Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-07-10
From the London Atlas.l
REVIEW OF "ALL FOR LOVE"

Blu Robert Souihey, L. d. Poet laureate, Sc'
Mr. Southey has, Of late years, devoted nm.
self so industriously 10 the more sober wa o,
history. that we had almost feared his poehcai
spirit was subdued. There is nothing mars Inc
imagination with sue h certainty as lo' & DWELL
inc in the regions of truth true poet annot
deal with facts without doing violence 10 MS
fancy; and il he have conquered his rePughahce
TO Stats ical details, he will h"d his IN husiasm
ouenched when mex he attempts 10 soar On the
wings of fiction Genius Cannot ad"p' me-
chanical mutations; it is not Pro'eus enough
for al,e rna,e dull Investigations and Dr'''''h,
inventions when men present many asPtc's oi
versatility thew are seldom eminent IN any
Mr. SontLev. however. in he liz lie ballads be-
fore US, risks little reputation, snd escapes tue
lash of the critic by descending below The level
of penal visitation. The verses contained I'D
this volume would have filed distinguished
place in Lews's Tales of Wonder;' they
are scarcely superior TO " The Old Woman OF
Berklty," with The exception OF a lew passages
of beauty and touching simplicity in the Sigh,
story emitted "All for Love; or, Sinner wen
Saved" Of heir kind, they are suhoien"y
amusing, and lolerably well executed; out they
possess no peeuliari'ics either IN 'he'r pieh'
subj, CT or machinery, that challenge cr'ticai IN
quiry. We shall give running analysis u
their substance, furnishing occasional s2ecl'
mems as we proceed.
"All for Love" is founded upon cIrcum-
stance related in the life Of 81. Basil, and De-
longs TO that age when tie miracles OF Shr's'
tianily we're emplo, ed 10 frusl' ale The machiha
lions Of the evil one. Eleemon, freedman
falls in love with his masters daughter, Cyra,
and finding all his applications TO The saints ana
he virgin fail in accomplishing the ohJect OF
his desires. he turns 10 Venus, and Love, and
Phebus; but the heather deities are equally
inexorable the images are deaf, and the ora
oIes dumb; in despair he seeks the advice oil
sorcerer, who turns him over 10 the devil, WIN
whom hr has an interview Sin The drcar realm
Of outer night" after having been whliled INFO
The air TO an incalculable distance by unseen
spirits. Satan consents 10 aid him, hui as usua'
demands certain terms. The oandor OF the
following specification Or the conditions, IS
credilablr to his sulphuteous majesty:
But mark melon conditions, youth
No paitering here we know
Dost thou here, solemsly this hour,
Thy hope of heaven forcSo'
Dost thou renounee thy baptism,
And bind thyseifto me,
NV wofu portion to partake
Through all eternity
No lurking purpose shall avail,
When youth may fail and courage quail,
To cheat me by contrition!
will have thee written down among
The children Of peraiton.
Remember, deceive thee not,
Nor have tempted thee
Thou contest of thine accord
And actest knowingly.
Dost thou. who now to choose art free,
Forever pledge thyself to me?
ASH shall help thee, say"
"Ido; so help me Satan" said
The wilfu castaway.
ga resolute answer" quo,h the iend.
" And now then, child of dust
In farther proof of that firm heart
Thou wilt sign bond before we part,
ForI take thee not on trust!"
Swift as thoughts scroll and reed were brought
And to Eiremon's breast,
Just where ;he heart-strnke plays, the point
of the reed was gently prest
1t pierced not in, nor touched the skim
But the sens that II caused was such
As when the electric pellet OF light
Comes Torciby out at touch:
A sense no sooner felt than gone,
Rut with that short ceiling hen
A drop of his hearts blood came forth,
And filed the fatal pen.
With This pen E,epmon signs the fatal bond.
The I, fec, j. Immediate. Cyra, who had ben
des inrd % take the veil suddenly fcrgo,s her
| resoIuli n and marrics Eleemon. Years pas
over, and her IA her dies. Shortly after, he APP
pears to his daugh er III vision, and reveals
the score; Of the damned red spot on her hus-
! bands breast, giving her particular inSiiuc.
tons as to the mode Of removing it. She los
es no time il Lri,g,ng Ell, enon into ,hr pre-
sence Of Bishop Basil, who recommends him
10 solitude and PRAYER:
! He led him to the relic room;
| Alone he eft him there;
! And Cyra with the nuns remained
To pass her time in prayer.
Alone Eleemon left
| For mercy on Heaven To call
] 49, Deep and unceaSing were his prayers
= But not a tear would fall.
| His lips were parched, his head was hot,
| II; hall oil hpa