Cupid & Psyche — Chapter 23

Latin

English

13quae 1dum 3insatiabili 4animo 2Psyche, 6satis 5et 7curiosa, 8rimatur 9atque 10pertrectat 11et 16mariti 15sui 12miratur 14arma,

1depromit 2unam 4de 5pharetra 3sagittam 6et 10punctu 11pollicis 8extremam 9aciem 7periclitabunda 14trementis 15etiam nunc 13articuli 12nisu 16fortiore 17pupugit 18altius,

1ut 7per 8summam 9cutem 6roraverint 2parvulae 5sanguinis 4rosei 3guttae.

1sic 3ignara 2Psyche 4sponte 6in 8Amoris 5incidit 7amorem.

1tunc 2magis 4magis 3-que 5cupidine 6flagrans 7Cupidinis, 8prona 11in 12eum 9efflictim 10inhians, 15patulis 16ac 17petulantibus 18saviis 13festinanter 14ingestis, 20de 22somni 21mensura 19metuebat.

While Psyche, with insatiable curiosity and quite curious, examines and handles and wonders at these the weapons of her husband.

she draws out one arrow from the quiver, and, testing the very tip, with a prick of her thumb, because the effort of her hand (which was) trembling even now was too strong, she pricked (herself) too deeply,

so that tiny drops of rosy blood trickled over the surface of her skin.

Thus Psyche, unknowing of her own accord, fell into love of Love.

Then, more and more with desire burning for Cupid, leaning forward, desperately gazing over him, hurriedly showered (on him), open-mouthed and wanton kisses she grew afraid about the measure of his sleep.

Content — what is happening

With insatiable curiosity Psyche examines, handles and marvels at her husband’s weapons.
She draws an arrow from the quiver and, testing its point on her thumb, presses too hard with her trembling hand and pricks herself too deeply — until tiny drops of rosy blood well over her skin.
And so, all unknowing yet of her own accord, Psyche falls in love with Love himself.
Burning more and more with desire for Cupid, she leans over him, gazing hungrily and showering him with eager, open-mouthed kisses —
all the while afraid of how long, or how lightly, he might sleep.