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THE

DESCENT INTO HELL.

А РОЕМ.

OPINIONS OF THE PRESS

ON THE FIRST EDITION OF

"THE DESCENT INTO HELL."

"A poem, produced some four or five years since, called THE DESCENT INTO HELL, a production worthy of any time and of any country. In its lofty thought and deep philosophy, we perceived the signs of a mind full of strong influence and noble purposes. It was written in the terza rima of DANTE, and was, we believe, the first time that, if we except some imperfect specimens from the pens of SHELLEY and BYRON, that measure had been employed in this language. As a second edition of this truly Miltonic work has been announced for publication, we hope to have an opportunity of expressing our opinion of its merits to more advantage than our limits will now allow." MORNING Post, 1834.

"One very extraordinary Poem-only one, and that as yet but little noticed or known-has made its appearance within the last half year. This is THE DESCENT INTO HELL. The feeling, the expression of the verse adopted, is essentially Miltonic; but its measure is the terza rima of DANTE-a measure, notwithstanding the efforts of Lord Byron, hitherto a stranger nearly to English Poetry This Poem, if we mistake not, is destined to make no slight noise in the world. To render it ample justice would require a volume of criticism.... A gigantic power and grasp of mind will at once be perceived; and, what is remarkable-notwithstanding the occasional affectation of obsolete words and phrases-the language has been subjected to a high and most elaborate polish. Another great and

striking beauty in Mr. HERAUD's verse is the eminent skill, and musical correctness of ear, with which the sound is adapted to the sense; and that not merely by the choice and juxtaposition of the words alone, but by the slow and solemn, the light and rapid movements inevitably induced in the reader by the rhythmical adjustment of feet." LA BELLE ASSEMBLEE, 1830.

"The author is a consummate master of the art of poetry; he has studied the best models, and is a laborious imitator of the classic severity that distinguished some of our old writers." ATLAS.

"A true poem, written by a true poet. It manifests talent of a very varied kind; it gives indication of deep reading and learning; it breathes a true and saving philosophy; and each line is for the most part clothed in nervous, forcible, and eloquent language. The author too is a close reasoner, a powerful disputant, a keen logician; and he has done well to choose a sacred subject for his ably developed argument." FRASER'S MAGAZINE. "Such lines (and there are many such in the Poem) would not be unworthy of MILTON himself." GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE.

THE

DESCENT INTO HELL,

SECOND EDITION, REVISED AND RE-ARRANGED,

WITH AN

ANALYSIS AND NOTES:

TO WHICH ARE ADDED,

URIEL, A FRAGMENT,

AND

THREE ODES.

BY

JOHN A. HERAUD.

LONDON

JAMES FRASER, REGEN. STREET.

M DCCC XXXV.

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