Penny Dreadfuls, 1812 · page 57 of 258
Psyche, and other poems — page 57: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Page 39 of Victorian Penny Dreadful This is a text page containing ornate poetic verse (page 39 of a longer work). The passage describes a beautiful, sleeping male figure—apparently a god or mythological being, given references to "fatal arrows," "celestial bow," and "the god"—in elaborate romantic language. The poetry praises his physical beauty in minute detail: his bright ringlets, ivory forehead, blushing cheeks, divine lips, and glowing limbs. The text suggests this is likely from a sensation narrative incorporating classical or mythological elements, written in elevated Victorian verse style rather than prose.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
39 Or o’er his guileless front the ringlets bright Their rays of sunny lustre seem to throw, That front than polished ivory more white ! His blooming cheeks with deeper blushes glow Than roses scattered o’er a bed of snow : While on his lips, distilled in balmy dews, (Those lips divine that even in silence know The heart to touch) persuasion to infuse Still hangs a rosy charm that never vainly sues. The friendly curtain of indulgent sleep Disclesed not yet his eyes’ resistless sway, But from their silky veil there seemed to peep Some brilliant glances with a softened ray, Which o’er his features exquisitely play, And all his polished limbs suffuse with light. Thus through some narrow space the azure day ‘Sudden its cheerful rays diffusing bright, Wide darts its lucid beams, to gild the brow of night. - His fatal arrows and celestial bow Besides the couch were negligently thrown, Nor needs the god his dazzling arms, to show His glorious birth, such beauty round him shone As sure could spring from Beauty’s self alone ; The gloom which glowed o’er all of soft desire, Could well proclaim him Beauty’s cherished son ; And Beauty’s self will oft these charms admire, And steal his witching smile, his glance’s living fire. ~ . : Ccomnicloooks.comnn