The Adventures of Roderick Random

Lord Rattle Recommends Melopoyn to Mr. Bellower

Moved by Melopoyn’s distress at his disappointment, Lord Rattle offers to use his interest to bring the tragedy on at the rival house, and Melopoyn eagerly accepts. Lord Rattle accordingly writes a letter of recommendation to Mr. Bellower, who is both an actor and the prime minister of Mr. Vandal, the proprietor of that theatre, and instructs Melopoyn to deliver it together with the manuscript without loss of time. Melopoyn hastens to Bellower’s house, waits a whole hour in the lobby, and is at last admitted to a stately audience, during which Bellower tells him he is extremely busy but will peruse the play as soon as possible and bids him call again in a week.

Mr. Bellower’s Dismissive Treatment of Melopoyn

When Melopoyn returns at the appointed time he is told that Bellower is engaged and cannot see him. He calls again some days later, waits a long time, and is finally received, only to be told that the play has not yet been read. Nettled at this treatment, Melopoyn demands his manuscript with marked resentment, citing Lord Rattle’s recommendation. Bellower, in a theatrical tone, opens the drawer of his bureau, pulls out bundle after bundle, flings them on the table, and with great disdain invites him to take whichever play he pleases — or all seven. Melopoyn singles out his own tragedy and departs, struck dumb less by the actor’s insolence than by the sheer number of new plays offered to the stage each year, and he laments how far the dignity of a poet has fallen since the days of Euripides and Sophocles. He carries his complaint to Lord Rattle, who taxes him with precipitation and tells him he must learn to bear with the humours of the players if he intends to write for the stage.

Lord Rattle Advises Waiting for Next Season

With no remedy left, Lord Rattle advises Melopoyn to keep the tragedy until the next season for Mr. Brayer and to spend the summer leisurely altering it according to the manager’s directions. Melopoyn is thus confronted with a terrible alternative: either abandon all hope of a play that had long promised him fortune and reputation, or endure eight long months of poverty in preparing for and awaiting its appearance. He chooses the latter, wrestles with extreme poverty until the period of his probation is ended, and then repairs to Lord Rattle, only to discover that his patron is on the point of going abroad, and that Mr. Brayer has likewise gone into the country. Lord Rattle, unable to introduce him personally as he had intended, writes a very strong letter on his behalf to Brayer, reminding the manager of the promise he had made in favour of the play.

Earl Sheerwit Approves the Tragedy

A gentlewoman in whose company Melopoyn happens to be tells him she is acquainted with the wife of a gentleman who knows a lady who has great interest with a person intimate with Earl Sheerwit, and offers to use her influence on his behalf. Since the earl bears the character of a Maecenas whose sole countenance and approbation can stamp value upon any work, Melopoyn accepts eagerly. The manuscript is withdrawn from Brayer’s hands and placed in the gentlewoman’s care, who labours so effectually that within a month it reaches the earl. A few weeks later Melopoyn hears with delight that Earl Sheerwit has read and very much approved the tragedy. Three more months of silence follow, during which he doubts the veracity of his informant, but he is at length forced to acknowledge that the news was true.

Lord Rattle Arranges Meeting with Mr. Marmozet

Encouraged by the civilities he has received and the desire Lord Rattle has shown to promote his play, Melopoyn writes an account of his ill fortune to his lordship, who condescends to ask a young squire of great estate, with whom he is intimate, to espouse Melopoyn’s cause and in particular to make him known to Mr. Marmozet, a celebrated player who has lately appeared upon the stage with astonishing éclat and bears such sway in the house where he acts that the managers dare not refuse anything he recommends. The young gentleman, diffident of his own interest, has recourse to a nobleman of his acquaintance, who at his solicitation is so good as to introduce Melopoyn to the celebrated actor.