Psyche, and other poems — page 52: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

o4 By malice urged, by ruthless envy stung, With secret haste to seize their prey they flew, Around her neck as in despair they clung ; Her soft complying nature well they knew, And trusted by delaying to undo; But when they found her resolute to go, Their well laid stratagem they then pursue, And, while they bid their treacherous sorrows flow, Thus fright her simple heart with images of woe. ¢ ‘© That warned thou yet mayest shun thy sad untimely oN *‘ Oh, hapless Psyche! thoughtless of thy doom ! ‘*¢ Yet hear thy sisters who have wept for thee, s* Since first a victim to thy living tomb, «© Obedient to the oracle’s decree, | ‘¢ Constrained we left thee to thy destiny. s‘ Since then no comfort could our woes abate ; “ While thou wert lulled in false security “‘ We learned the secret horrors of thy fate, And heard prophetic lips thy future ills relate, ® Yet fearing never to behold thee more, | ‘¢ Our filial care would fain the truth conceal ; ‘‘ But from the sages cell this ring we bore, ‘ With power each latent magic to reveal : ‘* Some hope from hence our anxious bosoms feel ‘* That we from ruin may our Psyche save, ‘* Since Heaven propitious to our pious zeal, ‘¢ Thee to our frequent prayers in pity gave, S Paves. os a Comichbooksseom