Penny Dreadfuls, 1812 · page 123 of 258
Psyche, and other poems — page 123: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Page 105: Running Prose This page contains verse narrative (appearing to be from a romantic or fantasy poem). The text depicts a scene where a character named Psyche encounters a lion and "his gallant lord" (a knight). After guards close the portals, Psyche's emotional response—tears, blushes, and sighs—silently supports the knight's cause. The knight then defends himself against charges and false accusations, asserting his innocence and his loyal attachment to "her reign" while refusing contact with "the base impostor." The passage combines courtly romance with melodramatic sentiment typical of Victorian popular literature.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
105 That form majestic might the bravest awe : Vet Psyché gazed with love unmixed with fear,, And felt those charms her soul attracted draw As to maternal tenderness most dear ; , Congenial souls! they at one glance appear _ Linked. to each other by a mutual tie: Her courteous voice invites her to draw near, And lo! obedient to their sovereign’s eye, To Psyche’s willing steps the barriers open fly. But to the lion, and his gallant lord Sudden the affrighted guards the portals close. Psyche looks back, and mindful of her word, Mindful of him who saved her from her foes, Guide of her course and soother of her woes, The tear that started to her downcast eye, The deepening blush which eloquently rose, Silent assistant of the pleading sigh, To speed the unuttered suit their powers persuasive try. And now the knight, encouraged to approach, . Asserts his injured fame, and justice claims, Confutes each charge, repels each foul reproach, And each accusing falsehood boldly shames, While conscious innocence his tongue inflames : A firm attachment to her reign he vows, The base impostor’s guilty madness blames, And, while the imputed crimes his spirit rouse, No intercourse with him his nobler soul allows. Connicloooks.comn)