The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1877-05-18
A cHARMING FICTION
TheLores or CMpid a,.d PsgeIlfF.

TheLores Of Capid and PsgriT-
One of the most charming ietions
transmitted to us from antiquity : that
of Cupid and Psyche In the my tfsology
of ancient Greece and Rome, the union
of these two (the one a mortal aud the
other an immortal being) is invested
with the most sublime ideas of life, death
and Immortality, 80 far az tiletlaiter
thought had place in the reilsion OF
those nations. The name OF 'syche
signifies butterfly and human soul
Therefore, when represented wish the
wing of butteily attached q her
shoulders, Psyche symbolizes lender,
spiritual being, who, freed from. The
coarser covering of her chrysalis, rlses 70
higher existence, where, united with
love, she participates in the biiT 'yiljch
the immortals themselves enjoy.
Psyche, the most lovely 81 = y ais, !
was theelauglatss y spf a s;powsrgn itrfioSssrcl
and the youngest of three sisters so
transcendant was her beauty that no.
mortal man dared to sue for her hand
and her fathers subjects, neglecting the
worship of Venus, raised altars to Psyche
Venus, resolving to revenge herself upon
the innocent cause of her humiliation,
sent Cupid to inspire Psyche with pas
sion for the ugliesr 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 occafion 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 allot-
ted TO her by the immortals; but warn
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 Psvche's
overwhelming desire tc see'some member
of her own family induced Cupid to send
for her two sisters. These, finding :out
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 couch, and, having procured a
lamp, turned its 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 awkwardlylallowed- drop
of the burning oil to fall upon his shoul-
der. Cupid started up, and, turning a
look Of scorn and indignation upon the
unhappy Psyche, fed, 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 consoled her by the prediction
that in the remote:future she should be
happy once more. Psyche wandered over
the whole earth in fruitiess sezteh 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 assistance of the invisible powers sent
by Cupid to protect her. Finally, she
was ordered 10 descend into Orcus itself,
and procure 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 a black and noxious vapor,
which threw her into deep sleep, from
which she would never have arisen had
not Cupid, overcome at last by her fidel
ity, fastened to her assistance. He re-
stored her to lie, 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.