Penny Dreadfuls, 1812 · page 54 of 258
Psyche, and other poems — page 54: what you’re looking at
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# Page 36: Running Verse This is page 36 of running poetic narrative, numbered at the top. The text describes a woman's emotional turmoil—her face displaying fear and love like lightning across the northern sky—as villains place a ring on her hand and conceal a dagger in her clothing. They take pleasure in her anguish, knowing they have trapped her into ruined circumstances. The passage concludes with her mysteriously departing, carried away by "Zephyrs" (winds), her hopes and confidence lost, weeping and cast down in despair. The verse employs dramatic, melodramatic language typical of penny dreadful sensation fiction.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
36 Oh! have you seen, when in the northern Sky The transient flame of lambent lightning plays, In quick succession lucid streamers fly, Now flashing roseate, and now milky rays, While struck with awe the astonished rustics gaze? Thus o’er her cheek the fleeting signals move, Now pale with fear, now glowing with the blaze Of much indignant, still confiding love, Now horror’s lurid hue with shame’s deep blushes strove. On her cold, passive hand the ring they place, And hide the dagger in her folding vest ; Pleased the effects of their dire arts to trace in the mute agony that swells her breast, Already in her future ruin blest: Conscious that now their poor deluded prey Should never taste again delight or rest, But sickening in suspicion’s gloom decay, Or urged by terrors rash their treacherous will obey. While yet irresolute with sad surprise, *Mid doubt and love she stands in strange suspense, Lo ! gliding from her sisters wondering eyes Returning Zephyrs gently bear her thence ; Lost all her hopes, her joys, her confidence, Back to the,earth her mournful eyes she thre Wa As if imploring pity and defence ; | While bathed in tears her golden tresses flew, As in the breeze dispersed they caught the precious dew. Comichooks.com