The
Rake's Progress.
from W. Shaw.
The Rake's Progress.
("Hogarth's Series of Pictures Dramatised." P.G.P.)
25,997 British Museum
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 & an 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.