Rowe's hands fuch as he defcribes them

in his Preface. This play likewise has funk into oblivion. From this time he gave nothing more to the flage.

Being by a competent fortune exempted from any neceffity of combating his inclination, he never wrote in distress, and therefore does not appear to have ever written in hafte. His works were finifhed to his own approbation, and bear few marks of negligence or hurry. It is remarkable that his prologues and epilogues are all his own, though he fometimes fupplied others; he afforded help, but did not folicite it.

As his ftudies neceffarily made him acquainted with Shakespeare, and ac

quaintance

quaintance produced veneration, he undertook (1709) an edition of his works, from which he neither received much praise, nor feems to have expected it; yet, I believe, those who compare it with former copies, will find that he has done more than he promised; and that, without the pomp of notes or boafts of criticism, many paffages are happily restored. He prefixed a life of the author, fuch as tradition then almoft expiring could fupply, and a preface, which cannot be faid to discover much profundity or penetration. at least contributed to the popularity of his author.

He

He was willing enough to improve his fortune by other arts than poetry.

He

He was underfecretary for three years when the duke of Queensberry was fecretary of state, and afterwards applied to the earl of Oxford for fome publick employment *. Oxford enjoined him to ftudy Spanish; and when, fome time afterwards, he came again, and faid that he had mastered it, difmiffed him with this congratulation, "Then, "Sir, I envy you the pleasure of read"ing Don Quixot in the original."

This ftory is fufficiently attefted; but why Oxford, who defired to be thought a favourer of literature, fhould thus infult a man of acknowledged merit; or how Rowe, who was fo keen a Whig that he did not willingly converfe with

Spence.

† Spence.

men

men of the oppofite party, could ask preferment from Oxford, it is not now poffible to difcover. Pope, who told the story, did not fay on what occafion the advice was given; and though he owned Rowe's disappointment, doubted whether any injury was intended him, but thought it rather loid Oxford's odd way.

It is likely that he lived on difcontented through the reft of queen Anne's reign; but the time came at last when he found kinder friends. At the acceffion of king George, he was made poet laureat; I am afraid by the ejection of poor Nahum Tate, who (1716) died in the Mint, where he was forced to feek fhelter for extreme poverty. He was

made

made likewife one of the land furveyors of the customs of the port of London. The prince of Wales chose him clerk of his council; and the lord chancellor Parker, as foon as he received the feals, appointed him, unafked, fecretary of the prefentations.

Such an accumulation

of employments undoubtedly produced a very confiderable revenue.

Having already tranflated fome parts of Lucan's Pharfalia, which had been published in the Mifcellanies, and doubtless received many praifes, he undertook a verfion of the whole work, which he lived to finish, but not to publish. It seems to have been printed under the care of Dr. Welwood, who prefixed the author's life, in which is contained the following character:

" As