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 cheerfulness to a proposal I made
of clothing him with the our superfluities; a task with which he charged
himself, and departed immediately to perform it.

He was to 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 conduct of the managers who had rejected it. 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 peripeteia surprising, and the catastrophe
affecting. In short, I judged it by the laws of Aristotle 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 s 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, wi