Penny Dreadfuls, 1602 · page 279 of 400
Penny Dreadful Cover — page 279: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page presents running prose poetry from what appears to be a dramatized biblical narrative titled "Albions England." The text recounts the story of David's children—Tamar, Amnon, and Absalom—focusing on Amnon's lustful fixation on his sister Tamar and his conspiracy (aided by the cunning Jonadab) to seduce her through deception. The verse describes Amnon feigning illness to manipulate their father David into sending Tamar to care for him, setting up the tragedy to follow. The language employs early modern English spelling and poetic conventions typical of penny dreadful serialization.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
* ad a ars EP pa Tiss a ; a ab __ Effeéting now,is only it whereto our Pen thall pas: AES Thamar, Ammon, Abfolom, Adoniah aio wrought t ' _ -Vnto their Father woe enough, let thefe on Stage bebrought. Nowto the Tribes was Dawid as the Zodiack to the Signes, Euen Signiferto euery Prince that circled his Confines: Ba A Monarche great,in A&ts and Fame more great,but grear‘ft ofall, — Inthat he was belou’d of God,norceaft on him to call, ee _ Whoraifd him,often falling for his Crofles weare not finall. Ee: — Loue-worth Maacha, Thalmai King of Gefhurs Daughter,baire To Dawid teatred Abfolom,and Thamar peereles faire, | _ Norfairer yeat than virtuous, though difaftroufly (he {fpeade: Such is admyred Bewtie tharhath Worlds of Mifchiefes breade. Ammon, whom —Ahinoam bore to Dautd was ghe caule _ Ofhers and his owne griefe,in that he gave bis Eyes no lawes, For Loue is buta Terme,like as is EechobutaVoyce, That This doth babble That doth breed or not is ours the choyce, . Trewe Virtue curbs Affection,and for Confcience flyeth finne, To leaue forimperfection, feare,or fhame no praife doth winne. But not fo happy he,as feare,or {hame,or ought might {tay be His rankled thoughts,but ficke, lutte ficke ,for 7 hamar Ammonlay, ¢ ee 7 . , ¢ Till fubtell 7onadabs Aduife did her to him betray. For neuer was Pretence fo fowle but fome would flatter it, Nor any thing fo peftilent as mif-applied Wit. Seeme feeble ficke,and when the King thy Father vifits thee, Then faine an Appetite to Meate by Thamar dreft ( quoth he: ) Aske that fhe dreffeit in thy fight,and of her hand to take it, When priuate fo,thy Market bee as thou doeft mar or make it. Well pleafde this Counfell : Avon askes,arid Danid yeeldsanon. | Norreadier Dauidto bid goe than Thamar tobe gon. Like Philome/a,flattering Pandeon fhe might go . | With Terews that prepos’d her {hame,was Thamar forward fo: 1 — When either Virgin was furprifde wheare leaft they look’t a Foe. |. Sogratious,portly,freth,and faire,and (which no leffeattrat) Ne | uae - | Pcomicbooks - a | i , TAR ign’ \ s > " ee TOF. ai