Penny Dreadfuls, 1602 · page 108 of 400
Penny Dreadful Cover — page 108: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Victorian Penny Dreadful Page Analysis This is a page of running prose poetry from what appears to be Chapter 18 of a serialized work titled "Albions England" (Book 3, page 84). The text narrates a historical battle involving the Queen of the Britons (Voada/Boadicea) and her forces fighting against Roman armies. The verse describes the conflict's progression: initial British success with six thousand warrior women, eventual Roman victory despite Briton valor, and Queen Voada's suicide after defeat. Her daughter then leads a revenge attack against the Romans. The language is archaic Early Modern English with italicized proper names marking key figures and places. This appears to be historical-legendary narrative verse rather than sensational crime or horror fiction typical of penny dreadfuls.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Curt sa * v. -< i, vy 2 ' eo ’ f) > Va - : -_ vet te ; q «4 ( Ve GS pe eae 1 , . < - Cease ee = é ‘ ‘ - ‘ } ¥ p q 4 ri. i » - “3 a4 Vv a . Tey ™~ ‘eS ) < ‘ kh . * ~ \<£ % «ak t : a St 8 of —— io 2 Lee f <4 G wT > ' > {* Ld d . P ie ty " ue , ‘ ¥ : . ¥ Aa) « ‘ ) , ‘ if > : é co a * tf a ‘ ‘ 3 i ’ = ¢ Rd : v . . p~ P Dardave Brures, \alt named, but in valour meant before: I your conduct, moftknighrly friends, I fuperfeade the reft : _ Yecometo fight, and we in fight to hope and helpe our beft. Scarce did this brave Bellona end,when as the Battailes ioyne, Abouethe reft the And life and death was bought and fould with courage, not with coine, 2 Queene of Brares through blood did cuther way, _ Sixe thoufand Ladies ,Lyons-like,exployting like Afray :_ Till Cartzs with his Romaine Armes,{ubdewed, fled away. ~ Of Romains {euentic thoufand died,of Brarons then were flaine _ Twife fifteene thoufand,and the reft their ceafed freedome gaine, When valiant Plancivs,Prefident in Gallia heard fuch newes, - Hewaffes an Armie out of France,and Voada purfues. — The a/bineftsto aid the Queene aflembleat her call, _-And then began afecond Warre,nor was the {laughter fmall. _ ‘The Bratons,bearing flight had clos’d themfelnes with waines about, _In which the awles women ftood firruaying who was ftout, _ Controuling Cowards,and among did fill the aire with dinne : -- But,valiant though the Bratones were,the day the Romames winne. _Invaine the furious women then on Sonnes and Husbands call, - Theinfelues with Sonnes and Husbands did by aduerfe weapons fall. Queene Yoada,paft helpe and hope, betooke her felfeto flight: -Tilllooking backe, vnfollowed then,and hauing in her fight. _ The fenfeles Tronkes of {langhtred friends, fhee leaningvon her Lance _ Did power forth teares,and grew at length impatient of the chance, _ And faid : my felfemy truftic friends will with my deareft-blood _ Keepe Obite to your happie Ghoftes,that for your Countries good Beas yoube,and I willbe :no Romaine {word {hall boatt finy difpatch, So on her Lance fhe yeelded vp her Ghofte. Her Daughter then, for to reuenge her friends vpon her foes, Affifted by the vanquithed,againft the Vitors roes, ebtring through the Rowmame Tentes the brane Virago goes Till PLanciws, ever prouident of perils, broughtfupplies, 3 What time /odscia,vrging wounds, with conftant courage dies. (E