 despair: - and believe the reader
will own, that 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 not only 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 eat our breakfast together, I acquainted him 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
epithits) 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. - 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 surprizing, 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 from 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 cloaths, which I sent with my compliments to Mr.
Melopoyn, as a small token of my regard, and desired the favour of his company
