Nicholas Rowe

“{{gutenberg author| id=Nicholas+Rowe | name=Nicholas Rowe}}”

“Pharsalia (tr. Nicholas Rowe)”

“[Rowe's] version of Lucan is one of the greatest productions of English poetry; for there is, perhaps, none that so completely exhibits the genius and spirit of the original. Lucan is distinguished by a kind of dictatorial or philosophick dignity, rather, as Quintilian observes, declamatory than poetical; full of ambitious morality and pointed sentences, comprised in vigorous and animated lines. This character Rowe has very diligently and successfully preserved. ... The Pharsalia of Rowe deserves more notice than it obtains, and, as it is more read, will be more esteemed.”

“Thou hast prevaricated with thy friend,By underhand contrivances undone me:And while my open nature trusted in thee,Thou hast slept in between me and my hopes,And ravish'd from me all my soul held dear.Thou hast betray'd me.”

“Your bounty is beyond my speaking;But though my mouth be dumb, my heart shall thank you.”

“And one false step entirely damns her fame.In vain with tears the loss she may deplore,In vain look back on what she was before;She sets like stars that fall, to rise no more.”