The Colfax chronicle. (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1876-1877, 1877-06-02
mo. Al.
A Charming Fiction.

One Of the most charming 6c-
tons transmitted to us from an
tiquity, is that of Cupid and Psy-
che. In the mythology Of ancient
Greece and Rome, the union OF
these two (the one q mortal and
the other an immortal being) is
invested with the most sublime
ideas of life, death, and immortal
ity, 81 far as the latter thought
had place in the religion of thoss
nations The name of Psyche
signifies q butterfly and human
soul. Therefore, when represent
ed with the wing of q butterfly
attached to her shoulders Psyche
symbolizes a tender, spiritual be-
ing, who, freed from the coarser
covering of her chrysalis. rises to
q higher existence, where, united
with love, she participates in the
bliss which the immortal them
selves enjoy.
Fsycne, the most lovely OF NOR
tails, was the daughter of o power
full monarch and the youngest of
three sister,. So transcendant
was her beauty that no mortal man
dared to sue for her hand; and het
fathers subjects. neglecting the
worship Of Venus, raised affairs to
Psyche. Venus, resolving to re.
venee herself upon the innocent
cause OF her humiliation, sent
Cupid to inspire Psyche with Q
passion for the ugliest of mortala
But no sooner did he see her than
he laid aside his bow and arrows
aud resolved to make her his wife.
On the first occasion that Psyche
found herself alone. she was over
powered by deep sleep, and, while
she WAS unconscious, Zephyr bore
her to the abode prepared for her
by the god Of Love. Here he Wis
tied her ct night only, announcing
himself IS the husband allotted to
her by the immortsls; bat warning
her that she must make no effort
to ascertain who he was, lest she
should lose him and become mis-
cradle. For q time all went well,
until at last Psyche's overwhelm-
ing desire to see some member Of
her own family induced Cupid to
send for her two sisters. These,
finding out the condition under
which the young bride lived. per-
suaded her that her husband must
be some hideous monster who
dreaded being seen. Finally, to
quiet their doubts and her own,
Psyche stole from her couch, and,
procuring q lamp, turned its rays
full upon her sleeping husband.
In place Of q monster she saw tho
beautiful god of Love. But, in
her anxiety to escape undiscovered
with the lamp, she awkwardly
allowed o drop Of the burning oil
to fall upon his shoulder. Cupid
started up, and, turning q look Of
scora and indignation upon the
unhappy Psyche. fed from her
sight, never more to return.
The unhappy wife, fearing she
had lost her husband forever,
attempted to destroy herself; but,
meeting the god Pan. he cohsoled
her by the prediction that In tho
remote future she should be happy
once more. Psyche wandered over
the whole earth in fruitless search
for her husband, and finally, in
her desperation, appealed to Venus
The latter. mindful of past wrongs,
Immediately set the wife to the
performance of several tasks.
which she accomplished only by
the assistance of the invisible pow
ers sent by Cupid TO protect her.
Finally she was commanded to
descend into Orcus itself, and pro-
cure from Proserpine box con-
tanning the highest charms Of
beauty. This mission was nearly
filed, when vanity and curiosity
combined induced her to open the
box. She was instantly involved
in Q black and noxious vapor,
which threw her into q deep sleep,
from which she would not have
arisen, had not Cupid FASTENED 70
her assistance. He restored her
to life, and conducted poor Psyche
into the presence Of Jove, there
prOclaiming her his lawful wife,
and supplicating for her admission
among the immortals. Jupiter
complied with bis request, and