Penny Dreadfuls, 1602 · page 57 of 400
Penny Dreadful Cover — page 57: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# What is on this page: This is a page of running verse poetry from *Albion's England*, a historical narrative poem. The text is printed in italics and roman type on aged paper, marked as "2. Booke" and "chap.8." The visible passage recounts a classical mythological episode: Hercules helps defend Deianira from rape by a centaur, whom he kills with an arrow. Mortally wounded, the centaur gives Deianira a cloth soaked in his blood, claiming it will restore her husband's love if he strays. The narrative describes their parting as he dies, after which she takes the poisoned gift, unaware of its true nature.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
“ ALBIONS ENGLAND, And fo he did, whilft Hercules this fidethe Riuerftaid, When Junos Breed on farther bankes his Paflenger had fet, Then luft and long conceaned grudge to foule revenge did whet: Not Detanira could auoidaRape,orlittle lefle: 7 Or Hercules difioynd by Foord,giue aide to her diftrefle. One while,contrarie to himfelfe,full humbly he intreates, Anon, like Hercules indeed,he did command with threates, But firft nor latter might preuaile,for AV ¢//m halde her thence. — I may not follow,nor in flightis (Cestaare thy defence Said Hercules: Wis deeds approoue bis latter faying true, For letting flie a fatall Shaft the Rauifher he flue. And though the arrow gailed him even at the very hart, Yeat for a while he did indure the not induring {mart : And hauing brought his trembling Rape into avallie,faid : See Deianira how thy Loue an end of me hath made: | Yeatis my death lefle griefe to me,then that thou thould beftow Thy felfe onfuch achanging Churle as Hercules : [know oo (Sweete Wench, know)he doth preferre contrary Loues to thee, ——— ee ee — —E = a . © ret Wherefore my graue(the lefle my griefe)in this thy good fhall bee. Take this(he gaue afolded cloth,and tothe baene therein He mixed fomewhat of his bloud ) this fame(quoth he)thall win To thee againethy Husbands loue,when he fhall iteftrange : _ For out of doubt, know it, Lhe takes delight in change. _ When thou fufpecteft fuch a wrong,doe boylea fhirt with this: No fooner fhall he weare the fame(herein fuch vertue is) | . Butthat hisnouell Loue will change and fall whence it did flie: Meane while doe notthe vnétion touch, leatt fo the vertue die. In all this time betwixt his armes he did the Lady clafpe, And hild her fo,as Hawke a Pray, vatillhis lateft gafpe, cain eee eee —— — — — eee 7 | Then leauing hima liveleffe Coarfe miftrufting nonghthis drift, _ | ‘She meaning fimply, tooke with her the Traicours poyfned gift, o . | And Herculesby this had patt the River deepe and wide, . ae | Who(Devanira firlt imbratt)drew from the Centanres fide =