The Adventures of Roderick Random
and Horace, and could find nothing in it exceptionable but a little too
much embellishment in some few places, which objection he removed to my
satisfaction, by a quotation of 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 that
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. I
perceived by his countenance that his heart was big with gratitude, and
endeavoured to prevent his acknowledgments, 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 shifted
the conversation, and complimented him 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.
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 recompense 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 circumstances hindered from maintaining me at the university, took
the charge of my education upon himself, and laboured with such
industry and concern in the undertaking, that I had little cause to
regret the want of public masters. Being at great pains to consult my
natural bias, He discovered in me betimes an inclination for poetry;
upon which he recommended to me an intimate acquaintance with the
classics, in the cultivation of which he assisted me with a paternal
zeal and uncommon erudition. When he thought me sufficiently acquainted
with the ancients, he directed my studies to the best modern authors,
French and Italian as well as English, and laid a particular injunction
upon me make myself master of my mother tongue.
“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
indulgent 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 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 waggon, and arrived in town, where I
hired an apartment in a garret, willing to live as frugally 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 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 would 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 was introduced to the
friar, who, having perused the tragedy, was pleased to signify his
approbation, and commended me in particular for having avoided all
reflections upon religion. He promised to use all his influence with
his son Supple in my behalf, and to inform himself that very day at
what time it was proper for me to wait upon him with the piece. He was
punctual in performing his engagement, and next morning gave me to
understand that he had mentioned my affair to the manager, and that I
had nothing more to do than to go to his house any time in the
forenoon, and make use of his name, upon which I should find immediate
admittance. I took his advice, put my performance in my bosom, and,
having received directions, went immediately to the house of Mr.
Supple, and knocked at the door, which had a wicket in the middle,
faced with a net-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 meantime, observed that
what he had yet 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 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.”
“I protest to you, my good friend, Mr. Random, I was extremely shocked
at this information; but the good-natured gentleman seemed to be so
much affected with my misfortune, that I suppressed my concern, and
told him that, although I had not another copy, I should be able to
retrieve the loss by writing another from my memory, which was very
tenacious. You cannot imagine how well pleased Mr. Supple was at this
assurance; he begged I would set about it immediately, and carefully
revolve and recollect every circumstance before I pretended to commit
it to paper, that it might be the same individual play that he had
perused. Encouraged by this injunction, which plainly demonstrated how
much he interested himself in the affair, I tasked my remembrance and
industry, and in three weeks produced the exact image of the former,
which was conveyed to him by my good friend Father O’Varnish, who told
me 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 season had slipped away
insensibly. He convinced me, that if my play had been put into
rehearsal at the 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.
“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 this
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 temptations
to which a young man is exposed in this great city, especially if he be
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, in the meantime, told me, I was welcome to lodge
and board with him until fortune should put it in my power to make
restitution.
“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