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. _F I N I S._ The Rake's Progress. from W. Shaw. The Rake's Progress. ("Hogarth's Series of Pictures Dramatised." P.G.P.) 25,997 British Museum _The Rake's Progress_ _Before the Curtain--Prefaratory Address._ To wake the Soul by tender strokes of Art To raise the Genius & to mend the Heart To make mankind in conscious virtue bold Was Hogarth's wish while Rakewell's Tale he told, And strongly painted in gradations nice, The pomp of Folly, & the Shame of Vice, Reach'd thro' the laughing Eye--the mended Mind, And moral humour sportive art beguil'd; The Walks of humour were his cast of style, Which probing to the quick, yet makes us smile; 'Twas Comedy, his natural road to fame, (Nor let me call it by a meaner name). Where a biginning, middle & and End Are aptly Join'd; where parts on parts depend, Each made for each, as Bodies for their Soul, So as to form one true & perfect whole, Where a plain story to the Eye is told, Which we conceive the moment we behold; This _we_ adopt, your Feelings to engage, And bring his glowing Portraits on the Stage, In action tell the workings of the mind And paint the Various follies of Mankind, Nor criticism the Attempt destroy, If with pure Gold we mingle an alloy, And his great Scenes where nature's self is shewn Connect with trifling sketches of our own Nor (to the moral Tale give ample Vigour) Deny the aid of allegoric Figure; But Vice & Virtue see this Mansion tread, And in preludium tow'rds the Story lead, Attentive view each action of our Rake, And 'plaud the actor for the Painter's Sake. * * * * * _Scene 1^{st}_ _Enter Vice._ _Recitative._ Deck'd in the gaieties of thoughtless Joy Let jocund Laughter in each orbit beam In mirth alone I passing time Employ Attune my Voice & Pleasure is the Theme. The Flowery maze of Pleasure is divine And Mortals bow at Vice's dazzling Shrine.