University of Virginia Library

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.
[Bawd.]
AIR I. What tho' I am a Country Lass.

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.
[Debauchee.]
AIR II. Brisk Tom and Jolly Kate.

After the Song he follows her—the Pimp struts about and sings.
AIR III. Maggy Lawther.

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.
[Kitty.]
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.
[Kitty.]
AIR V. Lad's a Dunce.

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 Settée, 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.

Jew.

Kitty.

Jew.
Repeat.

She repeats with him.
[Jew., Kitty.]

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 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.