Cupid & Psyche — Chapter 24 (cont.)

Latin

English

1sed 3hoc 2feci 4leviter, 5scio, 6et 8praeclarus 7ille 9sagittarius 10ipse 12me 14telo 13meo 11percussi 17te 15-que 19coniugem 18meam 16feci,

1ut 4bestia 2scilicet 5tibi 3viderer 6et 7ferro 10caput 8excideres 9meum, 11quod 13istos 16amatores 15tuos 14oculos 12gerit.

6haec 3tibi 1identidem 4semper 5cavenda 2censebam, 9haec 7benivole 8remonebam.

1sed 3illae 2quidem 5consiliatrices 4egregiae 6tuae 11tam 12perniciosi 13magisterii 8dabunt 7actutum 9mihi 10poenas;

1te 2vero 3tantum 6fuga 5mea 4punivero.

1et 2cum 3termino 4sermonis 9pinnis 7in 8altum 6se 5proripuit.

But I did this light-heartedly, I know, and I, the famous outstanding archer myself, struck myself with my own weapon and made you my wife,

so that doubtless I might seem a beast to you, and with a knife you might cut off my head, which bears those eyes, your lovers.

Again and again I urged that you always should guard against these things; with good intent I warned you about these things.

But indeed, those marvellous counsellors of yours immediately will pay to me the penalty for such ruinous teaching;

You, however, I shall only punish my with my flight.

And with the end of his speech, he hurled himself into the heights on his wings.

Content — what is happening

‘But I did it lightly, I admit: I, the famous archer, shot myself with my own arrow and made you my wife —',
‘only so that I might seem a beast to you, and you cut off with a blade the head whose eyes are your lovers.’
‘Time and again I urged you to be on your guard; with good intent I warned you of all this.’
‘Those marvellous counsellors of yours will soon pay me the penalty for such ruinous advice;',
‘you, though, I shall punish only with my flight.’
And with that, his speech ended, he hurled himself up into the heights on his wings.