Story source: Apuleius's Golden Ass, as translated into English by Tony Kline (2013).
(Image Information: Cupid and Psyche: The 17th Century; Luca Giordano painting)
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The Captive Woman
- robbers got drunk then went to sleep; suddenly awoke in the night and returned with only a girl
- they want a ransom from the girl's family, and she cries, scared that she was taken
Her Dream
- the robbers kidnapped the young girl on her wedding day (the young girl recounts this for the old woman)
- she actually had dreams that she would be kidnapped
- the woman tried to console her, by telling her a story
Psyche's Beauty
- king and queen had three daughters; and the eldest was the most beautiful and "no human speech could ... rise to adequate description"
- crowds would come visit her, and people compared her to the goddess Venus
& they used phrases such as "the goddess herself, born from the blue depths of the sea" and "earth not ocean had given rise to a new creation, a new celestial emanation"
- people literally journeyed to see her
- Venus's shrines in various cities weren't the destination of tourists, rather it was this girl
- Venue became angry, and summoned Cupid (her son) and showed him Psyche, and begged him to shoot her with an arrow so that she would have the strongest passion for a "wretched" man
The Oracle of Apollo
- although Psyche was so beautiful, no one came to seek her hand in marriage
- but her sisters were well matched to royal suitors and made excellent marriages
- her father consulted Apollo's oracle, and was told a miserable prophecy
- it was told that she'd have a "fatal marriage"
- so ritual preparations were completed, and Psyche was called a "living corpse"
The Magical Palace
- Psyche was happily reclining in a grassy bed when she arose and felt calm
- she was by a regal palace, the work of a demigod or god
- very descriptive regarding the floors and pictures
- Psyche heard a voice say that everything there is hers, so she slept and took a bath then had a massive
feast
- she didn't see anyone, but she heard their voices
The Mysterious Husband
- unknown husband arrived and made Psyche his wife
- her parents aged greatly
- her family thought she was dead, and her sisters wanted to come to the cliff-top
- her husband told her not to do this, and she was saddened
- finally, he said she could see her sisters, but not to listen to them; and if they asked her to investigate about his appearance, "curiosity ... would hurl her from the heights of good fortune"
The Jealousy of Psyche's Sisters
- they were all very happy to be reunited; her sisters asked who her husband was
- Psyche pretended he was a young and handsome man, and her sisters grew very jealous
Psyche's Husband Warns Her
- her sisters schemed to bring evil to Psyche
- and her husband told her that if she doesn't speak to them, especially about him, then they will have a child
- however, she asked to see her sisters again and her husband agreed
Fears and Doubts
- they influenced their sister's mind and turned the conversation to Psyche's husband
- they knew she was lying, because her stories kept changing
- they think she must have married a god, and is carrying a divine child
- Psyche was terrified at the words of her sisters and plunged into ruin, forgetting the words of her husband
- she thinks her sisters are right, and calls them "true and loyal"
- they told him to take light and weapon and sever the "venomous serpent's head from his body"
Psyche's Husband Revealed
- she found that it was the handsome god Cupid
- she tried to conceal the weapon, but was unable
- she drew an arrow and pricked herself, falling deeper in love with Love
- however, the god realized his secret had been betrayed, and fled from his wife
Psyche's Despair
- she tormented herself with sad lamentations
- the god of the wild, Pan, watched her and called her gently
- she walked and came to a city where her brother-in-law was king
- she calls out her sisters and explains what happened
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