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.]
THIS ENTERTAINMENT
Is Dedicated to the Ingenious Mr. _H O G A R T H_,
(On Whose Celebrated Designs it is Plan"d,)
_By his Well-wisher,_ _and obliged_ _Humble Servant_,
Theo. Cibber.
_Sat.u.r.day, March_ _31st, 1733._
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. _Ess.e.x_ 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 Marquis _de Fresco_ by Monsieur _Arlequin en Chien_.
THE HARLOT"S PROGRESS; OR, THE _RIDOTTO AL" FRESCO_:
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.
AIR I. What tho" I am a Country La.s.s.
_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 a.s.sures him he can procure her for him, upon which the _Debauchee_ seems rejoic"d and sings in Praise of Women and Wine.
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._
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 _Settee_, 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!_
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.