Penny Dreadfuls, 1812 · page 121 of 258
Psyche, and other poems — page 121: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Page 103: Verse Monologue This is a page of running prose—specifically, dramatic verse organized in stanzas. The speaker, apparently a wronged knight, laments his banishment from Lady Castabella's domain and complains that an impostor has stolen his name and title ("Knight of the Bleeding Heart"), usurping his rightful honors and causing the queen to turn against him unjustly. He then appeals to a character named Psyche to intercede with Castabella on his behalf, begging her to use her influence to secure his vindication and restore his access to the court, emphasizing his faithful service despite his undeserved disgrace.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
: 3 ww 103 ae “ Here Castabella reigns, whose brow severe * Qft chilled my sanguine spirit by its frown; ** Yet have I served her with adoring fear, «Though her ungrateful scorn will oft disown ‘“‘ The faithful homage by her servant shown ; ‘¢ Me she hath banished from her fair domain, ‘¢ For crimes my loyal heart had never known ; ‘¢ While thus excluded vainly I complain, And feel another’s guilt my injured honour stain. ~ “With false assumption of my arms and name, ‘“‘ Knight of the Bleeding Heart miscalled too long; __* A vile impostor has disgraced my fame, ~ ‘¢ And much usurped by violence and wrong, ** Which to the virgin queen by right belong ; ‘* On me her irritated vengeance falls, “© Qn me, repulsed by force of arms so strong “¢ That, never suffered to approach her walls, Unheard, indignant truth in vain for justice calls. ”~ “ Yet she alone our progress can assist, ** And thou, Oh Psyche! must her favour gain; “¢ Nor from thy soft entreaties e’er desist ‘¢ Till thou free entrance for thy knight obtain ; “* Here let his faithful services remain ° ‘ *¢ Fixed on thy grateful heart! nor thou consent, ‘* Nor let their force thy gentleness constrain ** To leave him, thus disgraced, yet innocent, * Thine undeserved neglect forsaken to lament,” K 2 Conniclooolkks.comn)