Cupid & Psyche — Chapter 26 (cont.)

Latin

English

1sed 2cum primum, 3ut 4aeque 5placuerat, 10conscio 9lumine 8vultus 7eius 6aspexi, 11video 12mirum 14divinum 13-que 15prorsus 16spectaculum, 17ipsum 18illum 19deae 20Veneris 21filium, 22ipsum 23inquam 24Cupidinem, 26leni 27quiete 25sopitum.

1ac 2dum 5tanti 6boni 4spectaculo 3percita 7et 9nimia 11voluptatis 10copia 8turbata 14fruendi 12laborarem 13inopia, 15casu 16scilicet 17pessimo 18lucerna 19fervens 21oleum 20rebullivit 22in 23eius 24umerum.

1quo 2dolore 4statim 5somno 3recussus, 6ubi 8me 10ferro 11et 12igni 7conspexit 9armatam, 14tu 15quidem 13inquit 16ob 17istud 18tam 19dirum 20facinus 21confestim 24toro 23meo 22divorte, 29tibi 25-que 28res 27tuas 26habeto.

1ego 2vero 6sororem 5tuam 10et 12nomen 13quo 14tu 15censeris 11aiebat 3iam 7mihi 8confarreatis 9nuptiis 4coniugabo.

1et 2statim 4Zephyro 3praecipit 7ultra 8terminos 6me 9domus 10eius 5efflaret.

But when first as had equally been agreed, I caught sight of his features with the lamp my accomplice, I see a wonderful and absolutely divine sight: that very famous of the goddess Venus, son — Cupid himself, I mean — lulled in calm repose.

And while stirred by the sight of so great a blessing and, agitated by an excessive supply of desire, I was struggling with the inability to enjoy it, by luck of course the worst possible, the lamp, boiling, bubbled over hot oil onto his shoulder.

By this pain jolted awake at once from sleep, when he saw me armed with sword and fire, he said, ‘You, indeed, because of that so dreadful a crime, immediately depart from my bed, and keep your things for yourself.

I, however, now will join your sister to myself in an official marriage,’ and he kept saying the name by which you are known —

And at once he orders the West Wind to blow me beyond the bounds of his house.

Content — what is happening

‘But, as we had agreed, the moment I looked on his face with the lamp as my accomplice, I saw a marvellous, utterly divine sight — Venus’s own son, Cupid himself, lulled in gentle sleep.’
‘And while I stood thrilled by so great a blessing yet helpless with too much desire, by the worst of luck the boiling lamp bubbled hot oil onto his shoulder.’
‘Jolted awake by the pain, when he saw me armed with blade and fire, he cried: “You — for so dreadful a crime, off my bed at once and take your things;',
‘“but your sister” — and he named the very name you go by — “I shall now wed to myself in solemn marriage.”’
‘And straightaway he ordered the West Wind to blow me beyond the bounds of his house.’