Penny Dreadfuls, 1602 · page 99 of 400
Penny Dreadful Cover — page 99: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Page Analysis This is a page of running verse poetry from what appears to be an early modern or Renaissance-era historical narrative (likely the source material for a penny dreadful adaptation). The text presents a dramatic monologue by a character named Brena, a military leader lamenting his fallen soldiers after battles, apparently at Delphos. Brena grieves the dead, invokes both pagan and Hebrew gods for mercy, and ultimately takes his own life by self-inflicted wound. The narrative continues with references to subsequent military figures and their deeds. The typography and language are archaic; this is prose-verse recounting heroic or tragic military history rather than sensational Victorian penny dreadful content per se.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
F ~ ge A lai tre els she ; Nan + / . ee 4 Mie ALBIONS ( ENGLAND. es: Yea Brena himfelfe,difcouraged,did change in every parte. He looking after and vpon the fcattered and the flayne, Did feeme afecond Cadmus faue lefle patient of his paygne: And,fhaming to be feene to weepe,deuoured fightles teares, And,in thefe words, his heartie greefes did number totheirEares, — Sweet Soldiours leaue me to my felfe,it likes methatyeleaueme, More takes your tarridce fr6 my health than can thefe plagues bereaue. Fach of thefe Mafle of Corpfes dead hath binadeathtome, (mes Deliuer then mine Eyes of you,too many deathes I fee: 7 Suruiue,and tell the Wefterne World what we exployted have : How that to Rome,amidft her Roofe,the mayden Sacke we gaue; Tell of our Battels, Booties,and our Buildings: laftly tell (Ad honor to our Ouerthrowe)thatwe at De/phos fell By wounds deuinejno humane Armes. But God,who fo thon be, Leffe isthy courage than Commaund,els would’ft thou cope with me, As Puta with Cdlcides didand Afars fometimes with men: i Do mic like honor,and thefe Graues fhalllightly greeuemethen. But chou fall little dareftfo, Nay I doe dare too much, ea That with my‘fo vnhallowed tongue thy Deitie dare touch. , J Ad, fee thefe Sianehters,and refeme aliue this fmall Remayne, Let laftly me and onely me eike number to the flayne. But bootelefle ona ruthles God I fee my prayers {pent, As haughtely doeft thoureuenge as humbly I repent. | Well(God of De/phss)fince our teares,this Incenfenor thefe Graues. Appeafe thine yre,perfift ro plague this fefh,that henceforth craves No pitie: to the Hebrew God,ot powerexceedingthine, 2 (Men fay) appeale I,and bequeath the Soules of me and mine: Accept my fimple Legacie.O Godhood moft deuine, § Said Brena: And with a felfe-wrought wound did perifh :andhismen Departing wonne,and leftthe name to Gallo-Grecia then, ae ‘The righteous Gordovsan might adde freth Subie& toourMufe, But skipping to his Fathers Sonnes,cf them it thus enfewes, rhe COMIC IOOKXS GOA : ae