Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1819-02-13
FOR THE ENouIRER.

FsN ~ H..
RhodoJdphne.; or THE Thsssaiian SpeH.
THIS beautiful poem, written by Ylrginian,
has lately issued fruin the press. Had il been
ct transatlantic origin, and had borne the .. i'm
age ann superscription' OF some Iilustrious
bard had il been circulated as a genuine coin
from tue intellectual mint of "a 4; ron, Sus,thev
or Mnre. it would have run with rapidly
through the circles of fashion aud literature
ahd have been admired az the production of no
ordinary genius. But alas ii happens to be
OF nstiyeore, and however pure AID massive,
u realty may be-prejudice will still believe
It sparion: md base. How long shall we yield
10 tbis dishonoring mfatnaten Have moi on,
orators. statesmen and philosophers cou,cnded
with the old world and contended with sue
ress, for I'll" palm of ronown D.. why in the
department. OF poetry alone, should Nature be
snnrosea TO have doomed US to perpetual ste
rliity II no other proof could be- afforded of
the nnfounded prejudice which exists against
homebred exertions in this branch of literature
the poem under consideration would alone
Ssdeem the character of our country. Its an
elegant aud classical tale, borrowed from the
splendid hctions OF Greciau mythology, and
distinguished by strength and brilliaucy
winch would> do honor TO any of those famed
compositions, thai III other chimes have won
ne wreath OF immortality. The story is as
follows.
In the Ter,ple of Love, situated in the city
OF ihespia and ancient BGo,ia, splendid feS.
tival was celebrated every fifth wear la honor
ofthe presiding deity. Three stat Of stone.
pia>s, AMI marble, received the homage of the
votive multitudes that assembled from every
part OF Greece, OH the da, of the festival. The
most magical effects we're ascrihed to the VOWS
ana inyocaiiens made at the my sierions shrine,
aud offerings, Which by other diviniies we're
unaccepted, were sute TO be successful with
the all pervading influence of LOVE-. Anthemi.
on, Il beautiful Youth OF Arcadia brings his
simple wild flower Offering" TO implore the
recovery OF the beloved Cailiroe pinins under
SOME strange and lingering disorder. He
mshglss with the throng at the altar. and
" muimurs his surpliant vow"--but his fowery
wreath su3denfy wiihers aud is bighted--at
tne same instant the brazen statue frowns upon
hun. He is filled with horror and despondency
AT the spectacle, aud imagines tia, his Calliroe
Is lost forever. beautiful damseI il and
offers him consolation. She is Rhodsdaphne,
the EhchaIiress of Thessaly, who had Inc rseif
fallen IN love with the Arcadian youtb and
was now encircling him by her inextricabIe
spells Unknown TO Autheaiion, she appears
IN the character Of beautiful moralist TER
siading him that though his fair one should
die, other nymphs might be foundo of equal
pNisction She gives him another wreath tor
an ohertng, and upon ii places one OF her own
when they immediately mite and blend into
one... he pfnces in his bosom the enchanted
laurel rose, which she bids linn keep until il
FADES, aud they separate. Anthemion retres
uisconsoiate To the myrtle shade and is accosted
by AN aged man who espes the fatal siit of the
iaif sorceressand warns him OF IFS mysterious
virtue" He connSels him however as to the
only means OF dissoivimg the dreadful encilant-
!
sacred Piaue Grove, copsScrated to his Natal
Genns. and ia the stream which passes tIro'
II, throw the magic flower with his face averted
Antnemion does as he is directed, but after
ningiiig the rose over his back into the stream,
asudden cry resembling the voice OF a drow Mug
nymrh bursts from the wave; and fancying it
the shrek OF his dear Cailiroe he unhuppiiy
turns as IT Ia rnsh TO her relief-but he finds
every thing still as before. The unhappy youth
slaoes his steps TO the Grove of the Muses.,
near The sacred Heiicom, when he ayain meets
Tie " Magic Maid Of lhessaly." She questions
nm In tone of tenderness about the laurel
rose, ciiideS him for throwing il away aud
asserts II to be harmless and innocent flower.
III accents thrilling sweet" she declares her
passion TOR him, and iwining her golden ,resses
ana lovely arms around his neck, imprints upon
his lips burning kiss Which she declares shall
be" poison to all other lips but hers" Authe
mon breaks from tile arms of the Enchaniress,
and returns 10 It,s native Arcadia To his
astonislnent, he finds his beloved CaIliroe,
T 1es!o,ea 10 health and blooming with beauty.
lie deity OF love had l'een propitous. when lie
thought the fading wreath denoted the reverse.
The enrapturPd lovers repair to their" accus-
toned shade" and pour ont the imprisoned
strains CT mutual affection. Fatal interview
The fervent swain forsetflri of the horrid SPELL
~ wneI he is bound, presses his CalIirOc's ,ips
The beautiful maid Sinks on the earth anna.
rently liieess and Arihemi0n supposiny The
fatalk had destroyed her, flies i'm distraction
lie wanders on the rugged shore of fine Egean
Sea, AMI IS Sped by "a crew OF pirates by whom
ke is taken prisoner and carried on board their
vessel. Shortly afterwards, another part of
the crew capture beautiful maid " no is also
brought on board and proves 10 he the tor.
nentiuS rIchantress of Fhcssalv Darkness
covers the deep, and the damsel by her powers
OF magic raises tremendous storm The bark
isof'VFn Jar npon The raging surge, ana puugcs
on rock. Rhodohipiue twnes her silken
haif around HE dismdyed AntheniiUn and bears
INN IN safety tothe i!ifacian shore The syr,u
again soJitIts his love, and is again rei.ulsed-
ohe taxes nm mic" palhlrs. moor. all waste
aud wild, where one dwelling alone, " mossy
m'idew'd cottage" is seen amidst the sur.
rounding desolatou. She Suddcni, disappears
nDd AnilIenon il left to wander ii>the eireary
waste, worn down by toll, thirst and Munger
The scene at ieHgiI changes, and splendid
palace slitteIIng with "myriad lights" and
gardens fair" saluies his eyes lie enters
an Illuminated hail. adorned By statues of Kings
ana demons. brazcu image Of dwarfist
shape, sizing upon the highest throne, bids
him welcome, and invites him 10 auaff the luxu.
rions dTaught. e" ! lac nymph of more than
earthly mien," the Maid of Thessaly, suddenly
appears, and plants in his bosom again the en-.
elianted rose. Size is clothed ia light and siIkcn
veature, aud folds her lovely arms around the
dizzy and trembling Youth lie is overcome.
aud yields to the powerful fascination of her
charms. Awhile they lave tOgethcr saunterirg
through" bUwers ofjasniine aud Ioses," in vo-
luptnous iBdolence aud pleasure. aud amidst
all the joys and luxuries Of spmse-bnt the
bleeding shade Of Caliirne still haunts lie
nOurnful AutheinI0D, ana the Deity OF Love
al length in compassion 10 his Suiierugs pierces
the bosom OF The s0TceresS RhoaOiaphne with
the arrow Of death. The marble palace bursts
asunder, Tie euchantment is dissolved. and
the youth finds himself in his native grove
With bis dear Callroc, They are united and
all is bliss
Saeli is the fancifni story upon Which this
poetn is founded. aud although il certainly 4,
not destitute OF interest, especially to classical
readers, set ~ IS TO be regretted that the
I,+a All rnc tod l.t.ff
a9nndaui rcsOntces, which are found in tie
history aud scenery of our own country. Most
OfouT bards have irOdden III the heaien path
OF European "'iiefs, bisfead OF exploring an
efiuiu,I track aud fftus