Penny Dreadfuls, 1812 · page 42 of 258
Psyche, and other poems — page 42: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a page of running verse poetry (page 24) from what appears to be a narrative poem, likely drawn from classical mythology. The text tells of Psyche's encounter with Love—a figure who visits her in the night with a "soft thrilling voice," moves her to tears of ecstasy, but mysteriously flees before dawn. Invisible attendants then comfort the abandoned "mournful bride," braiding her hair and presenting her with gems and perfumes. The language is ornate and sentimental, mixing references to classical figures (Psyche, Hymen, Aurora) with Victorian melodramatic emotion typical of penny dreadful serialized fiction.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
‘ 4 ne / \ Gh, you for whom I write! whose hearts can melt At the soft thrilling voice whose power you prove, You know what charm, unutterably felt, Attends the unexpected voice of Love: Above the lyre, the lute’s soft notes above, With sweet enchantment to the soul it steals And bears it to Elysium’s happy grove ; You best can tell the rapture Psyche feels When Loye’s ambrosial lip the vows of Hymen seals. “Tis he, ’tis my deliverer ! deep imprest **Upon my heart those sounds I well recal,” The blushing maid exclaimed, and on his breast A tear of trembling ecstasy let fall. But, ere the breezes of the morning call Aurora from her purple, humid bed, Psyche in vain explores the vacant hall, Her tender lover from her arms is fled, While sleep his downy wings had o’er her eye-lids spread. Again the band invisible attend, And female voices sooth the mournful bride; Light hands to braid her hair assistance lend, By some she sees the glowing bracelet tied, Others officious hover at her side, ‘ And each bright gem for her acceptance bring, . While some, the balmy air diffusing wide, Fan softer perfumes from each odorous wing Than the fresh blossom sheds of earliest, sweetest spring’. COnnIE DOO KSaCeOwnn)