The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1877-06-09
A CHARMING FICTION.


transmitted to US from antiquity is that
of Cupid and Psyche. In the mythology
of ancient Greece and Rome, the union
of these two (the a mortal and the
other an immortal being) is invested
with the most sublime ideas of life, death
and Immortality, so far as the latter
thought had a place in the religion OF
those nations. The name of Psyche
signifies d butterfly and a human soul.
Therefore, when represented with the
wing of a butterfly attached to her
shoulders, Psyche symbolizes a tender,
spiritual being, who, freed from the
coarser covering of her chrysalis, rises to
a higher existence, where, united with
love, she participates in the bliss which
the immortaIs themselves enjoy.
Psyche, the most lovely of morta1s,
was the daughter of a powerful monarch
and the youngest of three sisters. So
transcendant was her beauty hat no
mortal nan dared to sue for her hand;
and her fathers subjects, neglecting the
worshipo of Venus, raised affairs to Psyche.
Venus, resolving to revenge herself upon
the innocent cause Of her humiliation,
sent Cupid to inspire Psyche with a pas
sion for the ugliest of mortals. But no
sooner did he see her than he laid aside
his bow and arrows and resolved to make
her his wife, On the first location 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 visited her at night only,
announcing himself as the husband alIot-
ted to her by the immortals; but warm
ing her that she must make no effort to
ascertain who he was, lest she should
lose him and become miserable. For a
time all went well, until at last Psyche's
overwhelming desire TO see'some member
Of her own family induced Cupid to send
for her two sisters. These finding ssout
the conditions under which the young
bride lived, persuaded her that her hus-
band must be some hideeus monster who
dreaded being seen. Finally, to quiet
their doubts and her own, Psyche stole
from her couchn and, having procured q
lamp, turned it's rays full upon her sleep
ing husband. In place Of a monster she
saw the beautiful god of Love. But, in
her anxiety to escape undiscovered with
the lamp, she awkwardlyallowed a drop
of the burning oil to fall upsn his shout
der. Cupid started up, and, turning a
look of scorn and indignation upon the
unhappy Psyche, fled, from her sight,
never more TO return.
The unhappy wife, fearing that she
had lost her husband forever, attempted
to destroy herself; but, meeting the god
Pan, he conAoled her by the prediction
that in the remote future she should be
happy once more. Psyche wandered over
the whole -earth in fruitless search for
her husband, and finally, in her desper-
alton, 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 asssn6nce of the invisible powerssent
by Cupid to protect her. Finally, she
was ordered to descend into Orcus itself,
and procure froh Proserpine q 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 d black and noxious vapor,
which threw her into a deep sleep, from
which abe would never have arisen had
not Cupid, overcome at last by her fdel-
ity, fastened to her assistance. He re-
stored her to Life, collected the vapor
again into the box, and conducted poor
Psyche into the presence OF Jove, there
proclaiming her his lawful wife, and sup
plicating for her admission among the
immortals. Jupiter complied with his
request, and thus was celebrated the
second and heavenly marriage OF Cupid
and Psyche.
Tanusa has strict ideas ahont enrf:fv