Penny Dreadfuls, 1812 · page 236 of 258
Psyche, and other poems — page 236: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a page of running verse poetry, numbered 218, titled "Hagar in the Desert." The poem depicts the biblical story of Hagar and her son Ishmael abandoned in the wilderness, emphasizing their suffering: the child's thirst and death, and the mother's anguish as she witnesses his demise. The verse employs melodramatic language characteristic of Victorian sensational literature, dwelling on despair, "deep despair," and the mother's helpless torment as her child perishes.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
218 HAGAR IN THE DESART. ! {nyurED, hopeless, faint, and weary, Sad, indignant, and forlorn,,. Through the desert wild and dreary, Hagar leads the child of scorn. Who can speak a mother’s anguish, Painted in that tearless eye, Which beholds her darling languish, Languish unrelieved, and die. Lo! the empty pitcher fails her, * Perishing with thirst he his, Death with deep despair assails her, Piteous as for aid he cries. From the dreadful image flying, Wild she rushes from the sight ; In the agonies of dying Can she see her soul’s delight ? ‘ COnnIE KOO KS.COmn)