Penny Dreadfuls, 1812 · page 129 of 258
Psyche, and other poems — page 129: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a page of running verse text, numbered 111, presenting a narrative poem in heroic couplets. The passage retells the classical myth of Apollo's pursuit of Daphne, emphasizing her virtue in resisting his advances through flight rather than yielding to his eloquence and gifts. The poem then shifts to celebrate how the Muses honor virginity and chastity, referencing the transformation of Syrinx (here called "Syringa") into reeds to escape Pan's pursuit. The text is moralistic, framing female virtue and escape from seduction as worthy of immortal honor.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Wii °*Twas thus Castalia’s sacred fountain: sprune’, Once a fair nymph by bright Apollo loved: _ To Daphne too his amorous strain he sung, But sung: ‘in vain: her heart remained unmoved, No vain delight her modest virtue proved | ‘ To be the-theme of all his wantonlays: = 9 |. * To shun the god the silvan scene she roved ; Nor ptize the flattery of his tuneful praise, Nor one relenting smile his splendid: gilts could raise: } Yet were his lips with eloquence endued, © And melting passion warbled o’er ‘this lyre, And had she yielding listened as he wooed, The virgin sure had caught the kindling fire, | " And fallen a victim to impure desire ; For safety cautious flight alone remained, While tears of trembling innocence require Her parents aid: and lo! that aid obtained, How suddenly her charms immortallaurels gained! | Dear to the Muses still her honours live: And they too glory in their virgin name; To pure delights their tranquil hours they give; And feat to mingle with a grosser flame The chaster fires which heaven hath bid them claim : They smiled when Pan, on Ladon’s banks deceived, The fair Syringa clasped, who, snatthed from shame, Already had her tuneful form received, And to the breathing winds in airy music grieved. L | Conniclooolkks.comnn