Penny Dreadfuls, 1602 · page 153 of 400
Penny Dreadful Cover — page 153: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a page of running prose poetry from what appears to be an early modern narrative poem (not a Victorian penny dreadful as stated in the prompt—the typography, spelling, and style indicate 16th or 17th century). The text recounts a romantic and political narrative involving Irish history: it describes how young Irish gentlemen and "Methean Ladies" helped a tyrant escape, tells of roving warriors from Scandinavia who left Ireland free until "our second Henries time," and then presents an amorous queen who caused new conquests. The bulk of the visible text is a passionate letter from Dermot, King of Leynister, to the Queen of Meth, declaring his love and devotion despite obstacles, comparing their bond to famous tragic loves.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
And Girle-boyes fauouring Ganimade,heere with his Lorda Gueft. a And Ganimades we are,quoth one,and thoua Prophet ttew : a And hidden Skeines from vnderneath their forged garments drew, . W herewith the Tyrantand his Bawds, with fate efcape, they flew : Ot which yong Irifh Gentlemen and A¢erhean Ladies act i The Ifle was filled in a trife nor any Zrifh flacke To profecute their freedome and th’amafed Worgaines fall, | Which was performed,and the King of 4ethextoldofall, = 7 ; - . - Vay ; | bs Hofe Rouers(whofe Originals, and others nota fewe, t As Switzers, Normaines, Lumbardes, Danes, from Scandinauia A mighty Ifle,an other world, in Scythian PontusClyme) — (grew, _ ~ Thus wrackt, left xe/and free vnto our fecond Henries time: Ray When (farre vnlike the Werhes that earft their Countriedidreftore) An Amorous Queene thereof did caufe new Conquefts andvprore: Dermot the King of Leynifter whom all befides did {pight, 4 | Didloue,below’d,the Queene of Atethto whom he thusdid wright. Thy King ,fweete Queene, the hindrance of our harts-eafe is away, And I, in heart at home with thee,at hand in perfon ftay: | Now isthe time(Time is a God)to ftrike our loue good lucke, a Long fince I cheapned it,noris my comming now to hucke : sf But,fince our fire is equall,letvs equally affitt Dears To finith what we fancy ,fay Maligners what they lift. ' - No like immortall the-Egge Chucke of Tyndarus his wife, 3 (The wracke of Dardane walles ) {hall mooue to vs like coftly ftrife :) Thy husband no — 4trides is,or were it he were fach, oA The /daneball-ludge did not more,but I would doo 4s much: _ For why? thy felte a richer caufe of warre,art woorthy fo, . Whom to continue ever frend,] carelefle am of foe, | My Kingdome fhall containe thee that containeft me and it, Yea,though we be condemned, Loueor armour thall vs quit, a Loues lawe atleaft adiudgeth barres, cleere bookes,to pleade in breefe _ Prefcription to obiections howhis paffionsbenotcheefe, -4 COMMIC ool weve —