Nicholas Rowe Guilt is the source of sorrow, 'tis the fiend, Th' avenging fiend, that follows us behind, With whips and stings

Nicholas Rowe (1674 – 1718), English dramatist, poet and miscellaneous writer, was selected Poet Laureate in 1715. Image File history File links Nicholas-rowe-1. ... Image File history File links Nicholas-rowe-1. ... Events February 19 - England and the Netherlands sign the Treaty of Westminster. ... // Events The Funj warrior aristocracy deposes the reigning mek and places one of their own ranks on the throne of Sennar. ... Motto: (French for God and my right) Anthem: Multiple unofficial anthems Capital London Largest city London Official language(s) English (de facto) Government Constitutional monarchy  - Queen Queen Elizabeth II  - Prime Minister Tony Blair MP Unification    - by Athelstan AD 927  Area    - Total 130,395 km² (1st in UK)   50,346 sq... A dramatist is an author of dramatic compositions, usually plays. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

Life

Nicholas Rowe was born in Little Barford, Bedfordshire, England, son of John Rowe (d. 1692), barrister and sergeant-at-law, and Elizabeth, daughter of Jasper Edwards, on June 20, 1674.^[1][2] His family possessed a considerable estate at Lamberton in Devonshire. His father John Rowe, practised law, and published Benlow's and Dallison's Reports during the reign of King James II.^[3] English barrister A barrister is a lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions who principally, but not exclusively, represents litigants as their advocate before the courts of that jurisdiction. ... Events February 19 - England and the Netherlands sign the Treaty of Westminster. ... James II of England and VII of Scotland (14 October 1633–16 September 1701) became King of England, King of Scots, and King of Ireland on 6 February 1685. ...

The future English poet was educated first at Highgate School, and then at Westminster School under the guidance of a Dr. Busby. In 1688, Rowe became a King's scholar, which was followed by his entrance into Middle Temple in 1691.^[4] His entrance into Middle Temple was decided upon by his father, who felt that Rowe had made sufficient progress to qualify him to study law. While at Middle Temple, he read statutes and reports with proficiency proportionate to the force of his mind, which was already such that he endeavoured to comprehend law, not as a series of precedents, or collection of positive precepts, but as a system of rational government and impartial justice.^[5] Highgate School is an old and prestigious British public school in Highgate, North London. ... The Royal College of St. ... Part of Middle Temple c. ...

On his father's death, when he was nineteen, he became the master of an independent fortune.^[6] He was left to his own direction, and from that time ignored law to try his hand first at poetry, and then later at writing plays.^[7]

Rowe married first a daughter of a Mr Parsons and left a son John. By his second wife Anne, née Devenish, he had a daughter Charlotte.^[8]

Rowe acted as under-secretary (1709-1711) to the duke of Queensberry when he was principal secretary of state for Scotland. On the accession of George I he was made a surveyor of customs, and in 1715 he succeeded Nahum Tate as poet laureate.^[9] Motto: (Latin for No one provokes me with impunity)1 Anthem: Multiple unofficial anthems Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow Official language(s) English, Gaelic, Scots2 Government Constitutional monarchy  - Queen of the UK Queen Elizabeth II  - Prime Minister of the UK Tony Blair MP  - First Minister Jack McConnell MSP Unification    - by... George I King of Great Britain and Ireland George I (George Ludwig von Guelph-dEste) (28 May 1660–11 June 1727) was Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg (Hanover) from 23 January 1698, and King of Great Britain and King of Ireland from 1 August 1714, until his death. ... Nahum Tate (1652 – July 30, 1715) was an Anglo-Irish poet and lyricist. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

He was also appointed clerk of the council to the Prince of Wales, and in 1718 was nominated by Lord Chancellor Parker as clerk of the presentations in Chancery. He died on the 6th of December 1718, and was buried in Westminster Abbey. This article or section needs a complete rewrite for the reasons listed on the talk page. ... Thomas Parker, 1st Earl of Macclesfield (1666-1732) was an English politician. ... The Abbeys western façade The Collegiate Church of St Peter, Westminster, which is almost always referred to as Westminster Abbey, is a mainly Gothic church, on the scale of a cathedral (and indeed often considered one), in Westminster, London, just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. ...

The inscription on his tomb reads as follows:

To the Memory of NICHOLAS ROWE Esq: who died in 1718 Aged 45, And of Charlotte his only daughter the wife of Henry Fane Esq; who, inheriting her Father’s Spirit, and Amiable in her own Innocence & Beauty, died in the 22nd year of her age 1739.

Thy Reliques, Rowe, to this sad Shrine we trust, and near thy Shakespear place thy honour’d Bust, Oh next him skill’ed to draw the tender Tear, For never Heart felt Passion more sincere: To nobler sentiment to fire the Brave. For never Briton more disdain’d a Slave: Peace to the gentle Shade, and endless Rest, Blest in thy Genius, in thy love too blest; And blest, that timely from Our Scene remov’d Thy Soul enjoys that Liberty it lov’d.

To these, so mourn’d in Death, so lov’d in Life! The childless Parent & the widow’d wife With tears inscribes this monument Stone, That holds their Ashes & expects her own.^[10]

Upon his death his widow received a pension from George I in 1719 in recognition of her husband's translation of Lucan. This verse translation, or rather paraphrase of the Pharsalia, was called by Samuel Johnson one of the greatest productions in English poetry, and was widely read, running through eight editions between 1718 and 1807. ^[11] // Events January 23 - The Principality of Liechtenstein is created within the Holy Roman Empire April 25 - Daniel Defoe publishes Robinson Crusoe June 10 - Battle of Glen Shiel Prussia conducts Europes first systematic census Miners in Falun, Sweden find an apparently petrified body of Fet-Mats Israelsson in an unused... Marcus Annaeus Lucanus (November 3, AD 39-April 30, 65), better known in English as Lucan, was a Roman poet, and is one of the outstanding figures of the Silver Latin period. ... Samuel Johnson circa 1772, painted by Sir Joshua Reynolds. ...

Works

The Ambitious Stepmother, Rowe's first play, produced in 1700 at Lincoln’s Inn Fields by Thomas Betterton and set in Persepolis, was called and was well received.^[12] This was followed in 1702 by Tamerlane. In this play the conqueror represented William III, and Louis XIV is denounced as Bajazet. It was for many years regularly acted on the anniversary of William's landing at Torbay.^[13] Tamerlane's virtues seem to have been arbitrarily assigned to him by Rowe, as there is no history that William was, in any way, a conqueror. At the time however, it was fashionable to heap upon Louis everything that could be seen as horrible and detestable; and the good that Louis did not possess was therefore bestowed upon King William.^[14] Thomas Betterton (c. ... Persepolis Aerial View - After 2500 years, the ruins of Persepolis still inspire visitors from far and near. ... William III of England (14 November 1650 – 8 March 1702; also known as William II of Scotland and William III of Orange) was a Dutch aristocrat and a Protestant Prince of Orange from his birth, Stadtholder of the United Netherlands from 28 June 1672, King of England and King of... Louis XIV (Louis-Dieudonné) (September 5, 1638 – September 1, 1715) ruled as King of France and of Navarre from May 14, 1643 until his death just prior to his seventy-seventh birthday. ... Torbay is an east facing bay at the western most end of Lyme Bay in the south west of England, situated roughly midway between the cities of Exeter and Plymouth. ...

The Fair Penitent (1703), an adaptation of Massinger and Field's Fatal Dowry, was pronounced by Dr Johnson, and was one of the most pleasing tragedies in ever written in English. In it occurs the famous character of Lothario, whose name passed into current use as the equivalent of a rake. Calista is said to have suggested to Samuel Richardson the character of Clarissa Harlowe, as Lothario suggested Lovelace.^[15] Samuel Johnson noted of The Fair Penitent that, "The story is domestic, and therefore easily received by the imagination, and assimilated to common life; the diction is exquisitely harmonious, and soft or spritely as occasion requires."^[16] Philip Massinger (1583 - 1640) was an English dramatist. ... Nathaniel Field (1587 - 1620), was an English dramatist and actor; his father was the Puritan preacher John Field and his brother became the Bishop of Llandaff. ... Samuel Johnson circa 1772, painted by Sir Joshua Reynolds. ... Samuel Richardson (August 19, 1689 – July 4, 1761) was a major 18th century writer best known for his three epistolary novels: Pamela: Or, Virtue Rewarded (1740), Clarissa: Or the History of a Young Lady (1748) and Sir Charles Grandison (1753). ...

In 1704, Rowe tried his hand at comedy, producing The Biter at Lincoln's Inn Fields. The play is said to have amused no one except the author, and Rowe returned to tragedy in Ulysses (1706).^[17] According to Johnson, this play was to share the fate of many such plays based on mythological heroes, as, "We have been too early acquainted with the poetical heroes to expect any pleasure from their revival"^[18] Lincolns Inn Fields is the largest public square in London. ...

The Royal Convert (1707) dealt with the persecutions endured by Aribert, son of Hengist and the Christian maiden Ethelinda.^[19] The story was set in England in an obscure and barbarous age. Rodogune was a tragic character, of high spirit and violent passions, yet with a wicked with a soul that would have been heroic if it had been virtuous.^[20]

The Tragedy of Jane Shore, which was played at Drury Lane with Mrs Oldfield in the title role in 1714, ran for nineteen nights, and kept the stage longer than any of his other works.^[21] Rowe admitted that this play was an imitation of Shakespeare's style, although he did not succeed in imitating him, as the diction, the sentiments, and the conduct, were nothing like Shakespeare. The only similarities, therefore, were that it was an English story, and some of the characters are historical in nature. However, the play, which consists chiefly of domestic scenes and private distress, lays hold upon the heart. The wife is forgiven because she repents, and the husband is honoured because he forgives.^[22] Jane Shore (c. ... Drury Lane is a street in the Covent Garden area of London, running between Aldwych and High Holborn. ... Anne Oldfield (1683 - October 23, 1730), English actress, was born in London, the daughter of a soldier. ...

The Tragedy of Lady Jane Grey followed in 1715, and as this play was not successful, it was his last foray into the medium.^[23] Lady Jane Grey (ca. ...

Rowe was the first modern editor of Shakespeare, however, it is unfortunate that he based his text (6 vols., 1709) on the corrupt Fourth Folio, a course in which he was followed by later editors. Rowe's practical knowledge of the stage allowed him to suggest technical improvements: he divided the play into acts and scenes on a reasonable method, noted the entrances and exits of the players, and prefixed a list of the dramatis personae to each play. Additionally, Rowe also wrote a short biography of William Shakespeare, entitled, Some Account of the Life &c. of Mr. William Shakespear [24]^[25] William Shakespeare—born April 1564; baptised April 26, 1564; died April 23, 1616 (O.S.), May 3, 1616 (N.S.)—has a reputation as the greatest of all writers in English. ...

Rowe wrote occasional verses addressed to Godolphin and Halifax, adapted some of the odes of Horace to fit contemporary events, and translated the Caractres of Jean de La Bruyère and the Callipaedia of Claude Quillet. He also wrote a memoir of Boileau prefixed to a translation of the Lutrin.^[26] Sidney Godolphin, 1st Earl of Godolphin Sidney Godolphin, 1st Earl of Godolphin (c. ... Charles Montagu, 1st Earl of Halifax (April 16, 1661 - May 19, 1715) was Chancellor of the Exchequer, poet, statesman, and Earl of Halifax. ... Horace, as imagined by Anton von Werner Quintus Horatius Flaccus, (December 8, 65 BC - November 27, 8 BC), known in the English-speaking world as Horace, was the leading Roman lyric poet during the time of Augustus. ... Jean de La Bruyère (August 16, 1645 - May 10, 1696), was a French essayist and moralist. ... Nicolas Boileau-Despréaux, commonly called Boileau, (November 1, 1636 - March 13, 1711) was a French poet and critic. ...

Finally, Rowe's version of Lucan's Pharsalia is one of the greatest productions in English poetry as it captures the genius and spirit of the original. Lucan's works are distinguished by a kind of dictatorial or philosophic dignity, more declamatory than poetical; full of ambitious morality and pointed sentences, comprised in vigorous and animated lines. Rowe diligently and successfully preserved this character. His versification was seldom lacking in either melody or force. The Pharsalia of Rowe deserves more notice than it obtains, and the more it is read, the more esteemed it will be.^[27] In Roman literature, the Pharsalia (also known as the Bellum civile) is an epic poem by the poet Lucan. ...

References

• This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.

This entry incorporates public domain text originally from the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica as sourced in NNDB Nicholas Rowe and Poets Laureate Encyclopædia Britannica, the 11th edition The Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition (1910–1911) is perhaps the most famous edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica. ... The public domain comprises the body of all creative works and other knowledge—writing, artwork, music, science, inventions, and others—in which no person or organization has any proprietary interest. ... Supporters contend that the Eleventh Edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica (1910-1911) represents the sum of human knowledge at the beginning of the 20th century; indeed, it was advertised as such. ...

• Life of Nicholas Rowe, by Samuel Johnson

List of Major Works by Rowe

Poems

A Poem upon the Late Glorious Successes of Her Majesty's Arms (1707)

Poems on Several Occasions (1714)

Maecenas. Verses occasion'd by the honours conferr'd on the Right Honourable Earl of Halifax (1714)

Ode for the New Year MDCCXVI (1716)

Original Plays

The Ambitious Stepmother (1700)

Tamerlane (1702)

The Biter (1705)

Ulysses (1705)

The Royal Convert (1707)

The Tragedy of Jane Shore (1714)

Lady Jane Grey (1715)

Adaptations and Translations

The Fair Penitent (1703), an adaptation of Massinger and Field's Fatal Dowry

Lucan (1718), a paraphrase of the Pharsalia

Callipaedia (date unknown), translation of Claude Quillet

Edited Works

Works of William Shakespear, The (London: Jacob Tonson, 1709), first modern edition of the plays.

Miscellaneous Works

Memoir of Boileau (date unknown), prefixed to translation of Lutrin

Some Account of the Life &c. of Mr. William Shakespear

Notes

1. ↑  NNDB Nicholas Rowe
2. ↑  People Buried or Commemorated - Nicholas Rowe
3. ↑  Samuel Johnson's Life of Nicholas Rowe
4. ↑  ibid
5. ↑  Poets Laureate
6. ↑  Samuel Johnson's Life of Nicholas Rowe
7. ↑  Poets Laureate
8. ↑  Samuel Johnson's Life of Nicholas Rowe
9. ↑  People Buried or Commemorated - Nicholas Rowe
10. ↑  Poets Laureate
11. ↑  People Buried or Commemorated - Nicholas Rowe
12. ↑  NNDB Nicholas Rowe
13. ↑  Nicholas Rowe as a Link between the Later Restoration Drama and that of the Augustan Age
14. ↑  Poets Laureate
15. ↑  Samuel Johnson's Life of Nicholas Rowe
16. ↑  NNDB Nicholas Rowe
17. ↑  Samuel Johnson's Life of Nicholas Rowe
18. ↑  NNDB Nicholas Rowe
19. ↑  Samuel Johnson's Life of Nicholas Rowe
20. ↑  Poets Laureate
21. ↑  Samuel Johnson's Life of Nicholas Rowe
22. ↑  NNDB Nicholas Rowe
23. ↑  Samuel Johnson's Life of Nicholas Rowe
24. ↑  Poets Laureate
25. ↑  Poets Laureate
26. ↑  Poets Laureate
27. ↑  Samuel Johnson's Life of Nicholas Rowe

External links

• Works by Nicholas Rowe at Project Gutenberg