Penny Dreadfuls, 1812 · page 39 of 258
Psyche, and other poems — page 39: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a page of running prose poetry (page 21) describing an idyllic landscape and a divine encounter. The text depicts a beautiful palace set on a hill with flowering groves and ocean views, where a character named Psyche marvels at the surroundings and hears a mysterious heavenly voice. The voice addresses Psyche, announcing that her longing spouse has found her and offering her immortal joys, a palace, a bridal banquet, and attendant nymphs to serve her. The narrative appears to retell the classical myth of Psyche and Cupid in verse form.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
21 _ Gently ascending from a silvery flood, Above the palace rose the shaded hill, The lofty eminence was crowned with wood, And the rich lawns, adorned by nature’s skill, The passing breezes with their odours fill; Here ever blooming groves of orange glow, And here all flowers which from their leaves distil Ambrosial dew in sweet succession blow, _ And trees of matchless size a fragrant shade bestow, The sun looks glorious mid a sky serene, And bids bright lustre sparkle o’er the tide; The clear blue ocean at a distance seen Bounds the gay landscape on the western side, While closing round it with majestic pride, The lofty rocks mid citron groves arise ; : ** Sure some divinity must her reside,” As tranced in some bright vision, Psyche cries, - And scarce believes the bliss, or trusts her charmed eyes. When,lo! a voice divinely sweet she hears, From unseen lips proceeds the heavenly sound ; | “ Psyche approach, dismiss thy timid fears, « At length his bride thy longing spouse has found, « And bids for thee immortal joys abound; “ For thee the palace rose at his command, “ For thee his love a bridal banquet crowned; — * He bids attendant nymphs around thee stand. Prompt every wish to serve, a fond obedient band.” “e i Connicloooks.comn