Cupid
and Psyche
The
Fifth Booke
The Twenty-second Chapter
from The Golden Asse
by Apuleius
William Adlington's translation of 1566
The most pleasant and delectable tale of the marriage
of Cupid and Psyche.
THERE was sometimes a certaine King,
inhabiting in the West parts, who had to wife a noble Dame, by whom he
had three daughters exceeding fair: of whom the two elder were of such
comly shape and beauty, as they did excell and passe all other women living,
whereby they were thought worthily to deserve the praise and commendation
of every person, and deservedly to be preferred above the residue of the
common sort. Yet the singular passing beauty and maidenly majesty of the
yongest daughter did so farre surmount and excell them two, as no earthly
creature could by any meanes sufficiently expresse or set out the same.
By reason wherof, after the fame of this
excellent maiden was spread abroad in every part of the City, the Citisens
and strangers there beeing inwardly pricked by the zealous affection to
behold her famous person, came daily by thousands, hundreths, and scores,
to her fathers palace, who was astonied with admiration of her incomparable
beauty, did no lesse worship and reverence her with crosses, signes and
tokens, and other divine adorations, according to the custome of the old
used rites and ceremonies, than if she were Lady Venus indeed: and shortly
after the fame was spread into the next cities and bordering regions,
that the goddesse whom the deep seas had born and brought forth, and the
froth of the waves had nourished, to the intent to shew her high magnificencie
and divine power on earth, to such as erst {once, formerly} did honour
and worship her, was now conversant amongst mortall men, or else that
the earth and not the sea, by a new concourse and influence of the Celestiall
planets, had budded and yeelded forth a new Venus, endued with the floure
of virginity.
So daily more and more encreased this opinion,
and now is her flying fame dispersed into the next Island, and well nigh
into every part and province of the whole world. Wherupon innumerable
strangers resorted from farre Countries, adventuring themselves by long
journies on land and by great perils on water, to behold this glorious
virgin. By occasion wherof such a contempt grew towards the goddesse Venus,
that no person travelled unto the Towne Paphos, nor to the Isle Gyndos,
nor to Cythera to worship her. Her ornaments were throwne out, her temples
defaced, her pillowes and cushions torne, her ceremonies neglected, her
images and Statues uncrowned, and her bare altars unswept, and fowl with
the ashes of old burnt sacrifice. For why, every person honoured and worshipped
this maiden in stead of Venus, and in the morning at her first comming
abroad offered unto her oblations, provided banquets, called her by the
name of Venus, which was not Venus indeed, and in her honour presented
floures and garlands in most reverend fashion.
This sudden change and alteration of celestiall
honour, did greatly inflame and kindle the love of very Venus, who unable
to temper her selfe from indignation, shaking her head in raging sort,
reasoned with her selfe in this manner, Behold the originall parent of
all these elements, behold the Lady Venus renowned throughout all the
world, with whome a mortall maiden is joyned now partaker of honour: my
name registred in the city of heaven is prophaned and made vile by terrene
absurdities. If I shall suffer any mortall creature to present my Majesty
on earth, or that any shall beare about a false surmised shape of my person,
then in vain did Paris the sheepheard (in whose judgement and confidence
the great Jupiter had affiance {confidence, trust, faith in somebody}
) preferre me above the residue of the goddesses, for the excellency of
my beauty: but she, whatsoever she be that hath usurped myne honour, shal
shortly repent her of her unlawful estate. And by and by she called her
winged sonne Cupid, rash enough and hardy, who by his evil manners contemning
all publique justice and law, armed with fire and arrowes, running up
and downe in the nights from house to house, and corrupting the lawfull
marriages of every person, doth nothing but that which is evill, who although
that hee were of his owne proper nature sufficiently prone to worke mischief,
yet she egged him forward with words, and brought him to the city, and
shewed him Psyches (for so the maid was called), and having told the cause
of her anger, not without great rage, I pray thee (quoth shee) my dear
childe, by motherly bond of love, by the sweet wounds of thy piercing
darts, by the pleasant heate of thy fire, revenge the injury which is
done to thy mother by the false and disobedient beauty of a mortall maiden,
and I pray thee, that without delay shee may fall in love with the most
miserable creature living, the most poore, the most crooked, and the most
vile, that there may bee none found in all the world of like wretchednesse.
When she had spoken these words she embraced and kissed her sonne, and
took her voyage towards the sea.
When she came upon the sea she began to cal
the gods and goddesses, who were obedient at her voyce. For incontinent
came the daughters of Nereus, singing with tunes melodiously: Portunus
with his bristled and rough beard, Salita with her bosome full of fish,
Palemon the driver of the Dolphine, the Trumpetters of Tryton, leaping
hither and thither, and blowing with heavenly noyse: such was the company
which followed Venus, marching towards the ocean sea.
In the meane season Psyches with all her
beauty received no fruit of honor. She was wondred at of all, she was
praised of all, but she perceived that no King nor Prince, nor any of
the superior sort did repaire to wooe her. Every one marvelled at her
divine beauty, as it were some Image well painted and set out. Her other
two sisters which were nothing so greatly exalted by the people, were
royally married to two Kings: but the virgin Psyches sitting at home alone,
lamented her solitary life, and being disquieted both in mind and body,
although she pleased all the world, yet hated shee in her selfe her owne
beauty. Whereupon the miserable father of this unfortunate daughter, suspecting
that the gods and powers of heaven did envy her estate, went to the town
called Milet to receive the Oracle of Apollo, where he made his prayers
and offered sacrifice, and desired a husband for his daughter: but Apollo
though he were a Grecian, and of the country of Ionia, because of the
foundation of Milet, yet hee gave answer in Latine verse, the sence wherof
was this:--
Let Psyches corps be clad in mourning weed
And set on rocke of yonder hill aloft:
Her husband is no wight of humane seed,
But Serpent dire and fierce as might be thought.
Who flies with wings above in starry skies,
And doth subdue each thing with firie flight.
The gods themselves, and powers that seem so wise,
With mighty Jove, be subject to his might,
The rivers blacke, and deadly flouds of paine,
And darkness eke {in addition, likewise}, as thrall to him remaine.
The King, sometimes happy when hee heard
the prophesie of Apollo, returned home sad and sorrowfull, and declared
to his wife the miserable and unhappy fate of his daughter. Then they
began to lament and weep, and passed over many days in great sorrow. But
now the time approached of Psyches marriage, preparation was made, blacke
torches were lighted, the pleasant songs were turned into pittifull cries,
the melody of Hymeneus was ended with deadly howling, the maid that should
be married did wipe her eyes with her vaile. All the family and people
of the city weeped likewise, and with great lamentation was ordained a
remisse time for that day, but necessity compelled that Psyches should
be brought to her appointed place, according to the divine appointment.
And when the solemnity was ended, they went
to bring this sorrowfull spowse, not to her marriage, but to her finall
end and buriall. And while the father and mother of Psyches did go forward
weeping and crying to do this enterprise, Psyches spake unto them in this
sort: Why torment you your unhappy age with continuall dolour? Why trouble
you your spirits, which are more rather myne than yours? Why soyle ye
your faces with teares, which I ought to adore and worship? Why teare
you my eyes in yours? why pull you your hory haires? Why knocke ye your
breasts for me? Now you see the reward of my excellent beauty: now, now
you perceive, but too late, the plague of envy. When the people did honour
me, and call me the new Venus, then yee should have wept, then you should
have sorrowed as though I had been dead: for now I see and perceive that
I am come to this misery by the only name of Venus, bring mee, and as
fortune hath appointed, place me on the top of the rocke, I greatly desire
to end my marriage, I greatly covet to see my husband. Why doe I delay?
why should I refuse him that is appointed to destroy all the world.
Thus ended she her words, and thrust her
selfe amongst the people that followed. Then they brought her to the appointed
rocke of the high hill, and set [her] hereon, and so departed. The Torches
and lights were put out with the tears of the people, and every man gone
home, the miserable Parents well nigh consumed with sorrow, gave themselves
to everlasting darknes.
Thus poore Psyches being left alone, weeping
and trembling on the toppe of the rocke, was blowne by the gentle aire
and of shrilling Zephyrus, and caried from the hill with a meek winde,
which retained her garments up, and by little and little brought her downe
into a deepe valley, where she was laid in a bed of most sweet and fragrant
flowers.
Thus faire Psyches beeing sweetly couched
among the soft and tender hearbs, as in a bed of sweet and fragrant floures,
and having qualified the thoughts and troubles of her restlesse minde,
was now well reposed. And when she had refreshed her selfe sufficiently
with sleepe, she rose with a more quiet and pacified minde, and fortuned
to espy a pleasant wood invironed with great and mighty trees. Shee espied
likewise a running river as cleare as crystall: in the midst of the wood
well nigh at the fall of the river was a princely Edifice, wrought and
builded not by the art or hand of man, but by the mighty power of God:
and you would judge at the first entry therin, that it were some pleasant
and worthy mansion for the powers of heaven. For the embowings above were
of Citron and Ivory, propped and undermined with pillars of gold, the
walls covered and seeled with silver, divers sorts of beasts were graven
and carved, that seemed to encounter with such as entered in. All things
were so curiously and finely wrought, that it seemed either to be the
worke of some Demy god, of God himselfe. The pavement was all of pretious
stones, divided and cut one from another, whereon was carved divers kindes
of pictures, in such sort that blessed and thrice blessed were they which
might goe upon such a pavement: Every part and angle of the house was
so well adorned, that by reason of the pretious stones and inestimable
treasure there, it glittered and shone in such sort, that the chambers,
porches, and doores gave light as it had beene the Sunne. Neither otherwise
did the other treasure of the house disagree unto so great a majesty,
that verily it seemed in every point an heavenly Palace, fabricate and
built for Jupiter himselfe.
Then Psyches moved with delectation approched
nigh, and taking a bold heart entred into the house, and beheld every
thing there with great affection, she saw storehouses wrought exceedingly
fine, and replenished with aboundance of riches. Finally, there could
nothing be devised which lacked there: but amongst such great store of
Treasure this was most marvellous, that there was no closure, bolt, nor
locke to keepe the same. And when with great pleasure she had viewed all
these things, she heard a voyce without any body, that sayd, Why doe you
marvell Madame at so great riches? behold, all that you see is at your
commandement, wherefore goe you into the chamber, and repose your selfe
upon the bed, and desire what bath you will have, and we whose voyces
you heare bee your servants, and ready to minister unto you according
to your desire. In the meane season, royall meats and dainty dishes shall
be prepared for you.
Then Psyches perceived the felicity of divine
providence, and according to the advertisement of the incorporeall voyces
she first reposed her selfe upon the bed, and then refreshed her body
in the vaines [sic]. This done, shee saw the table garnished with meats,
and a chaire to sit downe.
When Psyches was set downe, all sorts of
divine meates and wines were brought in, not by any body, but as it were
with a winde, for she saw no person before her, but only heard voyces
on every side. After that all the services were brought to the table,
one came in and sung invisibly, another played on the harpe, but she saw
no man. The harmony of the Instruments did so greatly shrill in her ears,
that though there were no maner of person, yet seemed she in the midst
of a multitude of people.
All these pleasures finished, when night
aproched Psyches went to bed, and when she was layd, that the sweet sleep
came upon her, she greatly feared her virginity, because shee was alone.
Then came her unknowne husband and lay with her: and after that hee had
made a perfect consummation of the marriage, he rose in the morning before
day, and departed. Soone after came her invisible servants, and presented
to her such things as were necessary for her defloration. And thus she
passed forth a great while, and as it happeneth, the novelty of things
by continuall custome did encrease her pleasure, but specially the sound
of the instruments was a comfort unto her being alone.
During this time that Psyches was in this
place of pleasures, her father and mother did nothing but weepe and lament,
and her two sisters hearing of her most miserable fortune, came with great
dolour and sorrow to comfort and speake with their parents.
The night following, Psyches husband spake
unto her (for she might feele his eyes, his hands, and his ears) and sayd,
O my sweet Spowse and dear wife, fortune doth menace unto thee imminent
danger, wherof I wish thee greatly to beware: for know that thy sisters,
thinking that thou art dead, bee greatly troubled, and are come to the
mountain by thy steps. Whose lamentations if thou fortune to heare, beware
that thou doe in no wise either make answer, or looke up towards them,
for if thou doe thou shalt purchase to mee great sorrow, and to thy selfe
utter destruction. Psyches hearing her Husband, was contented to doe all
things as hee had commanded.
After that hee was departed and the night
passed away, Psyches lamented and lamented all the day following, thinking
that now shee was past all hopes of comfort, in that shee was closed within
the walls of a prison, deprived of humane conversation, and commaunded
not to aid her sorrowfull Sisters, no nor once to see them. Thus she passed
all the day in weeping, and went to bed at night, without any refection
of meat or baine.
Incontinently after came her husband, who
when hee had embraced her sweetly, began to say, Is it thus that you performe
your promise, my sweet wife? What do I finde heere? Passe you all the
day and the night in weeping? And wil you not cease in your husbands armes?
Goe too, doe what ye will, purchase your owne destruction, and when you
finde it so, then remember my words, and repent, but too late. Then she
desired her husband more and more, assuring him that shee should die,
unlesse he would grant that she might see her sisters, wherby she might
speake with them and comfort them, wherat at length he was contented,
and moreover hee willed that shee should give them as much gold and jewels
as she would. But he gave her a further charge saying, Beware that ye
covet not (being mooved by the pernicious counsell of your sisters) to
see the shape of my person, lest by your curiosity you deprive your selfe
of so great and worthy estate. Psyches being glad herewith, rendered unto
him most entire thankes, and said, Sweet husband, I had rather die than
to bee separated from you, for whosoever you be, I love and retaine you
within my heart as if you were myne owne spirit or Cupid himselfe: but
I pray you grant this likewise, that you would commaund your servant Zephyrus
to bring my sisters downe into the valley as he brought mee.
Wherewithall shee kissed him sweetly, and
desired him gently to grant her request, calling him her spowse, her sweetheart,
her Joy, and her Solace. Wherby she enforced him to agree to her mind,
and when morning came he departed away.
After long search made, the sisters of Psyches
came unto the hill where she was set on the rocke, and cried with a loud
voyce in such sort that the stones answered againe. And when they called
their sister by her name, that their lamentable cries came unto her eares,
shee came forth and said, Behold, heere is shee for whom you weepe, I
pray you torment your selves no more, cease your weeping. And by and by
shee commaunded Zephyrus by the appointment of her husband to bring then
downe. Neither did hee delay, for with gentle blasts he retained them
up and layd them softly in the valley. I am not able to expresse the often
embracing, kissing and greeting which was betweene them three, all sorrows
and tears were then layd apart.
Come in (quoth Psyches) into our house, and
refresh your afflicted mindes with your sister.
After this she shewed them the storehouses
of treasure, shee caused them to hear the voices which served her, the
bain was ready, the meats were brought in, and when they had filled themselves
with divine delecates, they conceived great envy within their hearts,
and one of them being curious, did demand what her husband was, of what
estate, and who was Lord of so pretious a house? But Psyches remembring
the promise which she had made to her husband, feigned that hee was a
young man, of comely stature, with a flaxen beard, and had great delight
in hunting in the hills and dales by. And lest by her long talke she should
be found to trip or faile in her words, she filled their laps with gold,
silver, and Jewels, and commanded Zephyrus to carry them away.
When they were brought up into the mountain,
they tooke their wayes homeward to their owne houses, and murmured with
envy that they bare against Psyches, saying, Behold cruell and contrary
fortune, behold how we, borne all of one Parent, have divers destinies:
but especially we that are the elder two bee married to strange husbands,
made as Handmaidens, and as it were banished from our Countrey and friends.
Whereas our younger sister hath great abundance of treasure, and hath
gotten a god to her husband, although shee hath no skill how to use so
great plenty of riches. Saw you not sister what was in the house, what
great store of jewels, what glittering robes, what Gemmes, what gold we
trod on? That if shee have a husband according as she affirmeth, there
is none that liveth this day more happy in all the world than she. And
so it may come to passe, that at length for the great affection which
hee may beare unto her hee may make her a goddesse: for by Hercules, such
was her countenance, so she behaved her self, that as a goddesse she had
voices to serve her, and the winds did obey her.
But I poore wretch have first maried an husband
elder than my father, more bald than a Coot, more weake than a child,
and that locketh me up all day in the house.
Then said the other sister, And in faith
I am married to a husband that hath the gout, twyfold {twofold}, crooked,
not couragious in paying my debt, I am faine to rub and mollifie his stony
fingers with divers sorts of oyles, and to wrap them in playsters and
salves, so that I soyle my white and dainty hands with the corruption
of filthy clouts, not using my selfe like a wife, but more like a servant.
And you my sister seem likewise to be in bondage and servitude, wherefore
I cannot abide to see our younger sister in such great felicity; saw you
not I pray you how proudly and arrogantly shee handled us even now? And
how in vaunting her selfe she uttered her presumptuous minde, how she
cast a little gold into our laps, and being weary of our company, commanded
that we should be borne and blown away?
Verily I live not, nor am a woman, but I
will deprive her of all her blisse. And if you my sister bee so far bent
as I, let us consult together, and not to utter our minde to any person,
no not to our parents, nor tell that ever we saw her. For it sufficeth
that we have seene her, whom it repenteth to have seene. Neither let us
declare her good fortune to our father, nor to any other, since as they
seeme not happy whose riches are unknowne: so shall she know that shee
hath sisters no Abjects, but worthier than she.
But now let us goe home to our husbands and
poore houses, and when wee are better instructed, let us returne to suppresse
her pride. So this evill counsell pleased these two evil women, and they
hid the treasure which Psyches gave them, and tare their haire, renewing
their false and forged teares. When their father and mother beheld them
weep and lament still, they doubled their sorrowes and griefes, but full
of yre and forced with Envy, they tooke their voyage homeward, devising
the slaughter and destruction of their sister.
In the meane season the husband of Psyches
did warne her againe in the night with these words: Seest thou not (quoth
he) what perill and danger evill fortune doth threaten unto thee, whereof
if thou take not good heed it will shortly come upon thee. For the unfaithfull
harlots doe greatly endeavor to set their snares to catch thee, and their
purpose is to make and perswade thee to behold my face, which if thou
once fortune to see, as I have often told, thou shalt see no more. Wherfore
if these naughty hagges, armed with wicked minds, doe chance to come againe
(as I thinke no otherwise but that they will) take heed that thou talke
not with them, but simply suffer them to speake what they will, howbeit
if thou canst not refraine thy selfe, beware that thou have no communication
of thy husband, nor answer a word if they fortune to question of me, so
we will encrease our stocke, and this young and tender childe, couched
in this young and tender belly of thine, if thou conceale my secrets,
shall be made an immortall god, otherwise a mortal creature. Then Psyches
was very glad that she should bring forth a divine babe, and very joyfull
in that she should be honored as a mother. She reckened and numbered carefully
the days and months that passed, and beeing never with child before, did
marvel greatly that in so short a time her belly should swel so big. But
those pestilent and wicked furies breathing out their Serpentine poyson,
took shipping [*] to bring their enterprise to passe.
Then Psyches was warned again by her husband
in this sort: Behold the last day, the extream case, and the enemies of
thy blood, hath armed themselves against us, pitched their campe, set
their host in array, and are marching towards us, for now thy two sisters
have drawn their swords, and are ready to slay thee. O with what force
are we assailed this day! O sweet Psyches I pray thee to take pitty on
thy selfe, of me, and deliver thy husband and this infant within thy belly
from so great danger, and see not, neither heare these cursed women, which
are not worthy to be called thy sisters, for their great hatred and breach
of sisterly amity, for they wil come like Syrens to the mountains, and
yeeld out their pittious and lamentable cries. When Psyches had heard
these words shee sighed sorrowfully and said, O deare husband, this long
time have you had experience and triall of my faith, and doubt you not
but that I will persever in the same, wherefore command your winde Zephyrus,
that hee may doe as hee hath done before, to the intent that where you
have charged me not to behold your venerable face, yet that I may comfort
my selfe with the sight of my sisters. I pray you by these beautifull
haires, by these round cheeks delicate and tender, by your pleasant hot
breast, whose shape and face I shall learne at length by the childe in
my belly, grant the fruit of my desire, refresh your deare Spowse Psyches
with joy, who is bound and linked unto you for ever. I little esteeme
to see your visage and figure, little doe I regard the night and darkenesse
thereof, for you are my only light.
Her husband being as it were inchanted with
these words and compelled by violence of her often embracing, wiping away
her teares with his haire, did yeeld unto his wife. And when morning came,
departed as hee was accustomed to doe.
Now her sisters arrived on land, and never
rested til they came to the rock, without visiting their parents, and
leapt down rashly from the hill themselves. Then Zephyrus according to
the divine commandment brought them down, though it were against his wil,
and laid them in the vally without any harm: by and by they went into
the palace to their sister without leave, and when they had eftsoone embraced
their prey, and thanked her with flattering words for the treasure which
she gave them, they said, O deare sister Psyches, know you that you are
now no more a childe, but a mother: O what great joy beare you unto us
in your belly? What a comfort will it be unto all the house? How happy
shall we be, that shall see this Infant nourished amongst so great plenty
of Treasure? That if he be like his parents, as it is necessary he should,
there is no doubt but a new Cupid shall be borne. By this kinde of meanes
they went about to winne Psyches by little and little, but because they
were wearie with travell, they sate them downe in chaires, and after that
they had washed their bodies in baines they went into a Parlour, where
all kinde of meats were ready prepared. Psyches commanded one to play
with his harpe, it was done. Then immediately others sung, others tuned
their instruments, but no person was seene, by whose sweet harmony and
modulation the sisters of Psyches were greatly delighted.
Howbeit the wickednesse of these cursed
women was nothing suppressed by the sweet noyse of these instruments,
but they setled themselves to worke their treasons against Psyches, demanding
who was her husband, and of what Parentage. Then shee having forgotten
by too much simplicity, what she had spoken before of her husband, invented
a new answer, and said that her husband was of a great province, a merchant,
and a man of a middle age, having his beard intersparsed with gray haires.
Which when shee had spoken (because she would have no further talke) she
filled their laps full of Gold and Silver, and bid Zephyrus to bear them
away.
In their returne homeward they murmured within
themselves, saying, How say you sister to so apparent a lye of Psyches?
First she sayd that her husband was a young man of flourishing yeares,
and had a flaxen beard, and now she sayth that he is halfe gray with age.
What is he that in so short a space can become so old? You shall finde
it no otherwise my sister, but that either this cursed queane hath invented
a great lie, or else that she never saw the shape of her husband. And
if it be so that she never saw him, then verily she is married to some
god, and hath a yong god in her belly. But if it be a divine babe, and
fortune to come to the eares of my mother (as God forbid it should) then
may I go and hang my selfe: wherfore let us go to our parents, and with
forged lies let us colour the matter.
After they were thus inflamed, and had visited
their Parents, they returned againe to the mountaine, and by the ayd of
the winde Zephyrus were carried downe into the valley, and after they
had streined their eye lids, to enforce themselves to weepe, they called
unto Psyches in this sort, Thou (ignorant of so great evill) thinkest
thy selfe sure and happy, and sittest at home nothing regarding thy peril,
whereas wee goe about thy affaires, and are carefull lest any harme should
happen unto you: for we are credibly informed, neither can we but utter
it unto you, that there is a great serpent full of deadly poyson, with
a ravenous and gaping throat, that lieth with thee every night. Remember
the Oracle of Apollo, who pronounced that thou shouldest be married to
a dire and fierce Serpent, and many of the Inhabitants hereby, and such
as hunt about in the countrey, affirme that they saw him yesternight returning
from pasture and swimming over the River, whereby they doe undoubtedly
say, that hee will not pamper thee long with delicate meats, but when
the time of delivery shall approach he will devoure both thee and thy
child: wherefore advise thy selfe whether thou wilt agree unto us that
are carefull of thy safety, and so avoid the perill of death, and bee
contented to live with thy sisters, or whether thou wilt remaine with
the Serpent, and in the end be swallowed into the gulfe of his body. And
if it be so that thy solitary life, thy conversation with voices, this
servile and dangerous pleasure, and the love of the Serpent doe more delight
thee, say not but that we have played the parts of naturall sisters in
warning thee.
Then the poore and simple miser Psyches was
mooved with the feare of so dreadfull words, and being amazed in her mind,
did cleane forget the admonitions of her husband, and her owne promises
made unto him, and throwing her selfe headlong into extreame misery, with
a wanne and sallow countenance, scantly uttering a third word, at length
gan say in this sort: O my most deare sisters, I heartily thanke you for
your great kindnesse toward me, and I am now verily perswaded that they
which have informed you hereof hath informed you of nothing but truth,
for I never saw the shape of my husband, neither know I from whence he
came, only I heare his voice in the night, insomuch that I have an uncertaine
husband, and one that loveth not the light of day: which causeth me to
suspect that he is a beast, as you affirme. Moreover, I doe greatly feare
to see him, for he doth menace and threaten great evill unto mee, if I
should goe about to spy and behold his shape wherefore my loving sisters
if you have any wholsome remedy for your sister in danger, give it now
presently. Then they opened the gates of their subtill mindes, and did
put away all privy guile, and egged her forward in her fearefull thought,
perswading her to doe as they would have her: whereupon one of them began
and sayd, Because that wee little esteeme any perill or danger, to save
your life, we intend to shew you the best way and meane as we may possibly
do. Take a sharpe razor and put it under the pillow of your bed; and see
that you have ready a privy burning lampe with oyle, hid under some part
of the hanging of the chamber, and finely dissembling the matter when
according to his custome hee commeth to bed and sleepeth soundly, arise
you secretly, and with your bare feet goe and take the lampe, with the
Razor in your right hand, and with valiant force cut off the head of the
poysonous serpent, wherein we will aid and assist you: and when by the
death of him you shall be made safe, we wil marry you to some comely man.
After they had thus inflamed the heart of
their sister fearing lest some danger might happen unto them by reason
of their evill counsell, they were carried by the wind Zephyrus to the
top of the mountaine, and so they ran away and tooke shipping.
When Psyches was left alone (saving that
she seemed not to be alone, being stirred by so many furies) she was in
a tossing minde like the waves of the sea, and although her wil was obstinate,
and resisted to put in execution the counsell of her Sisters, yet she
was in doubtfull and divers opinions touching her calamity. Sometime she
would, sometime she would not, sometime she is bold, sometime she feareth,
sometime shee mistrusteth, somtime she is mooved, somtime she hateth the
beast, somtime she loveth her husband: but at length night came, when
as she prepared for her wicked intent.
Soon after her husband came, and when he
had kissed and embraced her he fell asleep. Then Psyches (somwhat feeble
in body and mind, yet mooved by cruelty of fate) received boldnes and
brought forth the lampe, and tooke the razor, so by her audacity she changed
her mind: but when she took the lamp and came to the bed side, she saw
the most meeke and sweetest beast of all beasts, even faire Cupid couched
fairly, at whose sight the very lampe encreased his light for joy, and
the razor turned his edge.
But when Psyches saw so glorious a body shee
greatly feared, and amazed in mind, with a pale countenance all trembling
fel on her knees and thought to hide the razor, yea verily in her owne
heart, which doubtlesse she had done, had it not through feare of so great
an enterprise fallen out of her hand. And when she saw and beheld the
beauty of the divine visage shee was well recreated in her mind, she saw
his haires of gold, that yeelded out a sweet savor, his neck more white
than milk, his purple cheeks, his haire hanging comely behinde and before,
the brightnesse whereof did darken the light of the lamp, his tender plume
feathers, dispersed upon his shoulders like shining flours, and trembling
hither and thither, and his other parts of his body so smooth and so soft,
that it did not repent Venus to beare such a childe. At the beds feet
lay his bow, quiver, and arrowes, that be the weapons of so great a god:
which when Psyches did curiously behold, she marvelling at her husbands
weapons, took one of the arrows out of the quiver, and pricked her selfe
withall, wherwith she was so grievously wounded that the blood followed,
and thereby of her owne accord shee added love upon love; then more broyling
in the love of Cupid shee embraced him and kissed him a thousand times,
fearing the measure of his sleepe. But alas while shee was in this great
joy, whether it were for envy, for desire to touch this amiable body likewise,
there fell out a droppe of burning oyle from the lampe upon the right
shoulder of the god. O rash and bold lampe, the vile ministery of love,
how darest thou bee so bold as to burne the god of all fire? When as he
invented thee, to the intent that all lovers might with more joy passe
the nights in pleasure.
The god beeing burned in this sort, and perceiving
that promise and faith was broken, hee fled away without utterance of
any word, from the eyes and hands of his most unhappy wife. But Psyches
fortuned to catch him as hee was rising, by the right thigh, and held
him fast as hee flew above in the aire, untill such time as constrained
by wearinesse she let goe and fell downe upon the ground. But Cupid followed
her downe, and lighted upon the top of a Cypresse tree, and angerly spake
unto her in this manner: O simple Psyches, consider with thy selfe how
I, little regarding the commandement of my mother (who willed mee that
thou shouldst bee married to a man of base and miserable condition) did
come my selfe from heaven to love thee, and wounded myne owne body with
my proper weapons, to have thee to my Spowse: And did I seeme a beast
unto thee, that thou shouldst go about to cut off my head with a razor,
who loved thee so well? Did not I alwayes give thee a charge? Did not
I gently will thee to beware? But those cursed aiders and Counsellors
of thine shalt be sufficiently punished by my absence. When hee had spoken
these words he tooke his flight into the aire. Then Psyches fell flat
on the ground, and as long as she could see her husband she cast her eyes
after him into the aire, weeping and lamenting pitteously: but when hee
was gone out of her sight shee threw her selfe into the next running river,
for the great anguish and dolour that shee was in for the lack of her
husband; howbeit the water would not suffer her to be drowned, but tooke
pitty upon her, in the honour of Cupid which accustomed to broyle and
burne the river, and threw her upon the bank amongst the herbs.
Then Pan the rusticall god sitting on the
river side, embracing and [instructing] the goddesse Canna to tune her
songs and pipes, by whom were feeding the young and tender Goats, after
that he perceived Psyches in sorrowfull case, not ignorant (I know not
by what meanes) of her miserable estate, endeavored to pacifie her in
this sort: O faire maid, I am a rusticke and rude heardsman, howbeit by
reason of my old age expert in many things, for as farre as I can learne
by conjecture (which according as wise men doe terme is called divination)
I perceive by your uncertaine gate, your pale hew, your sobbing sighes,
and your watery eyes, that you are greatly in love. Wherefore hearken
to me, and goe not about to slay your selfe, nor weepe not at all, but
rather adore and worship the great god Cupid, and winne him unto you by
your gentle promise of service.
When the god of Shepheards had spoken these
words, she gave no answer, but made reverence to him as to a god, and
so departed.
After that Psyches had gone a little way,
she fortuned unawares to come to a city where the husband of one of her
Sisters did dwell. Which when Psyches did understand, shee caused that
her sister had knowledge of her comming, and so they met together, and
after great embracing and salutation, the sister of Psyches demaunded
the cause of her travell thither. Marry (quoth she) doe you not remember
the counsell you gave me, whereby you would that I should kill the beast
which under colour of my husband did lie with mee every night? You shall
understand, that as soone as I brought forth the lampe to see and behold
his shape, I perceived that he was the sonne of Venus, even Cupid himselfe
that lay with mee. Then I being stricken with great pleasure, and desirous
to embrace him, could not thoroughly asswage my delight, but alas by evill
chance the boyling oyle of the lampe fortuned to fall on his shoulder,
which caused him to awake, and seeing me armed with fire and weapons,
gan say, How darest thou be so bold to doe so great a mischiefe? depart
from me and take such things as thou didst bring: for I will have thy
sister (and named you) to my wife, and she shall be placed in thy felicity,
and by and by hee commaunded Zephyrus to carry me away from the bounds
of his house.
Psyches had scantly finished her tale, but
the sister pierced with the pricke of carnall desire and wicked envy,
ran home, and feigning to her husband that shee had heard word of the
death of her parents, tooke shipping and came to the mountaine. And although
there blew a contrary winde, yet being brought in a vaine hope, she cried,
O Cupid take me a more worthy wife, and thou Zephyrus beare downe thy
mistresse, and so she cast her selfe headlong from the mountaine: but
shee fell not into the valley neither alive nor dead, for all the members
and parts of her body were torn amongst the rockes, wherby she was made
a prey unto the birds and wild beasts, as she worthily deserved.
Neither was the vengeance of the other delayed,
for Psyches travelling in that country, fortuned to come to another city
where her other sister did dwel; to whom when shee had declared all such
things as she told to her other sister, shee ran likewise unto the rock
and was slaine in like sort. Then Psyches travelled about in the countrey
to seeke her husband Cupid, but he was gotten into his mothers chamber,
and there bewailed the sorrowful wound which he caught by the oyle of
a burning lamp.
Then the white bird the Gull, which swims
on the waves of the water, flew toward the Ocean sea, where he found Venus
washing and bathing her selfe: to whom she declared that her son was burned
and in danger of death, and moreover that it was a common brute in the
mouth of every person (who spake evill of all the family of Venus) that
her son doth nothing but haunt the harlots in the mountain, and she her
selfe lasciviously use to ryot in the sea: wherby they say that they are
now become no more gratious, pleasant, nor gentle, but incivile, monstrous
and horrible. Moreover, that marriages are not for any amity, or for love
of procreation, but full of envy, discord, and debate. This the curious
Gul did clatter in the ears of Venus, reprehending her son. But Venus
began to cry and sayd, What hath my sonne gotten any Love? I pray thee
gentle bird that doest serve me so faithfully, tell me what she is, and
what is her name that hath troubled my son in such sort? whether shee
be any of the Nymphs, of the number of the goddesses, of the company of
the Muses, or of the mistery of the Graces? To whom the bird answered,
Madam I know not what shee is, but this I know that she is called Psyches.
Then Venus with indignation cried out, What is it she? the usurper of
my beauty, the Vicar of my name? What did he think that I was a bawd,
by whose shew he fell acquainted with the maid? And immediately she departed
and went to her chamber, where she found her son wounded as it was told
unto her, whom when she beheld she cries [sic] out in this sort.
Is this an honest thing, is this honourable
to thy parents? is this reason, that thou hast violated and broken the
commandement of thy mother and soveraign mistresse: and whereas thou shouldst
have vexed my enemy with loathsom love, thou hast done otherwise?
For beeing of tender and unripe yeares, thou
hast with too licentious appetite embraced my most mortall Foe, to whome
I shall bee made a mother, and shee a Daughter.
Thou presumest and thinkest, thou trifling
boy, thou Varlet, and without all reverence, that thou art most worthy
and excellent, and that I am not able by reason of myne age to have another
son, which if I should have, thou shouldst well understand that I would
beare a more worthier than thou. But to worke thee a greater despight,
I do determine to adopt one of my servants, and to give him these wings,
this fire, this bow, and these Arrowes, and all other furniture which
I gave to thee, not to this purpose, neither is any thing given thee of
thy father for this intent: but first thou hast been evill brought up,
and instructed in thy youth thou hast thy hands ready and sharpe. Thou
hast often offended thy antients, and especially me that am thy mother,
thou hast pierced mee with thy darts, thou contemnest me as a widow, neither
dost thou regard thy valiant and invincible father, and to anger me more,
thou art amorous of harlots and wenches: but I will cause that thou shalt
shortly repent thee, and that this marriage shal be dearely bought. To
what point am [I] now driven? What shall I do? Whither shall I goe? How
shall I represse this beast? Shall I aske ayd of myne enemy Sobriety,
whom I have often offended to engender thee? Or shall I seeke for counsel
of every poore rusticall woman? No, no, yet I had rather dye, howbeit
I will not cease my vengeance, to her must I have recourse for helpe,
and to none other (I meane to Sobriety), who may correct thee sharpely,
take away thy quiver, deprive thee of thy arrowes, unbend thy bow, quench
thy fire, and which is more subdue thy body with punishment: and when
that I have rased and cut off this thy haire, which I have dressed with
myne owne hands, and made to glitter like gold, and when I have clipped
thy wings, which I my selfe have caused to burgen, then shall I thinke
to have revenged my selfe sufficiently upon thee for the injury which
thou hast done. When shee had spoken these words shee departed in a great
rage out of her chamber.
Immediatelie as she was going away came Juno
and Ceres, demaunding the cause of her anger. Then Venus answered, Verily
you are come to comfort my sorrow, but I pray you with all diligence to
seeke out one whose name is Psyches, who is a vagabond, and runneth about
the Countries, and (as I thinke) you are not ignorant of the brute of
my son Cupid, and of his demeanour, which I am ashamed to declare. Then
they understanding the whole matter, endeavoured to mitigate the ire of
Venus in this sort: What is the cause Madam, or how hath your son so offended,
that you shold [sic] so greatly accuse his love, and blame him by reason
that he is amorous? and why should you seeke the death of her, whom he
doth fancie? We most humbly intreat you to pardon his fault, if hee have
accorded to the mind of any maiden: what do you not know that he is a
young man? Or have you forgotten of what yeeres he is? Doth he seeme alwayes
unto you to be a childe? You are his mother, and a kind woman, will you
continually search out his dalliance? Will you blame his luxury? Will
you bridle his love? and will you reprehend your owne art and delights
in him? What God or man is hee, that can endure that you should sowe or
disperse your seed of love in every place, and to make restraint thereof
within your owne doores? certes you will be the cause of the suppression
of the publike paces of young Dames.
In this sort this goddesse endeavoured to
pacifie her mind, and to excuse Cupid with al their power (although he
were absent) for feare of his darts and shafts of love. But Venus would
in no wise asswage her heat, but (thinking that they did rather trifle
and taunt at her injuries) she departed from them, and tooke her voiage
towards the sea in all haste. In the meane season Psyches hurled her selfe
hither and thither, to seeke her husband, the rather because she thought
that if he would not be appeased with the sweet flattery of his wife,
yet he would take mercy on her at her servile and continuall prayers.
And (espying a Church on the top of a high hill) she said, What can I
tell whether my husband and master be there or no? wherefore she went
thitherward, and with great paine and travell, moved by hope, after that
she climbed to the top of the mountaine, she espied sheffes of corn lying
on a heap, blades withered with garlands, and reeds of barly, moreover
she saw hooks, sithes, sickles, and other instruments, to reape, but every
thing lay out of order, and as it were cast in by the hands of laborers,
which when Psyches saw she gathered up and put every thing in order, thinking
that she would not despise or contemne the temples of any of the Gods,
but rather get the favour and benevolence of them all: by and by Ceres
came in, and beholding her busie and curious in her chapell, cried out
a far off, and said, O Psyches needfull of mercy, Venus searcheth for
thee in every place to revenge her selfe and to punish thee grievously,
but thou hast more mind to be heere, and carest for nothing lesse, then
[sic] for thy safety. Then Psyches fell on her knees before her, watring
her feet with her teares, wiping the ground with her haire, and with great
weeping and lamentation desired pardon, saying, O great and holy Goddesse,
I pray thee by thy plenteous and liberall right hand, by the joyfull ceremonies
of thy harvest, by the secrets of thy Sacrifice, by the flying chariots
of thy dragons, by the tillage of the ground of Sicilie, which thou hast
invented, by the marriage of Proserpin, by the diligent inquisition of
thy daughter, and by the other secrets which are within the temple of
Eleusis in the land of Athens, take pitty on me thy servant Psyches, and
let me hide my selfe a few dayes amongst these sheffes of corne, untill
the ire of so great a Goddesse be past, or untill that I be refreshed
of my great labour and travell.
Then answered Ceres, Verely Psyches, I am
greatly moved by thy prayers and teares, and desire with all my heart
to aide thee, but if I should suffer thee to be hidden here, I should
increase the displeasure of my Cosin, with whom I have made a treatie
of peace, and an ancient promise of amity: wherefore I advise thee to
depart hence and take it not in evil part in that I will not suffer thee
to abide and remaine here within my temple. Then Psyches driven away contrary
to her hope, was double afflicted with sorrow, and so she returned back
againe. And behold she perceived a far off in a vally a Temple standing
within a Forest, faire and curiously wrought, and minding to over-passe
no place whither better hope did direct her, and to the intent she would
desire pardon of every God, she approached nigh unto the sacred doore,
whereas she saw pretious riches and vestiments ingraven with letters of
gold, hanging upon branches of trees, and the posts of the temple testifying
the name of the goddesse Juno, to whom they were dedicate, then she kneeled
downe upon her knees, and imbraced the Alter with her hands, and wiping
her teares, gan pray in this sort: O deere spouse and sister of the great
God Jupiter which art adored and worshipped amongst the great temples
of Samos, called upon by women with child, worshipped at high Carthage,
because thou wast brought from heaven by the lyon, the rivers of the floud
Inachus do celebrate thee: and know that thou art the wife of the great
god, and the goddesse of goddesses; all the east part of the world have
thee in veneration, all the world calleth thee Lucina: I pray thee to
be my advocate in my tribulations, deliver me from the great danger which
pursueth me, and save me that am weary with so long labours and sorrow,
for I know that it is thou that succorest and helpest such women as are
with child and in danger. Then Juno hearing the prayers of Psyches, appeared
unto her in all her royalty, saying, Certes Psyches I would gladly help
thee, but I am ashamed to do any thing contrary to the will of my daughter
in law Venus, whom alwaies I have loved as mine owne child, moreover I
shall incurre the danger of the law, intituled, De servo corrupto,
whereby I am forbidden to retaine any servant fugitive, against the will
of his Master.
Then Psyches cast off likewise by Juno, as
without all hope of the recovery of her husband, reasoned with her selfe
in this sort: Now what comfort or remedy is left to my afflictions, when
as my prayers will nothing availe with the goddesses? what shall I do?
whither shall I go? In what cave or darknesse shall I hide my selfe, to
avoid the furor of Venus? Why do I not take a good heart, and offer my
selfe with humilitie unto her, whose anger I have wrought? What do I know
whether he (whom I seeke for) be in his mothers house or no? Thus being
in doubt, poore Psyches prepared her selfe to her owne danger, and devised
how she might make her orison and prayer unto Venus. After that Venus
was weary with searching by Sea and Land for Psyches, shee returned toward
heaven, and commanded that one should prepare her Chariot, which her husband
Vulcanus gave unto her by reason of marriage, so finely wrought that neither
gold nor silver could be compared to the brightnesse therof. Four white
pigeons guided the chariot with great diligence, and when Venus was entred
in, a number of sparrowes flew chirping about, making signe of joy, and
all other kind of birds sang sweetly, foreshewing the comming of the great
goddesse: the clouds gave place, the heavens opened, and received her
joyfully, the birds that followed nothing feared the Eagle, Hawkes, or
other ravenous foules of the aire. Incontinently she went unto the royall
Pallace of God Jupiter, and with a proud and bold petition demanded the
service of Mercury, in certaine of her affaires, whereunto Jupiter consented:
then with much joy shee descended from Heaven with Mercury, and gave him
an earnest charge to put in execution her words, saying: O my Brother,
borne in Arcadia, thou knowest well, that I (who am thy sister) did never
enterprise to doe any thing without thy presence, thou knowest also how
long I have sought for a girle and cannot finde her, wherefore there resteth
nothing else save that thou with thy trumpet doe pronounce the reward
to such as take her: see thou put in execution my commandment, and declare
that whatsoever he be that retaineth her wittingly, against my will shall
not defend himselfe by any meane or excusation: which when she had spoken,
she delivered unto him a libell, wherein was contained the name of Psyches,
and the residue of his publication, which done, she departed away to her
lodging. By and by, Mercurius (not delaying the matter) proclaimed throughout
all the world that whatsoever hee were that could tell any tydings of
a Kings fugitive Daughter, the servant of Venus, named Psyches, should
bring word to Mercury, and for reward of his paines, he should receive
seaven sweet kisses of Venus. After that Mercury had pronounced these
things, every man was enflamed with desire to search out Psyches.
This proclamation was the cause that put
all doubt from Psyches, who was scantly come in the sight of the house
of Venus, but one of her servants called Custome came out, who espying
Psyches, cried out with a loud voyce, saying, O wicked harlot as thou
art, now at length thou shalt know that thou hast a mistresse above thee.
What, dost thou make thy selfe ignorant, as though thou didst not understand
what travell wee have taken in searching for thee? I am glad that thou
art come into my hands, thou art now in the gulfe of hell, and shalt abide
the paine and punishment of thy great contumacy, and therewithall she
tooke her by the haire, and brought her in, before the presence of the
goddesse Venus. When Venus spied her, shee began to laugh, and as angry
persons accustome to doe, she shaked her head, and scratched her right
eare saying, O goddesse, goddesse, you are now come at length to visit
your husband that is in danger of death, by your meanes: bee you assured,
I will handle you like a daughter: where be my maidens, Sorrow and Sadnesse?
To whom (when they came) she delivered Psyches to be cruelly tormented;
then they fulfilled the commandement of their Mistresse, and after they
had piteously scourged her with rods and whips, they presented her againe
before Venus; then she began to laugh againe, saying: Behold she thinketh
(that by reason of her great belly, which she hath gotten by playing the
whore) to move me to pitty, and to make me a grandmother to her childe.
Am not I happy, that in the flourishing time of al mine age, shall be
called a grandmother, and the sonne of a vile harlot shall bee accounted
the nephew of Venus: Howbeit I am a foole to tearm him by the name of
my son, since as the marriage was made betweene unequall persons, in the
field without witnesses, and not by the consent of parents, wherefore
the marriage is illegitimate, and the childe (that shall be borne) a bastard;
if we fortune to suffer thee to live so long till thou be delivered.
When Venus had spoken these words she leaped
upon the face of poore Psyches, and (tearing her apparell) tooke her by
the haire, and dashed her head upon the ground. Then she tooke a great
quantity of wheat, of barly, poppy seede, peason, lintles, and beanes,
and mingled them altogether on a heape saying: Thou evil favoured girle,
thou seemest unable to get the grace of thy lover, by no other meanes,
but only by diligent and painefull service, wherefore I will prove what
thou canst doe: see that thou separate all these graines one from another
disposing them orderly in their quantity, and let it be done before night.
When she had appointed this taske unto Psyches, she departed to a great
banket that was prepared that day. But Psyches went not about to dissever
the graine, (as being a thing impossible to be brought to passe by reason
it lay so confusedly scattered) but being astonyed at the cruell commandement
of Venus, sate still and said nothing. Then the little pismire {ant} the
emote, taking pitty of her great difficulty and labour, cursing the cruellnesse
of the daughter of Jupiter, and of so evill a mother, ran about, hither
and thither, and called to all her friends, Yee quick sons of the ground,
the mother of all things, take mercy on this poore maid, espouse to Cupid,
who is in great danger of her person, I pray you helpe her with all diligence.
Incontinently one came after another, dissevering and dividing the graine,
and after that they had put each kinde of corne in order, they ranne away
againe in all haste. When night came, Venus returned home from the banket
wel tippled with wine, smelling of balme, and crowned with garlands of
roses, who when shee had espied what Psyches had done, gan say, This is
not the labour of thy hands, but rather of his that is amorous of thee:
then shee gave her a morsel of brown bread, and went to sleep. In the
mean season, Cupid was closed fast in the surest chamber of the house,
partly because he should not hurt himself with wanton dalliance, and partly
because he should not speake with his love: so these two lovers were divided
one from another. When night was passed Venus called Psyches, and said,
Seest thou yonder Forest that extendeth out in length with the river?
there be great sheepe shining like gold, and kept by no manner of person.
I command thee that thou go thither and bring me home some of the wooll
of their fleeces.
Psyches arose willingly not to do her commandement,
but to throw her selfe headlong into the water to end her sorrows. Then
a green reed inspired by divine inspiration, with a gratious tune and
melody gan say, O Psyches I pray thee not to trouble or pollute my water
by the death of thee, and yet beware that thou goe not towards the terrible
sheepe of this coast, untill such time as the heat of the sunne be past,
for when the sunne is in his force, then seeme they most dreadfull and
furious, with their sharpe hornes, their stony foreheads and their gaping
throats, wherewith they arme themselves to the destruction of mankinde.
But untill they have refreshed themselves in the river, thou maist hide
thy selfe here by me, under this great plaine tree, and as soone as their
great fury is past, thou maist goe among the thickets and bushes under
the wood side and gather the lockes their golden Fleeces, which thou shalt
finde hanging up on the briers. Then spake the gentle and benigne reed,
shewing a mean to Psyches to save her life, which she bore well in memory,
and with all diligence went and gathered up such lockes as shee found,
and put them in her apron, and carried them home to Venus. Howbeit the
danger of this second labour did not please her, nor give her sufficient
witnesse of the good service of Psyches, but with a sower resemblance
of laughter, did say: Of a certaine I know that this is not thy fact,
but I will prove if that thou bee of so stout, so good a courage, and
singular prudency as thou seemest to be. Then Venus spake unto Psyches
againe saying: Seest thou the toppe of yonder great Hill, from whence
there runneth downe waters of blacke and deadly colour, which nourisheth
the floods of Stix, Cocytus? I charge thee to goe thither, and bring me
a vessell of that water: wherewithall she gave her a bottle of Christall,
menacing and threatening her rigorously.
Then poor Psyches went in all haste to the
top of the mountaine, rather to end her life, then [sic] to fetch any
water, and when she was come up to the ridge of the hill, she perceived
that it was impossible to bring it to passe: for she saw a great rocke
gushing out most horrible fountaines of waters, which ran downe and fell
by many stops and passages into the valley beneath: on each side shee
did see great Dragons, which were stretching out their long and bloody
Neckes, that did never sleepe, but appointed to keepe the river there:
the waters seemed to themselves likewise saying, Away, away, what wilt
thou doe? flie, flie, or else thou wilt be slaine.
Then Psyches (seeing the impossibility of
this affaire) stood still as though she were transformed into a stone,
and although she was present in body, yet was she absent in spirit and
sense, by reason of the great perill which she saw, insomuch that she
could not comfort her self with weeping, such was the present danger that
she was in. But the royall bird of great Jupiter, the Eagle remembring
his old service which he had done, when as by the pricke of Cupid he brought
up the boy Ganimedes, to the heavens, to be made butler of Jupiter, and
minding to shew the like service in the person of the wife of Cupid, came
from the high-house of the Skies, and said unto Psyches, O simple woman
without all experience, doest thou thinke to get or dip up any drop of
this dreadfull water? No, no, assure thy selfe thou art never able to
come nigh it, for the Gods themselves do greatly feare at the sight thereof.
What, have you not heard, that it is a custome among men to sweare by
the puissance of the Gods, and the Gods do sweare by the majesty of the
river Stix? But give me thy bottle, and sodainly he tooke it, and filled
it with the water of the river, and taking his flight through those cruell
and horrible dragons, brought it unto Psyches: who being very joyfull
thereof, presented it to Venus, who would not yet be appeased, but menacing
more and more said, What, thou seemest unto me a very witch and enchauntresse,
that bringest these things to passe, howbeit thou shalt do nothing more.
Take this box and to Hell to Proserpina, and desire her to send me a little
of her beauty, as much as will serve me the space of one day, and say
that such as I had is consumed away since my sonne fell sicke, but returne
againe quickly, for I must dresse my selfe therewithall, and goe to the
Theatre of the Gods: then poore Psyches perceived the end of all fortune,
thinking verely that she should never returne, and not without cause,
when as she was compelled to go to the gulfe and furies of hell.
Wherefore without any further delay, she
went up to an high tower to throw her selfe downe headlong (thinking that
it was the next and readiest way to hell) but the tower (as inspired)
spake unto her saying, O poore miser, why goest thou about to slay thy
selfe? Why dost thou rashly yeeld unto thy last perill and danger? know
thou that if thy spirit be once separated from thy body, thou shalt surely
go to hell, but never to returne againe, wherefore harken unto me; Lacedemon
a Citie in Greece is not farre hence: go thou thither and enquire for
the hill Tenarus, whereas thou shalt find a hold [sic] leading to hell,
even to the Pallace of Pluto, but take heede thou go not with emptie hands
to that place of darknesse: but carrie two sops {a piece of bread soaked
in the dripping under the meat} sodden in the flour of barley and Honney
in thy hands, and two halfepence in thy mouth. And when thou hast passed
a good part of that way, thou shalt see a lame Asse carrying of wood,
and a lame fellow driving him, who will desire thee to give him up the
sticks that fall downe, but passe thou on and do nothing; by and by thou
shalt come unto a river of hell, whereas Charon is ferriman, who will
first have his fare paied him, before he will carry the soules over the
river in his boat, whereby you may see that avarice raigneth amongst the
dead, neither Charon nor Pluto will do any thing for nought: for if it
be a poore man that would passe over and lacketh money, he shal be compelled
to die in his journey before they will shew him any reliefe, wherefore
deliver to carraine Charon one of the halfpence (which thou bearest for
thy passage) and let him receive it out of thy mouth. And it shall come
to passe as thou sittest in the boat thou shalt see an old man swimming
on the top of the river, holding up his deadly hands, and desiring thee
to receive him into the barke {a boat}, but have no regard to his piteous
cry: when thou art passed over the floud, thou shalt espie old women spinning,
who will desire thee to helpe them, but beware thou do not consent unto
them in any case, for these and like baits and traps will Venus set to
make thee let fall one of thy sops, and thinke not that the keeping of
thy sops is a light matter, for if thou leese one of them thou shalt be
assured never to returne againe to this world. Then shalt thou see a great
and marvailous dogge, with three heads, barking continually at the soules
of such as enter in, but he can do them no other harme, he lieth day and
night before the gate of Proserpina, and keepeth the house of Pluto with
great diligence, to whom if thou cast one of thy sops, thou maist have
accesse to Proserpina without all danger: shee will make thee good cheere,
and entertaine thee with delicate meate and drinke, but sit thou upon
the ground, and desire browne bread, and then declare thy message unto
her, and when thou hast received such beauty as she giveth, in thy returne
appease the rage of the dogge with thy other sop, and give thy other halfe
penny to covetous Charon, and come the same way againe into the world
as thou wentest: but above all things have a regard that thou looke not
in the boxe, neither be not too curious about the treasure of the divine
beauty.
In this manner the tower spake unto Psyches,
and advertised her what she should do: and immediately she tooke two halfe
pence, two sops, and all things necessary, and went to the mountaine Tenarus
to go towards hell. After that Psyches had passed by the lame Asse, paid
her halfe pennie for passage, neglected the old man in the river, denyed
to helpe the woman spinning, and filled the ravenous mouth of the dogge
with a sop, shee came to the chamber of Proserpina, onely contented with
course bread, declared her message, and after she received a mysticall
secret in a boxe, she departed, and stopped the mouth of the dogge with
the other sop, and paied the boat-man the other halfe penny. When Psyches
was returned from hell, to the light of the world, shee was ravished with
great desire, saying, Am not I a foole, that knowing that I carrie heere
the divine beauty, will not take a little thereof to garnish my face,
to please my love withall? And by and by shee opened the boxe where she
could perceive no beauty nor any thing else, save onely an infernall and
deadly sleepe, which immediately invaded all her members as soone as the
boxe was uncovered, in such sort that shee fell downe upon the ground,
and lay there as a sleeping corps.
But Cupid being now healed of his wound and
Maladie, not able to endure the absence of Psyches, got him secretly out
at a window of the chamber where hee was enclosed, and (receiving his
wings,) tooke his flight towards his loving wife, whom when he had found,
hee wiped away the sleepe from her face, and put it againe into the boxe,
and awaked her with the tip of one of his arrows, saying: O wretched Caitife,
behold thou wert well-nigh perished againe, with the overmuch curiositie:
well, goe thou, and do thy message to my Mother, and in the meane season,
I wil provide for all things accordingly: wherewithall he tooke his flight
into the aire, and Psyches brought her present to Venus.
Cupid being more and more in love with Psyches,
and fearing the displeasure of his Mother, did pearce into the heavens,
and arrived before Jupiter to declare his cause: then Jupiter after that
hee had eftsoone embraced him, gan say in this manner: O my well beloved
sonne, although thou haste not given due reverence and honour unto me
as thou oughtest to doe, but haste rather spoiled and wounded this my
brest (whereby the laws and order of the Elements and Planets be disposed)
with continuall assaults, of Terren luxury and against all laws, and the
discipline Julia, and the utility of the publike weale, in transforming
my divine beauty into serpents, fire, savage beasts, birds, and into Bulles:
Howbeit remembring my modesty, and that I have nourished thee with mine
owne proper hands, I will doe and accomplish all thy desire, so that thou
canst beware of spitefull and envious persons. And if there be any excellent
Maiden of comely beauty in the world, remember yet the benefit which I
shall shew unto thee by recompence of her love towards me againe.
When he had spoken these words he commanded
Mercury to call all the gods to counsell, and if any of the celestiall
powers did faile of appearance he would be condemned in ten thousand pounds:
which sentence was such a terrour to all the goddesses, that the high
Theatre was replenished, and Jupiter began to speake in this sort: O yee
gods, registred in the bookes of the Muses, you all know this young man
Cupid whom I have nourished with mine owne hands, whose raging flames
of his first youth, I thought best to bridle and restraine. It sufficeth
that hee is defamed in every place for his adulterous living, wherefore
all occasion ought to bee taken away by meane of marriage: he hath chosen
a maiden that fancieth him well, and hath bereaved her of her virginity,
let him have her still, and possesse her according to his owne pleasure:
then he returned to Venus, and said, And you my daughter, take you no
care, neither feare the dishonour of your progeny and estate, neither
have regard in that it is a mortall marriage, for it seemeth unto me just,
lawfull, and legitimate by the law civill. Incontinently after, Jupiter
commanded Mercury to bring up Psyches, the spouse of Cupid, into the Pallace
of heaven. And then he tooke a pot of immortality, and said, Hold Psyches,
and drinke, to the end thou maist be immortall, and that Cupid may be
thine everlasting husband. By and by the great banket and marriage feast
was sumptuously prepared, Cupid sate downe with his deare spouse betweene
his armes: Juno likewise with Jupiter, and all the other gods in order,
Ganimedes filled the pot of Jupiter, and Bacchus served the rest. Their
drinke was Nectar, the wine of the gods, Vulcanus prepared supper, the
howers decked up the house with roses and other sweet smells, the graces
threw about blame, the Muses sang with sweet harmony, Apollo tuned pleasantly
to the Harpe, Venus danced finely: Satirus and Paniscus plaid on their
pipes; and thus Psyches was married to Cupid, and after she was delivered
of a child whom we call Pleasure. This the trifling old woman declared
unto the captive maiden: but I poore Asse, not standing farre of, was
not a little sorry in that I lacked pen and inke to write so worthy a
tale.
by Apuleius
Apuleius, and Petronius Aribiter, et
al. The Golden Asse, Adlington's Translation, 1566. The Satyricon,
Burnaby's Translation 1694. Daphus and Chloe, [by Longus] Thornley's Translation
1657. London: Simpkin Marshall, 1933.
Note: Derived from the 1639 printing.
History of this translation and printings:
"The xi Bookes of the Golden Asse, conteininge the Metamorphosie of Lucius
Apuleius." First Edition "Imprinted at London in Fleetstreate at the signe
of the Oliphante, by Henry Wykes, Anno. 1566." (Q'to). Reprinted 1571
(Q'to), 1582 (Octavo), 1596 (Q'to), 1600 (Q'to), 1639 (Q'to).