Penny Dreadfuls, 1812 · page 145 of 258
Psyche, and other poems — page 145: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is page 127 of running verse narrative prose. The text is a lengthy poem about love and domestic relationships, using the metaphor of storms and flowers to describe how quarrels and harsh treatment drive away romantic affection. The speaker warns that Love, though it may initially forgive passion's tempests and be soothed by beauty's tears, will ultimately flee if subjected to prolonged discord, reproach, or blame—leaving indifference and disgust in its wake. The page number and printer's mark suggest this is from the middle of a serialized work.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
827 ‘ Repentance may the storms of passion chase, And Love, who shrunk affrighted from the blast, May hush his just complaints in soft embrace, And smiling wipe his tearful eye at last: - . Yet when the wind’s rude violence is past, Look what a wreck the scattered fields display ! See on the ground the withering blossoms cast ! And hear sad Philomel with piteous lay ‘Deplore the tempest’s rage that swept her young away. The tears capricious beauty loves to shed, The pouting lip, the sullen silent tongue, May wake the impassioned lovers tender dread, : And touch the spring that clasps his soul so strong ; But ah, beware! the gentle power too long Will not endure the frown of angry strife ; He shuns contention, and the gloomy throng — Who blast the joys of calm domestic life, And flies when discord shakes her brand with quarrels rife. Oh! he will tell you that these quarrels bring The ruin, not renewal of his flame : If oft repe: ted, lo! on rapid wing _ He flies to hide his fair but tender frame ; From violence, reproach, or peevish blame irrevocably flies. Lament in vain! Indifference comes the abandoned heart to claim, Asserts for ever her repulsive reign, ‘Close followed by disgust and all her chilling train. M 2 Connicloooks.comnn