she is the best reward for one of the greatest heroes this age has produced. This, Madam, is what you must allow people every where to say ; those whom you shall leave behind you in England will have something further to add, the loss we shall suffer by your Grace's journey to Ireland ; the Queen's pleasure, and the impatient wishes of that nation, are about to deprive us of our public ornaments. But there is no arguing against reasons so prevalent as these. Those who shall lament your Grace's absence, will yet acquiesce in the wisdoin and justice of her Majesty's choice : among all whose royal favours, none could be so agreeable, upon a thousand accounls, to that people, as the Duke of Ormond. With what joy, what acclamations shall they meet a Governor, who, beside their former obligations to his family, has so lately ventured his life and fortune for their preservation! What duty, what subinission shall they not pay to that authority which the Queen has delegated to a person so dear to them? And with what honour, what respect, shall they receive your Grace, when they look upon you as the noblest and best pattern her Majesty could send them, of her own royal goodness, and personal virtues? They shall behold your Grace with the same pleasure the English shall take, whenever it shall be their good fortune to see you return again to you rnative country. In Enge land, your Grace is become a public concern; and as B your going away will be attended with a general sora row, so your return shall give as general a joy ; and to none of those many, more than to, Madam, Your Grace's most obedient, and Most humble servant, N. ROWE. Note.-This Dedication is a model of servility in addressing the Great.-One further observation may be made ; through two pages whereever shall recurs, he ought to have written will. THE EDITOR. NICHOLAS ROWE. Was the son of John Rowe, Esq, Serjeant at Law---A place called Little Berkford in Bedfordshire had the honour of the birth of this Poet in the year 1673.---A private seminary at Highgate gave him the rudiments of learning, and, that he might be perfect as a classic, he was sent to Westminster, under Busby. . His father, designing him for his own profession, entered him at 16 years of age a Student of the Middle Temple, but he was destined to rise alone in the Temple of the Muses—He had some law there is no doubt, but he had more poetry. Business of a graver nature, however, he at a distant period accepted-he was Under-Secretary to the Duke of Queensberry, when that Nobleman was Secretary of State. Under the reign of George I. he united two emoluments not often combined, for he became Poet Laureat and Land-Surveyor of the Customs He sought the public approbation by various LUCAN, and he composed the following PLAYS. Ulysses 1706 1708 1703 1713 1715 FAIR PENITENT. This Tragedy has the usual characteristics of Rowe -Suavity-Pomp-a sententious Morality-little action, less passion. He wins upon the ear-he never irresistibly seizes on the heart. Dramatically, Rowe must be considered as the founder of a subordinate idea of the nature of Tragic structure-He is content to be graceful, and occasionally aims to be grand-his characters sooth and satiate—they are wearisomely uniform-Sympathy he has seldom the secret to command-SHORE does draw tears, and only Shore. This play bespeaks Italian reading, and yet of Italian, Rowe knew so little that he sounds SCIOLTO a trissyllable. What is his merit it may be asked ?-moral purpose ? not always. Versification is nearly the whole of it.-But though majestic and harmonious, it is not the versification best adapted to the Stage.-It is too perpetually polished—his lines are not sufficiently broken by pauses. В ііі. |
