Penny Dreadfuls, 1812 · page 113 of 258
Psyche, and other poems — page 113: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Page 99 of a Victorian Penny Dreadful This is running prose—specifically verse narrative from page 99 of what appears to be a serialized poetic tale. The text describes a reunion between two lovers: magical spells dissolve as a knight is revealed in a cavern, and Psyche awakens in his arms. Upon revival, she sees him again but remains conflicted—outwardly reserved despite inner joy, tormented by questions about his earlier departure and doubting whether their love was real or enchantment. Though he attempts to comfort her, she stays silent and withdrawn, leaving his efforts to restore her spirits unsuccessful.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
99 ~ Scarce had the star of his attendant youth Blazed through the cavern and proclaimed the knight, When all those spells and visions of untruth, ‘Bred in dark Erebus and nursed in night, , Dissolving vanished into vapour light ; While Psyche, quite exhausted by her pains, And hardly trusting her astonished sight, Now faint and speechless in his arms remains, Nor memory of the past, nor present sense retains. Borne from the cavern, and to life restored, Her opening eyes behold her knight once more, She sees whom lost with anguish she deplored ; Yet a half-feigned resentment still she bore, Nor sign of joy her face averted wore, Though joy unuttered panted at her heart ; In sullen silence much she pondered o’er What from her side induced him to depart, And all she since had seen by aid of magic art. » / Was it then all a false deluding dream That wore the semblance of celestial Love ? On this her wavering thoughts bewildered seem At length to rest; yet onward as they move, Though much his tender cares her doubtsreprove, _ And though she longs to hear, and pardon all, Silence she still preserves : awhile he strove _ Her free and cheerful spirits to recall, But found the task was vain; his words unnoticed fall. , Conniclooolkks.comn