Penny Dreadfuls, 1812 · page 108 of 258
Psyche, and other poems — page 108: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Page 90: Running Prose Narrative This is a page of running verse narrative from what appears to be a serialized story. The text describes a character named Psyche attempting to escape or journey away against the wishes of a character named Disfida, who sends guards to watch and detain her. Psyche becomes exhausted and collapses, unable to overcome the guards' surveillance, while she descends into terror and despair as day fades. The passage is written in rhyming couplets and employs Gothic melodramatic language typical of Victorian sensation fiction.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
90 Not thus Disfida suffered her to part,. But urged her there in safety to remain, Repeating oft to her foreboding heart That fairy land she never could attain : But when she saw dissuasion was in vain, : And Psyche bent her journey to pursue, With angry brow she called a trusty train. ia And bade them keep the imprudent fair in view, { And guard her dangerous path with strict observance _ true. iy In vain their proffered service she declines, _And dreads the convoy of the scowling band ; Their hateful presence with her loss combines; She feels betrayed to the destroyer’s hand, And trembling wanders o’er the dreary land; While as she seeks to escape Disfida’s power, Her efforts still the officious guards withstand, Led in vain circles many a tedious hour, Undistanced still she sees the gloomy turrets lower. — Till wearied with her fruitless way, at length Upon the ground her fainting limbs she threw; 4 No wish remained to aid exhausted strength, The mazy path she cared not to pursue, Since unavailing was the task she knew: Her murmuring guards to seek for food prepare, Yet mindful of their charge, still keep in view The drooping victim of their cruel care, Who sees the day ¢lecline in terror and despair. _ . ~ COnnIE DOO KS, Oma)