The Harlot's Progress, The Rake's Progress Part 4

A Loud knocking at Street Door

Enter _Starved Maid_ O.P.--She goes across so slow that the Knocking increases; just before she gets to the Door it is burst open by _Rake_ (a Youth from College) follow'd by _attorney_, _Upholsterer_ & _Clown Servant_. _Rake_ flourishes about, kicks against Closet Door, breaks it open. (Tune "Alteration") takes Keys from thence--Opens an Iron chest, a.s.sisted by _Clown_--_Rake_ scatters Cash about from out of Bags--Lawyer having sat down & produced a Paper with the Word "Inventory" written at Top, begins to count Cash, pocketing some at opportunities; _Upholsterer_ fetches a Ladder & goes to work to take down Tapestry. _Rake_ breaks open Bureau, throws parchments about; seeming to look for one in particular. _Clown_ having observed the _Lawyer_ pocke[ts] some Cash, places himself so near _Lawyer_, that he puts the money into _Clown's_ pocket, supposing to have put it into his own. A Knocking at the Door obliges _Clown_ to go. _Taylor_, with a Roll of Black Cloth, is introduced by _Clown_, much ceremony between _Taylor_ & _Clown_.--_Taylor_ proceeds & measures _Rake_. _Clown_ gets his fingers snipp'd for interfering. The Door having been left open--Enter _Starv'd Maid_ with wood; & goes to the Fireplace; _Clown_ then looking at _Upholsterer_ at Work, the money from the raftor falls into _Clown's_ mouth, at which he Spits & makes a piece of work as if hurt, puts his hand to his mouth & finding it is money Returns & holds up the flap of his coat to catch more. Enter P.S. _Mother & Daughter_, at sight of whom _Rake_ stands aghast.--Girl approaches him. _Rake_ turns from her--She retreats in Tears--_Mother_ enraged shews Letters--_Girl_ shews a Ring--_Rake_ takes a handful of Guineas, offers _mother_--who rejects them, striking his hand, scatters them on the Ground; _Lawyer_ Turns _Mother & Daughter_ out, placing _Clown_ with his back against the Door.

_Rake_ in great agitation, walks about, _Taylor_ following him to finish measuring him: Lawyer picking up the money & pocketing some.--_Clown_ points to _Rake_--who, on seeing _Lawyer_ at it, takes Rolls of Parchment & beats _Lawyer_ about the Head--upon which _Clown_ takes the Roll of Black Cloth & knocks it about _Taylor's_ head, _Taylor_ resists, _Upholsterer_ on his Ladder Laughs--The Scuffle increases, in which they knock down the Ladder, _Upholsterer_ falls--_Rake_ & _Clown_ turn them all out.

_Scene 3^{d}_

_Enter Mother & Daughter_

_Duett_--Tune--"An Old Woman Cloathed in Grey."

_Mother._ His Vows, ah! Why did'st thou believe?

He ne'er meant a promise to keep, He talk'd but of Love to decieve, Then Leave plunder'd Virtue to weep.

Yet Tears my Sad Chidings disarm, For thy fault Pity pleadingly moves In her Bosom Affection Shall warm The Daughter she tenderly loves.

_Daughter._ Dear Parent, oh! Cease to complain And heedfully hear thy lost Child Go tell the false ear of my Swain How deeply his Vows have beguil'd;-- Go tell him what sorrow I bear, See yet if his heart feel my woe, 'Tis now he must heal my despair, Or death will make pity too slow. _Exeunt._

_Scene 4^{th}_

Discovers all the _Characters_ in Waiting at Rake's Levee. _Italian_ Singing &c--_Clown_ introduces _Van Butchel_, who displays a variety of his Articles.--_Van Butchel_ Sings.

Song-- See Martin dus his goods display-- "Advice Two Guineas"--vat you say?

"Big Ben--John Hunter--Duc d'Orleans-- "Knows vat my regulations means; "De Gent I make of de aukward ninny, "But first to be sure I must touch de Guinea, "Den De Lame I vil make go dance de hay "And de old & decripid go jump away.

"Beware De Counterfiet if they should "Be imitate, as are all things good-- "On de Guinea--for to abash bad men "I have write my name wid de author's Pen.

"They'll cure you be sure if them once you lap on "Of all de complainings dat ever may happen, "De blind they'll make see to go dance the Hay, "And de Old & decripid vill jump away.

Enter _Rakewell_ to whom they all pay Court &c

_Medley._

_Poet._ To Rakewell, whose enlivening Features (Tune p.r.o.nounce him first of happy creatures Pet.i.tion By wealth a Croesus 'self Created, _Poor Vulcan_) This fair Epistle's Dedicated

_Dance^{g} Mas^{r}_ Look! Look! Look! (Spoke.) With my tun'd little Kit (Tune Every fancy I hit And merrily prance it _Black Joke_.) And caper & Dance it With Ease, Elegance & Grace

_Fenc.^{g} Mas^{r}_ Ha! ha!--there I had him Carte & Fierce my Blade (Tune La! La!--there I bled him-- Damme!--See, he's dead. _Stoney Batter_.) Tol lol lol do

_Van But_: Since 'mong your Friends I have gain'd me a place All who Gallows her vant, vy, I'll presently trace Not you (_to Bully_) for the Gallows is mark in your Face Vish you can't deny.

(Tune _Tyburn Tree_)

_Bully._ You Reptile! Scoundrel! Death! d.a.m.nation! (Tune Say that again, & by my Soul Finale _Gard.^{n.}_ My Garden plan I here unroll 1^{st} act _Bully._ I'll crush to atoms--Damme, Sirrah! _Poor Volcan_) _French.^{n.}_ While the Horn shall sound Ta, ran, tan, (Hunting ta ra Chorus _Jockey_. And Whip & Spur wins you the Bowl.-- _Poor Vulcan_)

_Chorus._ Tune--"Ballance a Straw"

_To Rake._-- In us, n.o.ble Sir, your best Friends you behold _To each other_ Who will smile in your Face while we pocket your Gold _To Rake._-- We'll write, -Sing, -Fence, Dance, Fight, Run, hunt,--all for thee (To each Other And plunder him fast as we can agree.

Shaking hands.--)

_Exeunt._

_Scene 5^{th}_

_Link Boys &c &c. The Characters in next Scene to pa.s.s from_ P.S. to O.P.

_Rakewell_--Well--but not full dup'd--_Chairmen_ take great notice of him bowing very low &c--_Clown_--loiters behind--seems well acquainted with _Constables_--_Chairmen Girls_ &c. _Clown_ treats _Constables_ with Beer & while drinking with them has his pocket picked.--During the Whole Scene the following Catch is Sung.

_Catch._--"See Bob, See, the play is done."

_Scene 6^{th}_

_Some Ladies discoverd--One President._

_Rake_: Enters they all get up & greet him, some kiss him (a _Black Girl & waiter_ on)--After much Ceremony they sit Other _Ladies & Gentlemen_ Enter--When all are Seated

_Omnes._ A Song! A Song!-- (NB: Plenty of Bottles & _Gla.s.ses on_.--)

_Ladies Sing a Duett._

_Rake_: Drinks freely during the Duett--When Ended

_Omnes._ Bravo! Bravo!

_Rake._ Continues drinking freely--the actor must let his intoxication gradually increase. They all Sing.

_a Catch._ Ladies & Gentlemen, Silence, Tomorrow night this play again I say no more--Encore--Encore

during the Catch--_Ballad Singer_ Enters & Joins them, Singing--"I say no more" &c--The Catch Ended the Scene Closes.

_Scene 7^{th}_

_Enter Bailiff & Follower._

_Song, Bailiff._

Tim Touch behold, as smart a Blade As ere a writ expos'd to view Who so genteely knows my Trade That I nabs my man, with a "How do you do"?

A Lodging Strong vil soon procure A Cage vere each may chaunt his lay, From rambling keep your Rake Secure, Because I has such a taking Vay.

(2.)

E'en Ma'am, so proud of grand Parade Who at the Race-course makes her Bett Or runs to Ball & Masquerade 'Till she runs herself o'er Ears in debt Tho 'my devoirs don't please her much, We meet, I every art essay She's mine by a Necromantic touch Because I has such a taking Vay.