and Hyppolitus, is a play
without passion, though of inimitable versification; and in the words
of a living poet, we may say of it, that not the character, but poet
speaks.

It may be justly said of all Rowe's Tragedies, that never poet painted
virtue, religion, and all the relative and social duties of life, in a
more alluring dress, on the stage; nor were ever vice or impiety, better
exposed to contempt and abhorrence.

The same principles of liberty he had early imbibed himself, seemed a
part of his constitution, and appeared in every thing he wrote; and he
took all occasions that fell in his way, to make his talents subservient
to them: His Muse was so religiously chaste, that I do not remember,
says Dr. Welwood, one word in any of his plays or writings, that might
admit of a double meaning in any point of decency, or morals. There is
nothing to be found in them, to flatter a depraved populace, or humour a
fashionable folly.

Mr. Rowe's Plays were written from the heart. He practised the virtue he
admired, and he never, in his gayest moments, suffered himself to talk
loosely or lightly upon religious or moral subjects; or to turn any
thing sacred, or which good men reverenced as such, into ridicule.

Our author wrote a comedy of three acts, called the Biter. It was
performed at the Theatre in Lincoln's-Inn-Fields; but without success,
for Rowe's genius did not lie towards Comedy.--In a conversation he had
with Mr. Pope, that great poet advised him to rescue the queen of Scots,
from the hands of Banks; and to make that lady to shine on the stage,
with a lustre equal to her character. Mr. Rowe observed in answer to
this, that he was a great admirer of queen Elizabeth; and as he
could not well plan a play upon the queen of Scots's story, without
introducing his favourite princess, who in that particular makes but an
indifferent figure, he chose to decline it: Besides, he knew that if he
favoured the northern lady, there was a strong party concerned to crush
it; and if he should make her appear less great than she was, and throw
a shade over her real endowments, he should violate truth, and incur
the displeasure of a faction, which though by far the minority, he knew
would be yet too powerful for a poet to combat with.

The late duke of Queensberry, when secretary of state, made Mr. Rowe
secretary for public affairs; and when that nobleman came to know him
well, he was never more delighted than when in his company