Page:A Biographical Dictionary of the Celebrated Women of Every Age and Country (1804).djvu/773

Rh When she entered into the marriage state, the highest esteem and most tender affection appeared in all her conduct to Mr. Rowe; and by the most gentle and obliging manner, and the exercise of every social and good-natured virtue, she confirmed the empire she had gained over his heart. She complied with his inclinations, in several instances to which she was naturally averse, and made it her study to soften the anxieties, and heighten all the satisfactions of his life.

Her capacity for superior things did not tempt her to neglect the less honourable cares which the laws of propriety impose on the wife. Mr. Rowe had some mixture of natural warmth in his temper, which he could not always command; but she always remained mistress of herself, and by the gentlest language and endearments, studied to restore his mind to that calmness which reason approves. And equally endeavoured by persuasion, far remote from any airs of superiority, to lead him on to that perfection of virtue, to which she aspired with the truest christian zeal. During his long illness, she scarce ever stirred from him a minute, and alleviated his affliction by performing with tenderness and assiduity, all the offices of compassion suited to that melancholy season.

She was a gentle and kind mistress; treated her servants with great condescension and goodness, and almost with the affability of a friend and equal. A warm and generous friend, just, if not partial, to the merit, and most gentle and candid to the errors, of those she loved. She was always forward to do them good offices, but in a distinguished manner she studied, with infinite art and zeal, to insinuate the love of virtue into all her acquaintance, and to promote their most important interest, by inciting them to the practice of