary of 15s. per week, but owing to the enormous success of the play he raised it to 30s.; and such was the rage of the town respecting her that she was obliged to be guarded home every night by a considerable party of her confidential friends, to prevent her being hurt by the crowd or being run away with. The Duke of Bolton became enamoured of her—took her under his protection, as the euphemism went. The Duke was then in the prime of life, living apart from his wife. "Polly" was not remarkably pretty, but she had a charming manner and a delicious voice. Wharton tells us that he knew her, and could testify to her wit, intelligence, and good manners. "Her conversation," says he, "was admired by the first characters of the age, particularly the old Lord Bathurst and Lord Grenville." She and the Duke had several quarrels, and after one very serious explosion he gave her notice to quit the house.
She retired to her room, assumed the costume of Polly Peachum, returned, and presenting herself before him in all the grace and charm with which she had first won him, with tears in her eyes, sang—
Oh, what pain it is to part!
Can I leave thee? Can I leave thee?
Oh, what pain it is to part!
Can thy Polly ever leave thee?
to the air "Gin thou wert mine ain thing," to which it had been set by Gay.
Touched by the remembrance of the past and by her witchery of manner, the Duke opened his arms, she
