Penny Dreadfuls, 1812 · page 90 of 258
Psyche, and other poems — page 90: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Page 72 of a Victorian Penny Dreadful This is a page of running verse prose—likely from the narrative heart of a serialized melodrama. The text describes a reluctant woman being brought to an imposing "blazing structure" perched high and precariously. Though unaware of her full danger, she approaches with dread. A haughty hall-master attempts to impress her with his wealth and throne, but her heart remains fixed on an absent "knight." Suddenly a violent storm erupts; lightning strikes the building, and its insecure foundations fail catastrophically, sending the master and his attendants fleeing in panic as his throne overturns. The passage emphasizes Gothic horror, emotional turmoil, and architectural collapse—typical sensational elements of penny dreadful fiction.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
v2 : Hither they bore the sad reluctant fair, Who mounts with dizzy eye the awful steep ; | The blazing structure seems high poised in air, And its light pillars tremble o’er the deep: As yet the heavens are calm, the tempests sleep, She knows not half the horrors of her fate: Nor feels the approaching ruin’s whirlwind sweep: Yet with ill-boding fears she past the gate, And turned with sickening open from scenes of gor- geous state. In vain the haughty master of the hall Invites her to partake his regal throne, With cold indifference she/looks on all The gilded trophies, and the well-wrought stone Which in triumphal arches proudly shone: And as she casts around her timid eye, Back to her knight her trembling heart is flown, And many an anxious wish, and many a sigh tnvokes his gallant arm protection to supply. / Sudden the lurid heavens obscurely frown, And sweeping gusts the coming storm proclaim ; Flattery’s soft voice the howling tempests drown, While the roofs catch the greedy lightning’s flame. Loud in their fears, the attendant train exclaim “Yhe light built fabric ne’er can stand the blast, - And all its insecure foundations blame: Tumultuously they rush: the chief aghast Beholds his throne o’erturned, his train dispersing fast. ! Comichbooksseom