The Adventures of Roderick Random

第六十三章

This chapter, “CHAPTER LXIII,” continues and concludes the story of Mr. Melopoyn, a struggling playwright who, on the advice of his friend Mr. Supple, seeks the patronage of Lord Rattle to bring his tragedy to the London stage. Over the course of the chapter, Melopoyn endures a long series of frustrations and disappointments: Lord Rattle’s initial approval and proposed alterations, humiliating encounters with actors and managers including Mr. Brayer and Mr. Bellower, a hopeful endorsement from Earl Sheerwit, and a final evasive rejection from the celebrated actor Mr. Marmozet. Through each episode, Melopoyn learns the hard way that the theatrical world is governed by vanity, caprice, and the petty interests of those in power rather than by genuine literary merit.

Mr. Supple’s Introduction to Lord Rattle

Mr. Melopoyn renews his acquaintance with his friend Mr. Supple at the beginning of winter, hoping to advance his tragedy. Mr. Supple, who claims to have Melopoyn’s interest at heart and insists that merit alone will not bring success, offers to introduce him to Lord Rattle, a young nobleman renowned for his fine taste in dramatic writings and possessed of such influence that his patronage could shield the play from envy and ignorance. Melopoyn, deeply touched by this mark of friendship and already counting the affair as good as done, is helped by his landlord, who procures him a new suit of clothes on credit so that he may make a respectable appearance before his patron.

Lord Rattle Approves the Play and Requests Edits

Melopoyn delivers his tragedy along with Mr. Supple’s letter of introduction to Lord Rattle’s lodgings. Ordered to return in a week, he is admitted to Lord Rattle, who receives him courteously, declares the play on the whole the best coup d’essai he has ever seen, and points out marginal notes proposing alterations. Overjoyed, Melopoyn pledges to be governed entirely by his lordship’s advice. Lord Rattle instructs him to prepare a fresh fair copy incorporating the proposed changes as quickly as possible, resolved that the tragedy shall be brought on the stage that very winter. Melopoyn accomplishes this task in less than a month, although he privately observes that his patron’s remarks are far more numerous and far less consequential than he had anticipated.