The Harlot's Progress, The Rake's Progress Part 3

AIR V. _Lad's a Dunce._

_Thus finely set out, I'll make such a Rout, And top all the Rantipole Girls of the Town; With Glances so bright, Lords and Dukes I'll delight, And make all the Rakes with their Ready come down, The Stock-jobbing Cit, For a hundred I'll hit, While me he is rifling, I'll riflle his Purse; With Saint-like Smile I'll Zealots beguile, And make the fond Hypocrite freely disburse._

_Thus, thus in full Pow'r, I'll sweeten, I'll sour, I'll whindle, I'll bl.u.s.ter, I'll wheedle, I'll cant, I'll bubble, I'll blind, Make Fools of Mankind, Each Cully shall think he's my only Gallant, With such Supplies To Grandeur I'll rise, And revel in Pleasure, in Plenty and Ease, While in the dark, A favourite Spark, I'll keep at my Call to enjoy when I please._

After the Song they retire to the Bed; immediately is heard a knocking at the Door; the Maid looks out and perceives it to be the _Jew_, upon which she runs and tells her Mistress, who comes out with Harlequin in the utmost Confusion.--But she advises him to retire to the Bed, which he does; she sits down upon the _Settee_, and orders the Maid to let _Mordecai_ in--when he enters he seems angry that she made him wait so long at the Door, but is soon pacify'd when he sees _Kitty_ alone.--He sits down by her, and is very fond of her; then orders the Maid to get Tea, which she does--while they are drinking it, _Kitty_ appears in Confusion, and makes Signs to the Maid to let Harlequin out; but while he is attempting to steal away, he accidentally drops his Sword and Cane, which surprizes the _Jew_, who turning about perceives Harlequin, upon which Miss _Kitty_ in a Pa.s.sion over-sets the Tea-Table.--The _Jew_ enrag'd, runs to secure the Door, and is in the greatest Pa.s.sion with her, she laughs at him, and they sing the following _Duette_.

AIR VI. _Maidens as fresh as a Rose._

Kitty. _Farewell, good Mr._ Jew; _Now I hate your tawny Face; I'll have no more to do With you or any of your Race._

Jew. _Begone, you saucy Jade, I will ne'er believe thee more; Follow the_ Drury _Trade, Thou shalt ne'er deceive me more._

Kitty. _Then take your self away, Since I have chous'd you well, you Cull; But come another Day, When you have got your Pockets full._

Jew. _Be not so pert, my Dear, This Pride may shortly have a Fall, Soon shall I see or hear, Madam,_ in Bridewell, _milling Doll._

Repeat. _Soon shall I see or hear_, &c.

She repeats with him. _Ne'er more will I come near,_ _Such a pitiful pimping Fool._

After the Song he turns her and her Maid out of Doors, then pursues Harlequin.--A Picture falls down, Harlequin jumps thro' the Hangings, and the Picture returns to its place and conceals him.--The Subject of the Picture, which was before an Historical Story, is now chang'd to a Representation of the _Jew_ with Horns upon his Head.--While he stands in astonishment the other Picture changes likewise, and represents Harlequin and _Kitty_ embracing--upon which the _Jew_ runs out in the greatest surprize. Scene changes to the Street. Harlequin meets the _Jew_, who immediately draws; Harlequin catches him by the Leg, and throws him down, jumps over him, and runs off, the _Jew_ pursues him.----The Scene changes to a poor Apartment in _Drury-Lane_. (This is taken from the Third Print) _Kitty_ is discover'd sitting disconsolate by the Bedside, drinking of Tea, attended by _Bess Brindle_ (a Runner to the Ladies of Pleasure) Harlequin jumps in at the Window; she seems overjoy'd to see him--just as they are going to sit down to drink Tea, they hear a Noise without--Harlequin looks thro' the Key-hole, and discovers it to be the Justice, Constable, Watch, &c. He is very much surpris'd, and jumps into a Punch-Bowl that stands upon a Table, to hide himself--Justice _Mittimus_ enters with the Constable, &c. the Watch seize _Kitty_ and the Runner, and carry 'em off.--The Constable stays behind to pilfer what he can, during which, Harlequin creeps from under the Table; the Constable seeing him, goes to seize him, but he jumps thro' the Window and escapes--the Constable runs off.--The Scene changes to the Street. A melancholy Tune is play'd, while several Ladies of Pleasure (alias _unfortunate Women_) are led cross the Stage as going to _Bridewell_, with _Kitty_ and her Maid, the Bawd, &c. Three Justices bring up the Rear.--Scene changes to _Bridewell_. The Women are discover'd all leaning in an indolent manner upon their Blocks.--The Keeper enters, and seeing them so idle, threatens to beat 'em--as they take up their Hammers and Beetles, and are going to beat, the Blocks all vanish, and in their stead appear Harlequin, Scaramouch, _Pierrot_, and _Mezetin_, each takes out his Lady to dance, and signify they'll go to the _Ridotto al Fresco_; the Keeper runs away frighted, they all dance off.--Scene changes to the Street. A great Number of People pa.s.s over the Stage, as going to the _Ridotto_, among whom appears the Marquiss _ae Fresco_, perform'd by the little Harlequin Dog.

The Scene changes to the _Ridotto al Fresco_, illuminated with several Gla.s.s l.u.s.tres, (the Scene taken from the place at _Vaux-Hall_) Variety of People appear in Masquerade, and a grand Comic Ballad is perform'd by different Characters to _English_, _Scotch_, _Irish_ and _French_ Tunes, which concludes the whole.

Then follows the Masque of the _Judgment of Paris_, &C.

_F I N I S._

The Rake's Progress.

from W. Shaw.

The Rake's Progress.

("Hogarth's Series of Pictures Dramatised." P.G.P.)

25,997 British Museum

_The Rake's Progress_

_Before the Curtain--Prefaratory Address._

To wake the Soul by tender strokes of Art To raise the Genius & to mend the Heart To make mankind in conscious virtue bold Was Hogarth's wish while Rakewell's Tale he told, And strongly painted in gradations nice, The pomp of Folly, & the Shame of Vice, Reach'd thro' the laughing Eye--the mended Mind, And moral humour sportive art beguil'd; The Walks of humour were his cast of style, Which probing to the quick, yet makes us smile; 'Twas Comedy, his natural road to fame, (Nor let me call it by a meaner name).

Where a biginning, middle & and End Are aptly Join'd; where parts on parts depend, Each made for each, as Bodies for their Soul, So as to form one true & perfect whole, Where a plain story to the Eye is told, Which we conceive the moment we behold; This _we_ adopt, your Feelings to engage, And bring his glowing Portraits on the Stage, In action tell the workings of the mind And paint the Various follies of Mankind, Nor criticism the Attempt destroy, If with pure Gold we mingle an alloy, And his great Scenes where nature's self is shewn Connect with trifling sketches of our own Nor (to the moral Tale give ample Vigour) Deny the aid of allegoric Figure; But Vice & Virtue see this Mansion tread, And in preludium tow'rds the Story lead, Attentive view each action of our Rake, And 'plaud the actor for the Painter's Sake.

_Scene 1^{st}_

_Enter Vice._

_Recitative._ Deck'd in the gaieties of thoughtless Joy Let jocund Laughter in each orbit beam In mirth alone I pa.s.sing time Employ Attune my Voice & Pleasure is the Theme.

The Flowery maze of Pleasure is divine And Mortals bow at Vice's dazzling Shrine.

Air.--From Virue's sluggish Rules be free, Ye mortals who my Shrine adore, Dance, Laugh & Quaff, & sing like me, And dissipate the tasteless hour: In frolic, pastime, Sport & Play Revel in Joys your Lives away.

_Enter Virtue._

_Recitative._

_Vice._ But Virtue comes!--Offends my sickening Eye!

(Virtue touches the Scene & a Transparency of _Hogarth_ appears with a Scrool in his hand on which is inscribed "_The Rake's Progress_.")

And Hogarth!--Moral Painter too I see!

In dark oblivion shall thy Semblance lie, Hogarth & Virtue're enemies to me

(_Approaches to Destroy the Transparency._)

_Recitative._

_Virtue._ Forbear, forbear--by Hogarth is pourtray'd The Fate of those thy precepts have betray'd, As in a Mirror's seen each impious Joy, That Courts the Victim only to destroy.

And look--(_Vice goes off._) Appall'd Vice trembles at the Sound In virtue only is true Pleasure found. (_Exit._)

_Before the Drop--Enter Virtue._

_Air. Tune, "Mary's Dream."_

Beware--nor lur'd by Vice's Arts, A moment listen to her wiles, He who from Virtue's path departs In seas of trouble she beguiles; This Hogarth's living pictures shew View thoughtless man, by Vice undone, A warning 'tis design'd for you, Behold--& baneful pleasure Shun. (_Exit_)

_Scene 2^{nd}_ (_No Music._)