Penny Dreadfuls, 1812 · page 28 of 258
Psyche, and other poems — page 28: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Page 10 of a Victorian Penny Dreadful This is a page of running prose—specifically narrative poetry in rhyming couplets and stanzas. The text describes a female character (compared to a timid winter flower) who has been rejected or wronged and retreats to isolation. The passage appears to reference "Cytherea" (likely a classical or mythological allusion) withdrawing to an island, abandoning her usual charm and social power. The final stanza shows her calling her son with unaccustomed anger and rage rather than her typical delightful voice, commanding him to obey her vengeful will. The overall mood is one of wounded pride transforming into malevolent scheming.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
10 | For she was timid as the wintry flower, | mi | That, whiter than the snow it blooms among, reat Droops its fair head submissive to the power Of every angry blast which sweeps along Sparing the lovely trembler, while the strong Majestic tenants of the leafless wood It levels low. But, ah! the pitying song Must tell how, than the tempest’s self more rude, Fierce wrath and cruel hate their suppliant prey pursued. ™~ indignant quitting her deserted fanes, Now Cytherea sought her favourite isle, And there from every eye her secret pains °*Mid her thick myrtle bowers concealed awhile ; Practised no more the glance, or witching smile, | _ But nursed the pang she never felt before, Of mortified disdain; then to beguile The hours which mortal flattery soothed no more, She various plans revolved her influence to restore. HF re 1 She called her son with unaccustomed voice; Not with those thrilling accents of delight Which bade so oft enchanted Love rejoice, Soft as the breezes of a summer’s night: Now choked with rage its change could Love ntti As all to sudden discontent a prey, Shunning the cheerful day’s enlivening light, She felt the angry power’s malignant sway, And bade her favourite boy her vengeful will obey. COnnIE DOO KSKeOmA) , * -