the machine, it appears to turn stones into bread. Tom cries out in his sleep that he wishes it were true, and waking, finds the machine he has dreamt of. Nick hints that if such machines were mass-produced Tom could become a saviour of mankind and Tom sets out to market the machine, not knowing it is a sham. Act 3 and Epilogue The plan has failed – the act starts with the auction of the ruined Tom's property by the maniac auctioneer Sellem. The objects for sale include Baba, who has remained immobile since being silenced by the wig. When unwrapped, she resumes her tantrum, now directed at the auction-goers for disturbing her belongings, but calms down when Anne enters. Baba advises her to find Tom and "set him right", and warns her against Nick Shadow. She announces her intent to return to her life on the stage. In a graveyard, Nick reveals his identity and demands payment from Tom, in the form of his soul; but as midnight strikes, Nick offers him an escape in the form of a game of cards; this section is accompanied only by harpsichord. Tom wins, thanks to the benign influence of Anne. Defeated, Nick sinks into the ground, condemning Tom to insanity as he goes. Consigned to Bedlam, Tom believes he is Adonis. Anne ("Venus") visits him, sings him to sleep, then quietly leaves him. When he realises she has gone, he dies. In an epilogue, each of the principal characters gives a moral drawn from their scenes in the opera, and then come together to ascribe a final joint moral, "for idle hands, and hearts and minds, the Devil finds a work to do." Noted arias Shadow's Aria ("Come, master, observe the host of mankind.") Shadow's Departure ("I burn! I freeze!") Anne's Aria ("No word from Tom.") Tom Rakewell's Aria ("Here I stand...") Tom Rakewell's 2nd Aria (“Love Too Frequently Betrayed”) Tom Rakewell's 3rd Aria (“Vary the Song”) Baba the Turk's Aria and Monologue ("As I was saying, both brothers wore moustaches...") Anne's Lullaby ("Gently, little boat") Quotes Shadow (goading Tom into further ridiculous behaviour): No eye his future can foretell No law his past explain Whom neither Passion may compel Nor Reason can restrain. Recordings There have been more than half a dozen recordings of the opera. The Gala recording of the 1951 live performance is available. A Sony recording,