Penny Dreadfuls, 1602 · page 97 of 400
Penny Dreadful Cover — page 97: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains running prose poetry from what appears to be "Albions England," a historical narrative poem. The text depicts a mother (apparently a queen) pleading with her warring sons—King Bren and another brother—to cease their fratricidal conflict. She invokes their shared blood, recalls nursing them as infants, and warns that their pride and fighting will bring ruin, comparing them to Oedipus's sons. The passage is written in early modern English verse with elaborate metaphors about shields, thrones, and maternal duty.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
} aca hence thefe Souldiers: ine Sons »X none but ye would fet: 4 “ALBIONS 7ENGLAND. +f Vatill, (ufficient Pledges had that Denmarke it fhould pay Continuall Tribute to the Brates he them difmift away. Meane while King Bren ( receiued nowamongft the Gawles did chreate ‘~ For Englands Grow ne-halfe him with-held his Brothers felfe & Se ates: v (For Time,alaying Loue,did adde vnto domefticke hate) And with the Gexoue(ean Gawles whofe Prince his heire of late He had ret did inuade the ‘Empire of his Brother : And almoft did their Battels ioyne,when thus intreates their Mother. ; I dare to nane ye Sonnes,becaufe | am your Mother,yet ‘el I doubt to tearme you Brothers that doe Brotherhood forget. : Thefe Prodigies,their wrothtuli Shitelds,forbodden Foe to Foe, Doc ill befeeme allved hands,even yours alryed foe. O, how feeme Oedipus his Sonnesin you againe to ftriue ? How feeme thefe {words in me (aye me) /ocasfato reutue ? I would Dawwallo \iued,or ere death had loft againe. His Monarchie,f ufficing Fower,but now too {mall for Twaine. Then either would you,as did he sinploy your wounds elfwheare : Or for the fmalnes of your Power agree,at leaft for feare. But pride of ritch & romefome Thrones, that wingeth now your darts, It will(1 would notas I feare) worke forks to your r harts. | My Sonnes, {weet Sonnes, attend my words, your Mothers wordes at And for lant your mother doe conclude Iam your frend: (cess I cannotcountell but intreate nor yeti can intreate Butasa WViriarcaned the fame whofe blood was once your meate: Hence had ye Milke (She baerd her Paps) thefe Armes did hug ye aa | Thefe fyled hands did wi ipe,did wrap,did rocke,and lay ye fott: Thefe lips did kifle,or Eyes did weep,if that ye were vnqueat, Lf Thé ply I did, with Sone gor Sighes,with Dance, with Tung, or Teate: : For thefe kind Caufes deere my Sonnes,difarme your felues: if not, Then for thefe bitter teares that now your Mothers Cheekes do {por Fa Oftvrge I Sonnes and Mothers Names,Namesnottobeforgot. 2 When CORDICLOOLKSHE) me