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Mr. William Hogarth.
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CIBBER in the Character of Antient PISTOL.
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THE HARLOT's PROGRESS; OR, THE RIDOTTO AL' FRESCO: A Groteſque Pantomime Entertainment. As it is perform'd by his Majeſty's Company of Comedians AT THE THEATRE-ROYAL in Drury-Lane. Compos'd by Mr. Theophilus Cibber, Comedian. The SONGS made (to old Ballad Tunes) by a Friend.

Printed for the Benefit of Richard Croſs the Prompter; and Sold at the Theatre. 1733. [Price Six Pence.]

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THIS ENTERTAINMENT Is Dedicated to the Ingenious Mr. HOGARTH, (On Whoſe Celebrated Deſigns it is Plan'd,)

By his Well wiſher, and obliged Humble Servant, Theo. Cibber.

Perſons in the Harlot's Progreſs.

[]
Harlequin,
Mr. Le Brun.
Beau Mordecai,
Mr. Stoppelaer.
Old Debauchee,
Mr. Berry.
Juſtice Mittimus,
Mr. Mullart.
Monſ. Poudre,
Mr. Oates.
Conſtable,
Mr. Jones.
Keeper,
Mr. Burnet.
Porter,
Mr. Peploe.
Pompey,
Y. Grace.
Beadles,
  • Mr. Gray.
  • Mr. Wright.
Miſs Kitty,
Miſs Raftor.
Madam Decoy,
Mrs. Mullart.
Jenny,
Mrs. Grace.
Beſs Brindle,
Mr. Leigh.
Perſons in the Ridotto al' Freſco.
  • Les Capricieux by Mr. Eſſex and Miſs Robinſon.
  • The Hungarians by Mr. Houghton and Mrs. Walter.
  • The Fingalians by Mr. Lally Sen. and Miſs Mears.
  • Scaramouch, Pierot, and Mezetin by Mr. Lally, Junior, Mr. Tench, and Mr. Stoppelaer.
  • Ladies of Pleaſure by Miſs Mann, Miſs Atherton and Miſs Price.
  • The Marquiſs de Freſco by Monſieur Arlequin en Chien.

THE HARLOT's PROGRESS; OR THE RIDOTTO AL FRESCO:

[5]

AFTER the Overture, the Curtain riſes;—the Scene repreſents an Inn; The Bawd, the Country Girl, the Debauchee and the Pimp, all rang'd as they are in the firſt Print.—The Parſon on the Right Hand, reading the Letter, ſoon goes off—while the Bawd is perſuading the Girl to go along with her, Harlequin appears at the Window, and ſeeing the Country Girl, jumps down, and gets into a Trunk which belongs to her, while the Bawd ſings.

[6]AIR I. What tho' I am a Country Laſs.
Let Country Damſels plainly nice,
In Home-ſpun Ruſſet go, Sir;
While, Frolick we, chearful as wiſe,
More pleaſing Tranſports know, Sir.
They dull and coy,
Refuſe the Joy,
All baſhful void of Skill-a:
We gay and free
To each fond He
Yield up our ſelves at Will-a.
At laſt our Youth and Charms decay'd,
Like old experienc'd Sinners,
We follow the procuring Trade,
And train up young Beginners.
Thus ample Gains,
Reward our Pains;
Then mock not our Profeſſion,
Like Courtiers we,
Secure the Fee,
And laugh at the Tranſgreſſion.

After the Song, the Bawd beckons a Porter, orders him to take up the Trunk and follow her and the Girl, which he does, with Harlequin in it.—Then the Debauchee comes forward, who ſeems to be enamour'd with the Girl; the Pimp aſſures him he can procure her for him, upon which the Debauchee ſeems rejoic'd and ſings in Praiſe of Women and Wine.

[7]AIR II. Brisk Tom and Jolly Kate.
Brisk Wine and Women are,
The Sum of all our Joy;
A Brimmer ſoftens every Care,
And Beauty ne'er can cloy:
Then let us Drink and Love,
While ſtill our Hearts are gay,
Women and Wine, by turns ſhall prove,
Our Bleſſings Night and Day.

After the Song he follows her—the Pimp ſtruts about and ſings.

AIR III. Maggy Lawther.
Pimping is a Science, Sir,
The only Mode and Faſhion,
To Virtue bids Defiance, Sir,
'Tis the Glory of the Nation.
In City, Country, or in Court,
It is the Coup d' Grace, Sir;
If you your Patron's Vice ſupport,
You need not fear a Place, Sir.
The Lawyer pimps to gain a Coif,
While Porters pimp for Hire;
Kind Betty ſerves his Worſhip's Wife,
The Page pimps for the Squire.
'Tis pimping gains a large Eſtate,
Makes Valets wear their Swords, Sir,
For Pimps oft look as big and great,
As any Duke or Lord, Sir.

[8] After the Song he follows the Debauchee.—The Scene changes to the Street; the Debauchee having found Harlequin in Company with Miſs Kitty, turns her out of Doors, and the Pimp kicks out Harlequin; Kitty goes out in the greateſt Diſtreſs—Harlequin by his Action ſignifies he's in Love, and is in doubt whether to hang or drown himſelf, or cut his Throat, &c. At length he reſolves to follow her, and determines to dreſs himſelf like a ſmart Cadet, in order to addreſs her: To accompliſh which he ſtrikes the Ground, and there riſes a Dreſſing-Table fix'd in a Cloud, furniſh'd with all neceſſary Appurtenances.—After he is dreſt, the Table vaniſhes and he goes out. The Scene changes to the Lodging that Beau Mordecai has provided for Kitty, whom he has juſt taken into high Keeping. (This Scene is taken from the Second Print) ſhe is diſcovered lolling upon a Settée, attended by her Maid and Black-Boy, admiring the Grandeur of which ſhe is poſſeſs'd, and then ſings.

AIR IV. Oh! what Pleaſures will abound.
Who wou'd not a Miſtreſs be,
Kept in Splendor thus like me?
Deckt in golden rich Array,
Sparkling at each Ball and Play!
Gaily toying,
Sweets enjoying
Foreign to that thing a Wife,
Flirting, flaunting,
Jilting, jaunting,
Oh the Charming happy Life!

[9] After the Song Harlequin creeps from under her Toilet, in the Habit of the Cadet, and courts Miſs Kitty; ſhe appears Coy at firſt, but at length yields to him.—Then ſings.

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 riftle 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 bluſter, 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 [10] 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 Settèe, 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 Paſſion over-ſets the Tea-Table.—The Jew enrag'd, runs to ſecure the Door, and is in the greateſt Paſſion 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.
[11]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, [12] &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 paſs over the Stage, as going to the Ridotto, among whom appears the Marquiſs de Freſco, perform'd by the little Harlequin Dog.

The Scene changes to the Ridotto al Freſco, illuminated with ſeveral Glaſs Luſtres, (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.

FINIS.
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Citation Suggestion for this Object
TextGrid Repository (2020). TEI. 4540 The harlot s progress or the ridotto al fresco a grotesque pantomime entertainment As it is perform d by his Majesty s Company of comedians at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane Compos d by Mr Theo. University of Oxford Text Archive. . https://hdl.handle.net/21.T11991/0000-001A-5CCF-5