Cupid & Psyche — Chapter 21

Latin

English

1at 2Psyche 3relicta 4sola 5nisi 6quod 8infestis 9Furiis 7agitata 12sola 11non 10est 14aestu 15pelagi 13simile 17maerendo 16fluctuat,

1et 2quamvis 3statuto 4consilio 5et 7obstinato 6animo 9iam 8tamen 13facinori 11suas 12manus 10admovens 14adhuc 15incerta 16consilii 17titubat 20multis 18-que 23calamitatis 22suae 19distrahitur 21affectibus.

1festinat 2differt, 3audet 4trepidat, 5diffidit 6irascitur; 7et 8quod 9est 10ultimum, 11in 12eodem 13corpore 14odit 15bestiam, 16diligit 17maritum.

2vespera 1tamen 3iam 5noctem 4trahente, 6praecipiti 7festinatione 10nefarii 11sceleris 8instruit 9apparatum.

1nox 2aderat 3et 4maritus 5advenerat 7primus 6-que 10Veneris 9proeliis 8velitatus 12in 13altum 14soporem 11descenderat.

But Psyche, left alone, except that being harassed by the hostile Furies she is not alone, like the tide of the sea, wavers in her grieving,

and although having settled on a plan and (her) purpose resolute however now applying her hands to the deed still uncertain in her resolve, she falters and is torn apart by the many emotions of her misfortune.

She hurries, (then) delays, dares, (then) panics, despairs, (then) rages; and, which is the final thing, in the same body she hates the beast (but) loves the husband.

However, as evening now drawing on the night, in headlong haste she sets out the apparatus of the wicked crime.

Night was at hand, and her husband had arrived, and, having first skirmished in the contests of love had sunk into a deep sleep.

Content — what is happening

Left alone with her sleeping husband, Psyche is not truly alone: tormented by the Furies of her conscience, her resolve heaves like the swell of the sea.
Though she has fixed on a plan, she falters — hurrying then delaying, daring then panicking — and in the same heart she hates the ‘beast’ yet loves the husband.
As evening slowly draws on the night, in headlong haste she sets out the implements of the wicked crime.
Night falls; her husband arrives and, spent from the ‘battles of love’, sinks into a deep sleep — the moment of decision is at hand.