e funeral. A tomb was afterwards erected to his memory,
by his wife, for which Mr. Pope wrote an epitaph, which we shall here
insert; not one word of which is hyperbolical, or more than he deserves.
Epitaph on ROWE, by Mr. POPE.

Thy reliques, Rowe! to this sad shrine we trust,
And near thy Shakespear place thy honour'd bust,
Oh next him skill'd, 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 thy 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 the liberty it lov'd.

To these, so mourn'd in death, so lov'd in life!
The childless parent and the widow'd wife
With tears inscribes this monumental stone,
That holds their ashes and expects her own

Mr. Rowe, as to his person, was graceful and well made, his face regular
and of a manly beauty; he had a quick, and fruitful invention, a deep
penetration, and a large compass of thought, with a singular dexterity,
and easiness in communicating his opinions. He was master of most parts
of polite learning, especially the Classic Authors, both Greek and
Latin; he understood the French, Italian and Spanish languages. He had
likewise read most of the Greek and Roman histories in their original
languages; and most that are written in English, French, Italian and
Spanish: He had a good taste in philosophy, and having a firm
impression of religion upon his mind, he took delight in divinity, and
ecclesiastical history, in both which he made great advances in the
times he retired to the country, which were frequent. He expressed upon
all occasions, his full perswasion of the truth of revealed religion;
and being a sincere member of the established church himself, he
pitied, but condemned not, those who departed from him; he abhorred the
principle of persecuting men on account of religious opinions, and being
strict in his own, he took it not upon him to censure those of another
persuasion. His conversation was pleasant, witty, and learned, without
the least tincture of affectation or pedantry; and his inimitable manner
of diverting, or enlivening the company, made it impossible for any one
to be out of humour when he was in it: Envy and detraction, seemed to be
entirely foreign to his constitution; and whatever provocation he met
with at any time, he passed them