Cupid & Psyche — Chapter 22

Latin

English

1tunc 2Psyche, 5et 6corporis 7et 8animi 3alioquin 4infirma 11fati 9tamen 10saevitia 12subministrante 14viribus 13roboratur, 15et 16prolata 17lucerna 18et 19adrepta 20novacula 22sexum 23audacia 21mutavit.

1sed 2cum primum 7luminis 6oblatione 4tori 3secreta 5claruerunt, 8videt 13omnium 14ferarum 9mitissimam 11dulcissimam 10-que 12bestiam, 17ipsum 15illum 16Cupidinem 18formonsum 19deum 21formonse 20cubantem

2cuius 1aspectu 6lucernae 3quoque 5lumen 4hilaratum 7increbruit 8et 12acuminis 11sacrilegi 9novaculam 10paenitebat.

1at 3vero 2Psyche 5tanto 6aspectu 4deterrita 7et 8impos 9animi, 11marcido 12pallore 10defecta 14tremens 13-que 15desedit 16in 17imos 18poplites 19et 20quaerit 21abscondere, 22ferrum 23sed 24in 25suo 26pectore.

3quod 1profecto 2fecisset, 4nisi 5ferrum 6timore 7tanti 8flagitii 11manibus 10temerariis 9delapsum 12evolasset.

Then Psyche, (though) otherwise weak in both body and mind, nevertheless, by the savagery of Fate lending aid, she is strengthened with strength, and, having brought out a lamp and seized a razor, she changed her sex by her daring.

But as soon as the secrets of the couch became clear, with the offering of light, she sees the gentlest and sweetest beast, of all wild beasts, that famous Cupid himself, a handsome god, reclining handsomely.

At the sight of him even cheerful the light of the lamp grew stronger and the razor regretted profane of its sharpness

But Psyche, however, terrified by such a great sight and powerless over her mind, drained, with languid paleness and trembling, sank down onto the bottom of her knees and she seeks to hide the blade — but in her own breast.

She would surely have done which if ... had not the blade, in fear of such a great disgrace, having slipped reckless from her rash had not flown away.

Content — what is happening

Weak in body and mind but driven on by the cruelty of Fate, Psyche nerves herself: she brings out the lamp, seizes the razor, and ‘changes her sex’ in daring.
The lamplight reveals the secret of the bed — and it is no monster but the gentlest, sweetest of all creatures: Cupid himself, a beautiful god lying beautifully asleep.
Even the lamp burns brighter at the sight, and the razor seems to repent its profane edge.
Terror-struck and faint, Psyche sinks to her knees and tries to hide the blade — in her own breast.
She would have killed herself, had the knife not slipped in fear from her reckless hands and flown away.