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was big with gratitude, and endeavoured to prevent his acknowledgements, by asking pardon for the liberty I had taken: he made no reply, but, with an aspect full of admiration and esteem, bowed to the ground, while the tears gushed from his eyes. Affected with these symptoms of an ingenuous mind, I shift

late myself, when I considered my situation. | I perceived by his countenance that his heart I was interrupted in the midst of these gloomy apprehensions by the arrival of Strap, who contributed not a little to the re-establishment of my peace, by letting me know that he had hired himself as a journeyman barber; by which means he would be able not only to save me a considerable expense, but even make a shift to lay up something for my sub-ed the conversation, and complimented him sistence after my money should be spent, in case I should not be relieved before.

CHAPTER LXII.

I read Melopoyn's tragedy, and conceive a vast opinion of his genius-he recounts his adventures.

WHILE We ate our breakfast together, I made him acquainted with the character and condition of the poet, who came in with his play at that instant, and, imagining we were engaged about business, could not be prevailed upon to sit, but, leaving his performance, went away. My friend's tender heart was melted at the sight of a gentleman and Christian (for he had a great veneration for both these epithets) in such misery, and assented with great cheerfulness to a proposal I made of clothing him with our superfluities; a task with which he charged himself, and departed immediately to perform it.

on his performance, which, I assured him, afforded me infinite pleasure. My approbation made him happy. Dinner being served, and Jackson arrived, I begged their permission for Strap to sit at table with us, after having informed them that he was a person to whom I was extremely obliged: they were kind enough to grant that favour, and we ate together with great harmony and satisfaction.

46

Our meal being ended, I expressed my wonder at the little regard Mr Melopoyn had met with from the world; and signified a desire of hearing how he had been treated by the managers of the playhouses, to whom I understood from Jackson he had offered his tragedy without success. There is so little entertaining in the incidents of my life," said he, "that I am sure the recital will not recompence your attention; but, since you discover an inclination to know them, I understand my duty too well to disappoint your desire.

"My father, who was a curate in the country, being, by the narrowness of his circumHe was no sooner gone, than I locked my stances, hindered from maintaining me at the door, and sat down to the tragedy, which I university, took the charge of my education read to the end with vast pleasure, not a lit- upon himself, and laboured with such industle amazed at the conduct of the managers try and concern in the undertaking, that I who had rejected it. The fable, in my opin- had little cause to regret the want of public ion, was well chosen, and naturally conduc- masters. Being at great pains to consult ted; the incidents interesting; the characters my natural bias, he discovered in me betimes beautifully contrasted, strongly marked, and an inclination for poetry; upon which he well supported; the diction poetical, spirited, recommended me to an intimate acquainand correct; the unities of the drama main-tance with the classics, in the cultivation of tained with the most scrupulous exactness; which he assisted me with paternal zeal and the opening gradual and engaging; the peri- uncommon erudition. When he thought peteia surprising and the catastrophe affect- me sufficiently acquainted with the ancients, ing; in short, I judged it by the laws of he directed my studies to the best modern Aristotle and Horace, and could find nothing authors, French and Italian, as well as Enin it exceptionable, but a little too much em-glish, and laid a particular injunction upon bellishment in some few places; which ob- me to make myself master of my mother jection he removed to my satisfaction, by a tongue. quotation from Aristotle's Poetics, importing, that the least interesting parts of a poem ought to be raised and dignified by the charms and energy of diction.

I revered his genius, and was seized with an eager curiosity to know the particular events of a fortune so unworthy of his merit. At this instant Strap returned with a bundle of clothes, which I sent with my compliments to Mr Melopoyn, as a small token of my regard, and desired the favour of his company to dinner. He accepted my present and invitation, and in less than half an hour made his appearance in a decent dress, which altered his figure very much to his advantage.

About the age of eighteen, I grew ambitious of undertaking a work of some consequence; and, with my father's approbation, actually planned the tragedy you have read; but, before I had finished four acts, that indulged parent died, and left my mother and me in very indigent circumstances. A near relation, compassionating our distress, took us into his family, where I brought my fable to a conclusion; and soon after that period my mother quitted, this life. When my sorrow for this melancholy event had subsided, I told my kinsman, who was a farmer, that, having paid my last duty to my parent, I had now no attachment to detain me in the

work of iron. Through this a servant, having viewed me for some time, demanded to know my business. I told him my business was with Mr Supple, and that I came from Mr O'Varnish. He examined my appearance once more, then went away, returned in a few minutes, and said his master was busy, and could not be seen. Although I was a little mortified at my disappointment, I was persuaded that my reception was owing to Mr Supple's ignorance of my errand; and, that I might meet with no more obstructions of the same kind, I desired Mr O'Varnish to be my introductor the next time. He complied with my request, and obtained immediate admittance to the manager, who received me with the utmost civility, and promised to read my play with the first convenience. By his own appointment I called again in a fortnight, but he was gone out; I returned in a week after, and the poor gentleman was extremely ill; I renewed my visit in a fortnight after that, and he assured me he had been so much fatigued with business, that he had not been able as yet to read it to an end, but he would take the first opportunity; and, in the mean time, observed, that what he had just seen of it was very entertaining. I comforted myself with this declaration a few weeks longer, at the end of which I appeared again before his wicket, was let in, and found him laid up with the gout. I no sooner entered his chamber, than, looking at me with a languishing eye, he said," Mr Melopoyn, I'm heartily sorry for an accident that has happened during my illness. You must know, that my eldest boy, finding your manuscript upon the table in the dining-room, where I used to read it, carried it into the kitchen, and leaving it there, a negligent wench of a cook-maid, mistaking it for waste paper, has expended it all but a few leaves in singing fowls upon the spit. But I hope the misfortune is not irreparable, since, no doubt, you have several copies."

country, and therefore was resolved to set out for London, and offer my play to the stage, where I did not doubt of acquiring a large share of fame as well as fortune; in which case I should not be unmindful of my friends and benefactors. My cousin was ravished with the prospect of my felicity, and willingly contributed towards the expense of fitting me out for my expedition. "Accordingly I took a place in the wag. on, and arrived in town, where I hired an apartment in a garret, willing to live as frugal as possible, until I should know what I had to expect from the manager, to whom I intended to offer my play. For, though I looked upon myself as perfectly secure of a good reception, imagining that a patentee would be as eager to receive as I to present my production, I did not know whether or not he might be pre-engaged in favour of another author; a circumstance that would certainly retard my success. On this consideration, too, I determined to be speedy in my application, and even to wait upon one of the managers the very next day. For this purpose, I inquired of my landlord if he knew where either or both of them lived; and he being curious to know my business, and at the same time appearing to be a very honest friendly man (a tallow-chandler), I made him acquainted with my design; upon which he told me that I went the wrong way to work; that I would not find such easy access to a manager as I imagined; and that, if I delivered my performance without proper recommendation, it would be as one to a thousand if ever it should be minded. "Take my advice," said he, "and your business is done. One of the patentees is a good catholic, as I am, and uses the same father who confesses me. I will make you acquainted with this good priest, who is an excellent scholar; and if he should approve of your play, his recommendation will go a great way in determining Mr Supple to bring it on the stage." I applauded his expedient, and "I protest to you, my good friend, Mr was introduced to the friar; who, having Random, I was extremely shocked at this perused the tragedy, was pleased to signify information; but the good-natured gentlehis approbation, and commended me in par- man seemed to be so much affected with my ticular for having avoided all reflections misfortune, that I suppressed my concern, upon religion. He promised to use all his and told him, that although I had no other influence with his son Supple in my behalf, copy, I should be able to retrieve the loss and to inform himself that very day at what by writing another from my memory, which time it would be proper for me to wait upon was very tenacious. You cannot imagine him with the piece. He was punctual in per- how well pleased Mr Supple was at this asforming his engagement; and next morning surance; he begged I would set about it imgave me to understand that he had mentioned mediately, and carefully revolve and recollect my affair to the manager, and that I had no every circumstance, before I pretended to more to do than to go to his house any time commit it to paper, that it might be the same in the forenoon, and make use of his name, individual play that he had perused. Encouupon which I should find immediate admit- raged by this injunction, which plainly detance. I took his advice, put my perform- monstrated how much he interested himself ance in my bosom, and having received di- in the affair, I tasked my remembrance and rections, went immediately to the house of industry, and in three weeks produced the Mr Supple, and knocked at the door, which exact image of the former, which was conhad a wicket in the middle, faced with a net-veyed to him by my good friend Father

to a bookseller for a pretty sum of ready
money, and perhaps establish my own
character into the bargain.
This event
would infallibly procure friends, and my
tragedy would appear next season to the
best advantage, by being supported both by
interest and reputation. I was charmed

O'Varnish, who told me the next day that Mr Supple would revise it superficially, in order to judge of its sameness with the other, and then give his final answer. For this examination I allotted a week; and, in full confidence of seeing it acted in a little while, demanded an audience of the manager, when that term was expired. But, alas! the sea-with this prospect; and having heard what son had slipped away insensibly; he convinced me, that, if my play had been put into rehearsal at that time, it could not have been ready for performing until the end of March, when the benefit nights came on; consequently it would have interfered with the interest of the players, whom it was not my business to disoblige.

friends Mr Pope acquired by his pastorals, set about a work of that kind, and in less than six weeks composed as many eclogues, which I forthwith offered to an eminent bookseller, who desired me to leave them for his perusal, and he would give me an answer in two days. At the end of that time I went to him, when he returned the poems, telling me they would not answer his purpose, and sweetened his refusal by saying there were some good clever lines in them. Not a little dejected at this rebuff, which, I learned from Mr O'Varnish, was owing to the opinion of another author, whom this bookseller always consulted on these occasions, I applied to another person of the same profession, who told me, the town was cloyed with pastorals, and advised me, if I intended to profit by my talents, to write something satirical or luscious, such as the Button Hole, Shockey and Towzer, the Leaky Vessel, &c.-and yet this was a man in years, who wore a reverend periwig, looked like a senator, and went regularly to church. Be that as it will, I scorned

"I was fain to acquiesce in these reasons, which, to be sure, were extremely just, and to reserve my performance for the next season, when he hoped I would not be so unlucky; although it was a grievous disappointment to me, who by this time began to want both money and necessaries, having, on the strength of my expectation from the theatre, launched out into some extravagances, by which the sum I brought to town was already almost consumed. Indeed, I ought to be ashamed at the circumstance of my conduct, for my finances were sufficient, with good economy, to have maintained me comfortably a whole year. You will perhaps be amazed when I tell you, that in six months I expended not a farthing less than ten guineas; but when one considers the temp-to prostitute my pen in the manner he protations to which a young man is exposed in this great city, especially if he is addicted to pleasure, as I am, the wonder will vanish, or at least abate. Nor was the cause of my concern limited to my own situation entirely; I had written an account of my good reception to my kinsman the farmer, and desired him to depend upon me for the money he had kindly accommodated me with about the end of February; which promise I now found myself unable to perform. However, there was no remedy but patience; I applied to my landlord, who was a very good-natured man, candidly owned my distress, and begged his advice in laying down some plan for my subsistence. He readily promised to consult his confessor on this subject, and told me I was welcome, in the mean time, to lodge and board with him, until fortune should put it in my power to make resti

tution.

"Mr O'Varnish being informed of my necessity, offered to introduce me to the author of a weekly paper, who, he did not doubt, would employ me in that way, provided he should find me duly qualified; but, upon inquiry, I understood that this journal was calculated to foment divisions in the commonwealth, and therefore I desired to be excused from engaging in it. He then proposed that I should write something in the poetical way, which I might dispose of

posed, and carried my papers to a third, who assured me, that poetry was entirely out of his way; and asked if I had got never a piece of secret history, thrown into a series of letters, or a volume of adventures, such as those of Robinson Crusoe and Colonel Jack, or a collection of conundrums, wherewith to entertain the plantations? Being quite unfurnished for this dealer, I had recourse to another with as little success; and I verily believe was rejected by the whole trade.

"I was afterwards persuaded to offer myself as a translator, and accordingly repaired to a person, who was said to entertain numbers of that class in his pay. He assured me he had already a great deal of that work on his hands, which he did not know what to do with; observed that translation was a mere drug, that branch of literature being overstocked with an inundation of authors from North Briton; and asked what I would expect per sheet for rendering the Latin classics into English-That I might not make myself too cheap, I determined to set a high price upon my qualifications, and demanded half a guinea for every translated sheet. "Half a guinea!" cried he, staring at me, then paused a little, and said, he had no occasion for my service at present. I found my error, and, resolving to make amends, fell one half in my demand; upon

which he stared at me again, and told me | empty praise (you know, my dear friend) will his hands were full. I attempted others, not supply the cravings of nature. I found without finding employment, and was actu- myself in danger of starving in the midst of ally reduced to a very uncomfortable pros- all my fame; for of ten songs I composed, it pect, when I bethought myself of offering my was well if two had the good fortune to talents to the printers of halfpenny ballads, please. For this reason I turned my thoughts and other such occasional essays as are to prose, and, during a track of gloomy hawked about the streets. With this view, weather, published an apparition, on the I applied to one of the most noted and voci- substance of which I subsisted very comfortferous of this tribe, who directed me to a ably a whole month: I have made many a person whom I found entertaining a whole good meal upon a monster; a rape has often crowd of them with gin, bread and cheese. afforded me great satisfaction; but a murder, He carried me into a little back parlour, very well timed, was my never-failing resource. neatly furnished, where I signified my desire What then? I was a most miserable slave of being enrolled among his writers and to my employers, who expected to be furwas asked what kind of composition I pro- nished at a minute's warning with prose and fessed. Understanding that my inclination verse, just as they thought the circumstances leaned towards poetry, he expressed his of the times required, whether the inclinasatisfaction, telling me one of his poets had tion was absent or present. Upon my sinlost his senses, and was confined in bedlam, cerity, Mr Random, I have been so much and the other was become dosed with drink-pestered and besieged by those children of ing drams; so that he had not done any clamour, that life became a burden to me. thing tolerable these many weeks. When I proposed that we should enter into terms of agreement, he gave me to understand, that his bargains were always conditional, and

CHAPTER LXIII.

his authors paid in proportion to the sale of The continuation and conclusion of Mr their works.

Melopoyn's story.

"Having therefore settled these conditions, which (I do assure you) were not very ad- "I MADE shift, notwithstanding, to mainvantageous to me, he assigned me a subject tain myself till the beginning of next winter, for a ballad, which was to be finished in two when I renewed my addresses to my friend hours; and I retired to my garret in order to Mr Supple, and was most graciously received. perform his injunction. As the theme hap-I have been thinking of your affair, Mr Mepened to suit my fancy, I completed a pretty lopoyn,' said he, and am determined to show sort of an ode within the time prescribed, how far I have your interest at heart, by inand brought it to him, big with hope of profit troducing you to a young nobleman of my and applause. He read it in a twinkling, acquaintance, who is remarkable for his fine and, to my utter astonishment, told me, it taste in dramatic writings, and is, besides, a would not do, though indeed he owned I man of such influence, that, if once he should wrote a good hand, and spelled very well, approve of your play, his patronage will supbut my language was too high flown, and of port it against all the efforts of envy and igconsequence not at all adapted to the capa- norance: for I do assure you, that merit city and taste of his customers. I promised alone will not bring success. I have already to rectify that mistake, and in half an hour spoke of your performance to Lord Rattle, humbled my style to the comprehension of and if you will call at my house in a day or vulgar readers he approved of the alteration, two, you shall have a letter of introduction and gave me some hopes of succeeding in to his lordship.' I was sensibly touched time, though he observed, that my perform- with this mark of Mr Supple's friendship, ance was very deficient in the quaintness of and looking upon my affair as already done, expression that pleases the multitude; how- went home and imparted my good fortune to ever, to encourage me, he ventured the my landlord, who, to render my appearance expense of printing and paper, and, if I re- more acceptable to my patron, procured a member aright, my share of the sale amount-suit of new clothes for me on his own credit. ed to fourpence halfpenny. "Not to trouble you with idle particulars, "From that day I studied the Grub-street I carried my tragedy to his lordship's lodg manner with great diligence, and at lengthings, and sent it up, along with Mr Supple's became such a proficient, that my works letter, by one of his servants, who desired were in great request among the most polite me, by his lord's order, to return in a week. of the chairmen, draymen, hackney coach- I did so, and was admitted to his lordship, men, footmen, and servant maids: nay, I have enjoyed the pleasure of seeing my productions, adorned with cuts, pasted upon the wall as ornaments in beer cellars and cobblers' stalls, and have actually heard them sung in clubs of substantial tradesmen. But

who received me very courteously, told me he had perused my play, which he thought, on the whole, was the best coup d'essai he had ever seen; but that he had marked some places in the margin, which he imagined might be altered for the better. I was trans

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ported with this reception, and promised (with many acknowledgements of his lordship's generosity), to be governed solely by his advice and direction. Well, then,' said he, write another fair copy with the alterations I have proposed, and bring it to me as soon as possible; for I am resolved to have it brought on the stage this winter.' You may be sure I set about this task with alacrity; and although I found his lordship's remarks much more numerous, and of less importance, than I expected, I thought it was not my interest to dispute upon trifles with my patron; therefore new modelled it, according to his desire, in less than a month.

"When I waited upon him with the manuscript, I found one of the actors at breakfast with his lordship, who immediately introduced him to my acquaintance, and desired him to read a scene of my play. This task he performed very much to my satisfaction, with regard to emphasis and pronunciation; but he signified his disgust at several words in every page, which I presuming to defend, Lord Rattle told me, with a peremptory look, I must not pretend to dispute with him, who had been a player these twenty years, and understood the economy of the stage better than any man living. I was forced to submit, and his lordship proposed the same actor should read the whole play in the evening, before some gentlemen of his acquaintance, whom he would convene at his lodgings for that purpose.

"I was present at the reading; and I protest to you, my dear friend, I never underwent such a severe trial in the whole course of my life as at that juncture; for although the player might be a very honest man, and a good performer, he was excessively illiterate and assuming, and made a thousand frivolous objections, which I was not permitted to answer: however, the piece was very much applauded on the whole; the gentlemen present, who, I understood, were men of fortune, promised to countenance and support it as much as they could; and Lord Rattle assuring me that he would act the part of a careful nurse to it, desired me to carry it home, and alter it immediately according to their remarks. I was fain to acquiesce in his determination, and fulfilled his injunctions with all the expedition in my power; but, before I could present the new copy, my good friend Mr Supple had disposed of his property and patent to one Mr Brayer; so that fresh interest was to be made with the new manager. This task Lord Rattle undertook, having some acquaintance with him, and recommended my performance so strongly that it was received.

"I looked upon myself now as upon the eve of reaping the fruits of all my labour: I waited a few days in expectation of its being put into rehearsal, and wondering at the delay, applied to my worthy patron, who ex

cused Mr Brayer, on account of the multiplicity of business in which he was involved, and bade me beware of teasing the patentee. I treasured this caution, and exerted my patience three weeks longer; at the end of which his lordship gave me to understand that Mr Brayer had read my play, and owned it had indubitable merit; but as he had long been pre-engaged to another author, he could not possibly represent it that season; though, if I would reserve it for the next, and, in the interim, make such alterations as he had proposed by observations on the margin, I might depend upon his compliance.

Thunderstruck at this disappointment, I could not, for some minutes, utter one syllable. At length, however, I complained bitterly of the manager's insincerity in amusing me so long, when he knew from the beginning that he could not gratify my desire. But his lordship reprimanded me for my freedom, said Mr Brayer was a man of honour, and imputed his behaviour with respect to me to nothing else but forgetfulness. And indeed I have had some reason, since that time, to be convinced of his bad memory; for, in spite of appearances, I will not allow myself to interpret his conduct in any other way. Lord Rattle, observing me very much affected with my disappointment, offered his interest to bring on my play at the other house, which I eagerly accepting, he forthwith wrote a letter of recommendation to Mr Bellower, actor, and prime minister to Mr Vandal, proprietor of that theatre, and desired me to deliver it with my tragedy without loss of time. Accordingly I hastened to his house, where, after having waited a whole hour in a lobby, I was admitted to his presence, and my performance received with great state. He told me he was extremely busy at present, but he would peruse it as soon as possible, and bade me call again in a week. I took my leave, not a little astonished at the port and supercilious behaviour of this stage-player, who had not treated me with good manners; and began to think the dignity of a poet greatly impaired since the days of Euripides and Sophocles; but all this was nothing in comparison of what I have since observed.

"Well, Mr Random, I went back at the appointed time, and was told that Mr Bellower was engaged, and could not see me. I repeated my visit a few days after, and, having waited a considerable time, was favoured with an audience, during which, he said, he had not as yet read my play. Nettled at this usage, I could contain myself no longer, but telling him, I imagined he would have paid more deference to Lord Rattle's recommendation, demanded my manuscript with some expressions of resentment. ‘Ay,' said he, in a theatrical tone, with all my heart.' Then pulling out a drawer of the bureau at which he sat, he took out a bundle,

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