Chapter All Fools to Almansor of A by Brewer's Readers Handbook

All Fools to Almansor

All Fools, a comedy by George Chapman (1605), based on Terence’s Heautontirumenos.

All for Love (or “A Sinner Well Saved”), a poem in nine parts, in the form of a ballad, by Southey (1829). The legend is this: Eleemon, a freedman, was in loved with Cyra, his master’s daughter, and signed with his blood a bond to give body and soul to Satan, if Satan would give him Cyra for his wife. He married Cyra, and after the lapse of twelve years Satan came to Eleemon to redeem his bond. Cyra applied to St. Basil, who appointed certain penance, and when Satan came and showed Basil the bond, the bishop replied that the bond was worthless for two reasons: (1) it was made when Eleemon was single, but marriage made the wife one with the man, and Cyra’s consent was indispensable; (2) nothing that man can do can possibly render null the work of redemption, so the blood of Eleemon was washed away by the blood of Christ. If sin hath abounded, grace hath superabounded.

All for Love (or “The World Well Lost”), a tragedy by Dryden (1678). Ventidîus induces Antony to free himself from the wiles of Cleopatra, but the fair frail one wins him back again. Whereupon Ventidius brings forward Octavia, who succeeds for a time in regaining her husband’s love. Again Cleopatra lures him away, and when Alexandria fell into the hands of Octavius Cæsar, Alexis tells Antony that Cleopatra is dead, whereupon Antony slays himself. Cleopatra (erroneously reported dead) arrives just in time to bid Antony farewell, and then kills herself with an asp.

All in the Wrong, a comedy by Murphy, adapted from the French (1761). Also the title of a novel by Theodore Hook (1839).

All the Year Round, a weekly periodical, conducted by Charles Dickens, and since his death in 1870 continued by his son. It was called “Household Words” from 1850 to 1857; then “Once a Week” (1857–1859).

All the Talents Administration, formed by lord Grenville, in 1806, on the death of William Pitt. The members were lord Grenville, the earl Fitwilliam, viscount Sidmouth, Charles James Fox, earl Spencer, William Windham, lord Erskine, sir Charles Grey, lord Minto, lord Auckland, lord Moira, Sheridan, Richard Fitzpatrick, and lord Ellenborough. It was dissolved in 1807.

On “all the talents” vent your venal spleen.
   —Byron: English Bards and Scotch Reviewers.

All this for a Song! (See SONG.)

All’s Well that Ends Well, a comedy by Shakespeare (1598). The hero and heroine are Bertram count of Rousillon, and Helena a physician’s daughter, who are married by the command of the king of France; they part because Bertram thought the lady not sufficiently well-born for him. Ultimately, however, all ends well. (See HELENA.)

(The story of this play is from the Decameron, Novel ix. Day 3.)

Allan, lord of Ravenswood, a decayed Scotch nobleman.—Sir W. Scott: The Bride of Lammermoor (time, William III.).

Allan (Mrs.), colonel Mannering’s housekeeper at Woodburne.—Sir W. Scott: Guy Mannering (time, George II.).

Allan [BRECK CAMERON], the sergeant sent to arrest Hamish Bean McTavish, by whom he is shot.—Sir W. Scott: The Highland Widow (time, George II.).

Allan-a-Dale, one of Robin Hood’s men, introduced by sir W. Scott in Ivanhoe. (See ALLIN-A-DALE.)

Allegory for Alligator, a malapropism.

She’s as headstrong as an allegory on the banks of the Nile.
   —Sheridan: The Rivals, iii. 2 (1775).