Penny Dreadfuls, 1812 · page 157 of 258
Psyche, and other poems — page 157: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Page 139 of a Victorian Penny Dreadful This is a page of running verse narrative prose. It depicts a female character named Psyche departing from "Glacella's isle" with her knight, her spirits lifting with hope for reunion and success. The text then shifts to describe Psyche's awakening the next morning in a pleasant, aromatic place, and her arrival—apparently by ship with mariners—at a beautiful shore with graceful hills. The passage concludes with Psyche's anxiety upon reaching an "important day," uncertain whether she can obey some unstated "mandate." The narrative emphasizes emotional states (hope, delight, courage failing) and sensory details typical of sentimental Victorian melodrama.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
139 Her spirits lighten as they leave behind The dreary prospect of Glacella’s isle ; She blest with ¢laddened heart the light-winged wind That bears her swiftly from a scene so vile ; With glistening eye, and hope’s prophetic smile, She hears her knight foretel their dangers o’er, That sure success shall crown their fated toil, And soon arriving at that happy shore, Love shall again be found, and leave his bride no more. ‘ Now, from light slambers and delicious dreams, The jocund ery of joy aroused the fair ; ‘The morn that kissed her eyes with golden beams, Bade her the universal transport share ; Diyinely breathed the aromatic air, . And Psyche’s heart, half fainting with delight, In the peculiar odour wafted there Recalled the breezes which, 0’er scenes most bright, Their wings of perfume shook, and lingering stayed their flight, The lovely shore the mariners descry, And many a gladsome cheer the prospect hails; Its graceful hills rise full before the eye, While eagerly expanding all their sails They woo the freshness of the morning gales: The approaching scenes new opening charms display, And Psyche’s palpitating courage faiis, She sees arrived at length the important day, Uncertain yet of power the mandate to obey. N x : CoOnicloookS.comnn