Penny Dreadfuls, 1602 · page 110 of 400
Penny Dreadful Cover — page 110: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Page Description This is a page of running verse prose from what appears to be a classical or allegorical work titled "Albions England" (visible at the top). The text is printed in early modern English typography with elaborate italics and decorative initials. The passage describes a chaotic dispute in hell among classical figures of torment—Cerberus, Charon, Tantalus, Tityus, Ixion, and others—who quarrel over their duties and dignities, eventually breaking into violent conflict. Pluto and Proserpine observe the tumult. The verse recounts how these same souls previously behaved on earth and continue their torments in hell, with a final speaker (identified as "the Queene of such") responding to some prior statement.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
. _ And Cerberushad lap enough: and Charomleafurefound:) _ Theairy Sprights,the walking Flames,and Goblins ereatand finall, _ Had theare good cheere,andcompany,and fportthe diuell and all. | Po Tantalws the fhrinking flood,nor ftarting fruit were fuch: ~ Nor Tizimshis bowels did the hungrie Vultur touch: _ Vpon his ftone fat Ci/aphus: Ixeon on his Wheele: | The Bel:des vpon their Tubs: no wonted toile they feele. a Till,in this anticke Feftiuall thefe lait recited fiue ae __ Ofdignities for dueties theare gann earneftly did ftriue: | And then the quarrel! grew fo hot that hell-was hell againe, _ And flocking Ghofts did feuerally their Fauctors part maintaine, — With Céfaphus tooke part the Ghofts of minds that did afpire, _ And by ambitious climing fell defarts vnlike defire, — With Tanralws hild ftarued Ghofts, whofe pleafure was their paine. _ Whofe ever Hords had neuer vfe,and gettings had no gaine. To Belides affitted foules of Vnthrifts, whofe fupplies (fufife, _ Did paffe from them as fea through Cieues,whofe waftes no wealthes _ Vnto Zxeon ftood their Sprights that had their lufts for law, | Rebellants toa common good, and finning without awe. ~ To Titiws\aftly ioyned Ghotts,whofe hearts didemptie hate. ~ 4 As Todes their poyfon, growing when it feemeth to abate. _ About fie Apples,Stones,and Tubs,the wheele was tumbled downe,, — The Voltur girds,no Ghoft but had at leaft a broken crowne, _ This skufling and confedracie in hell made fach a reare, _ That(wontles offuch braules and blowes) Proferpine did feate. — But Plaro, laughing, told his Bride to Ela it was Fa, _ Tomorrowes dinne fhould prooue that fame to bea ciuill day : _ Inpeace thefe were their practifes on earth,and here in hell — (Saue thar their foules haue neuer peace) we finde them as they fell, - They worke to me,each of thefe fiue,though daily count I aske, ~ Doe newly number Million foules,whofe torments is their taske. _ The Queene of fuch,not free of feare, replicdthusagaine, me | 4 en OC. ee, nd ore ie ’ » > o = a”. 7 a a , . - ‘a. - » . ' > re . hy 4 s