Mr. Rowe being at Bath, in the year 1709, was introduced into the company of Miſs Singer, who lived in a retirement not far from the city. The idea he had conceived of her from report and her writings, charmed him; but when he had ſeen and converſed with her, he felt another kind of impreſſion, and the eſteem of her accompliſhments was heightened into the rapture of a lover. During the courtſhip, he wrote a poetical Epiſtle to a friend, who was a neighbour of Mrs. Singer, and acquainted with the family, in which were the following lines.
Youth’s livelieſt bloom, a never-fading grace,
And more than beauty ſparkles in her face.
How ſoon the willing heart, her empire feels?
Each look, each air, each melting action kills:
Yet the bright form creates no looſe deſires;
At once ſhe gives and purifies our fires,
And paſſions chaſte, as her own ſoul inſpires.
Her ſoul, heav’n’s nobleſt workmanſhip deſign’d,
To bleſs the ruined age, and ſuccour loſt mankind,
To prop abandon’d virtue’s ſinking cauſe,
And ſnatch from vice its undeſerv’d applauſe.
He married her in the year 1710, and Mrs. Rowe’s exalted merit, and amiable qualities, could not fail to inſpire the moſt generous and laſting paſſion. Mr. Rowe knew how to value that treaſure of wit, ſoftnefs and virtue, with which heaven had bleſſed him; and made it his ſtudy to repay the felicity with which ſhe crowned his life. The eſteem and tenderneſs he had for her is inexpreſſible, and poſſeſſion ſeems never to have abated the fondneſs and admiration of the lover; a circumſtance which ſeldom happens, but to thoſe who are
