Penny Dreadfuls, 1812 · page 227 of 258
Psyche, and other poems — page 227: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Page 209: Running Verse This is a page of running poetry (page 209 of a larger work). An aged man, apparently a father grieving over his son Bryan, responds to a youth's questioning about whether Bryan committed any rash or rebellious deed. The father defends Bryan's loyalty and honor, claiming his son bled during "that day of slaughter" where "Justice dropped the sword," and describing how "Fury" waged war against "unarmed Innocence" in a manner unjust. The text appears to be part of a dramatic narrative about loyalty, injustice, and a son's tragic fate.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
209 He ceased: for now, by memory stung, , His heart’s deep wounds all freshly bled, While with a father’s anguish wrung, He bowed to earth his aged head. Yet soothing to his broken heart He felt the stranger’s sympathy, And age is ready to impart Its page of woe to pity’s eye. Yes ! it seemed sweet once more to dwell On social joys and peaceful days, And still his darling’s virtues tell, And still his Ellen’s beauty praise. . © But say,” at length exclaimed the youth, «<Did no one rash, rebellious deed E’er cloud thy Bryan’s loyal truth, And justice doom thy boy to bleed ?” ‘¢ No; never rash, rebellious deed Was his, nor rash rebellious word ; That day of slaughter saw him bleed, Where blushing Justice dropped the sword. “In Fury’s hand it madly raged, As urged by fierce revenge she flew ; With unarmed Innocence she waged Such war as Justice never knew.” Conniclooolkks.Ccomn)