The Adventures of Roderick Random

Chapter LXII: I read Melopoyn’s tragedy, and conceive a vast opinion of his genius——he recounts his adventures.

322 The Adventures of Roderick Random of Narcissa to the name of Monimia, and of forming such melancholy presages of my passion, that I could not recover my tranquillity; and was fain to have recourse to the bottle, which prepared me for a profound sleep that I could not otherwise have enjoyed.—Whether these impressions invited and introduced a train of other melancholy reflections, or my fortitude was all exhausted in the effort I made against despondence , during the first day of my imprisonment, I cannot determine; but I awoke in the horrors, and found my imagination haunted with such dismal apparitions, that I was ready to despair:—and, I believe the reader will own, I had no great cause to congratulate myself, when I considered my situation.—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 expence, but even make shift to lay up something for my subsistence 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 chearfulness to a proposal I made of cloathing him with our superfluities; a task with which he charged himself, and departed immediately to perform it. He was no sooner gone, than I locked my door, and sat down to the tragedy, which I read to the end with vast pleasure, not a little amazed at the conduct of the managers who had rejected it.1 —The fable, in my opinion, was well chosen, and naturally conducted, the incidents interesting, the characters beautifully contrasted, strongly marked and well supported; the diction poetical, spirited, and correct; the unities of the drama maintained with the most scrupulous exactness; the opening gradual and engaging, the peripeteiaia surprizing, and the catastrophe affecting:2 In short, I judged it by the laws of Aristotle and Horace,3 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 from Aristotle’s Poetics,4 importing, that the least interesting parts of a poem ought to be raised and dignified by the charms and energy of diction. Volume Two, Chapter LXII 323 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 cloaths, 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 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 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...