 without loss of time. - Accordingly, I hastened to his house, where
after having waited a whole hour in a lobby, I was admitted to his presence, and
my performance received with great state. - He told me he was extremely busy at
present, but he would peruse it as soon as possible; and bid me call again in a
week. I took my leave, not a little astonished at the pert and supercilious
behaviour of this stage-player, who had not treated me with good manners; and
began to think the dignity of a poet greatly impaired since the days of
Euripides and Sophocles, but all this was nothing in comparison of what I have
since observed.
    Well, Mr. Random, I went back at the appointed time, and was told that Mr.
Bellower was engaged, and could not see me. - I repeated my visit a few days
after, and having waited a considerable time, was favoured with an audience,
during which, he said, he had not as yet read my play. - Nettled at this usage,
I could contain myself no longer, but telling him, I imagined he would have paid
more deference to Lord Rattle'd recommendation, demanded my manuscript with some
expressions of resentment. - Ay, (said he, in a theatrical tone) with all my
heart. - Then pulling out a drawer of the bureau at which he sat, he took out a
bundle, and threw it upon a table that was near him, pronouncing the word There,
with great disdain. - I took it up, and perceiving with some surprize, that it
was a comedy, told him, it did not belong to me; upon which he offered me
another, which I also disclaimed - A third was produced, and rejected for the
same reason. At length, he pulled out a whole handful, and spread them before
me, saying, There are seven - take which you please - or take them all. - I
singled out my own, and went away, struck dumb with admiration at what I had
seen - not so much on account of his insolence, as of the number of new plays,
which from this circumstance, I concluded were yearly offered to the stage. -
You may be sure I did not fail to carry my complaint to my patron, who did not
receive it with all the indignation I expected; but taxed me with precipitation,
and told me, I must lay my account with bearing the humours of the players, if I
intended to write for the stage. - There is now
