Penny Dreadfuls, 1812 · page 220 of 258
Psyche, and other poems — page 220: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Page 202: Poetry ("Written at West-Aston") This is a page of verse poetry, dated June 1808, composed at West-Aston. The poem recalls a "dear suffering saint" who planted a myrtle tree on the speaker's birthday as a commemorative gift. The poet reflects on the woman's gentle, selfless nature and her hopes that the plant might one day delight her beloved brother in this pleasant garden setting. The poem concludes melancholically, observing that such tender affections often come to nothing—"when sweet affection thus designs in vain, / And sees the fragile web it smiling spun" break apart. The work appears sentimental and domestic in character rather than sensational.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
202 WRITTEN AT WEST-ASTON. June, 1808. | ‘Yes, I remember the dear suffering saint, Whose hand, with fond, commemorative care, _ ' Planted that myrtle on my natal day, It was a day of joy to him she loved ~ . Best upon earth ;—and still her gentle heart, That never felt one passion’s eager throb, Nor aught but quiet joys, and patient woes, Was prompt to sympathize with all; and most With that beloved brother.—She had hoped Perchance, that, fondly on his arm reclined In placid happiness, her feeble step —_. Might here have wandered through these friendly shades, | This hospitable seat of kindred worth: And that the plant, thus reared, in future years Might win his smile benignant, when her hand Should point where, in its bower of loveliness, — Bright spreading to the sun its fragrant leaf, His Mary’s myrtle bloomed.—Ah me! ’tis sad When sweet affection thus designs in vain, And sees the fragile web it smiling spun ey Comichbooksteom