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.

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.

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

[8] After the Song he follows the Debauchee.—The Scene changes to the Street; the Debauchee having found Har⯑lequin 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 ſig⯑nifies he's in Love, and is in doubt whether to hang or drown himſelf, or cut his Throat, &c. At length he re⯑ſolves 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 Appur⯑tenances.—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.

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

After the Song they retire to the Bed; immediately is heard a knocking at the Door; the Maid looks out and per⯑ceives [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 acciden⯑tally 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 en⯑rag'd, runs to ſecure the Door, and is in the greateſt Paſſion with her, ſhe laughs at him, and they ſing the following Duette.

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 Bed⯑ſide, drinking of Tea, attended by Beſs Brindle (a Runner to the Ladies of Pleaſure) Harlequin jumps in at the Win⯑dow; ſhe ſeems overjoy'd to ſee him—juſt as they are go⯑ing 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 Ham⯑mers 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 Maſ⯑querade, and a grand Comic Ballad is perform'd by diffe⯑rent Characters to Engliſh, Scotch, Iriſh and French Tunes, which concludes the whole.

Then follows the Maſque of the Judgment of Paris, &c.