CHAPTER LXIII.
The Continuation and Conclusion of Mr.Melopoyn's Story 'I made shift, notwithstanding, to maintain myself till the beginning of next winter, when I renewed my addresses to my friend Mr.Supple, and was most graciously received.

"I have been thinking of your affair, Mr.Melopoyn," said he, "and am determined to show how far I have your interest at heart, by introducing you to a young nobleman of my acquaintance, who is remarkable for his fine taste in dramatic writings, and is besides a man of such influence that, if once he should approve of your play, his patronage will support it against all the efforts of envy and ignorance; for, I do assure you, that merit alone will not bring success.

I have already spoken of your performance to Lord Rattle, and if you will call at my house in a day or two, you shall have a letter of introduction to his lordship." I was sensibly touched with this mark of Mr.Supple's friendship; and looking upon my affair as already done, went home and imparted my good fortune to my landlord, who, to render my appearance more acceptable to my patron, procured a suit of new clothes for me on his own credit.
"Not to trouble you with idle particulars, I carried my tragedy to his lordship's lodgings, and sent it up along with Mr.Supple's letter by one of his servants, who desired me, by his lord's order, to return in a week.

I did so, and was admitted to his lordship, who received me very courteously, told me he had perused my play, which he thought, on the whole, was the best coup d'essai he had ever seen; but that he had marked some places in the margin, which he imagined might be altered for the better.

I was transported with this reception, and promised (with many acknowledgments of his lordship's generosity) to be governed solely by his advice and direction." "Well, then," said he, "write another fair copy with the alterations I have proposed, and bring it to me as soon as possible; for I am resolved to have it brought on the stage this winter." You may be sure I set about this task with alacrity; and although I found his lordship's remarks much more numerous and of less importance than I expected, I thought it was not my interest to dispute upon trifles with my patron; therefore new modelled it according to his desire in less than a month.
"When I waited upon him with the manuscript, I found one of the actors at breakfast with his lordship, who immediately introduced him to my acquaintance, and desired him to read a scene of my play.