New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-11-06

tains in the most pleasant and deIectable tale
OF the Marriage Of Cupide and Psyches' a gem
whose brilIiance no setting, however grotesque,
could dim Readers Of Pater will recall the ex-
quisite use that he made of the episode His
subtle pen was well adapted 10 the artistic ex-
Ploitation Of its charm Yet We would willingly
exchange his suave periods, the haunting fra
GRANGE Of his prose. for the quaintness and what
we may call the embroidered simplicity Of Ad-
Ingtons version
The sixteenth century translator had a
nightly eloquent way with him He had his
doubts about the legitimacy Of his enterprise
II his swelling "epistle dediCatory" to Thomas.
Earl Of Sussex, of the House of the Queene
our Soveraigne Lady" he confesses that he has
not forgotten the jestinge and sportfull matter
Of the booke uIfitte TO be offred to any man of
gravitie and wisedome" But. with that facility
SO characteristics Of the EIizabethan age, he
points out that n all the old fables there is
something for man TO learn. The fall of Icarus
Is al example" he says, ito proude and AFRO
CANT persons that weeneth to cIyrnbe up to the
hevans,' and So he adds, in this fable or
feigned 5este Of Lucius Apuleius is compre-
berded figure Of mans life ministringe most
sWeete and delectable matter. TO such as shalbe
DESTROYS to Reade the same" Forthwith he
launches upon his task, apprises the gentle
Reader Of what he is to expect briefly sur
veys the life Of "Lucius Apuleius African, an ex-
ceIent follower Of Plato his sect borne in
Madaura- a countrey sometime inhabited by the
Ronaines." and after a preface addressed in
part to His Some FaustinUs" tackles his text
II is inImitable text as he sets il forth,
with all the fun. rich body OF Tudor prose
The Golden ASS" is 2 highly colored narrative,
BIT OF picturesque literature in which incidents
follow rapidly one upon the other, and all are
racily handled The author anticipates the Ital-
i4D novelIsts Of the Renaissance in much OF his
material. but when he reaches the Cupid and
Psyche episode he becomes poet and Aiding
ton does justice to his finer mood. Any one of
his pages would yield passage capital IN itself
We choose the lines in which are told of the
wrath Of Venus over Psyche's renown and those
describing the happy end Of the campaign
against the kings lovely daughter:
This sodetne chaunge and alteration Of CELESTIAL
honour did greatly infiame and k-ncle the mnde Of
very Venus who unable 70 temper her sefe from
Indignation shakinge her head in ragiuge sorte)
reasoned with her selfe II this manner. BehOlde
the original rsrenr Of al these eeueufes hshnlIz
the lady Venus renowned throughout all Worlae,
with Whome mortal mayden IS j0yned par
q heaven Is proPhaned and made vile By terrene
absurdIues. II shal suf5r any MORTAL creature
70 present my Majestic in earth, that any
shaI beare about a false furnished shape Of my
person then IN yalne did Paris that sheaparde
On whose just judgement and confidence the great
Jupiter had aftlance) preferre above the residew
But she what ever she be that hath usurped
mine honour. shall shortly repent her Of her unIaw-
fuI estate
Incontinently after Jupiter commanded Mercurie
10 bring up Psiches the spouse OF Cupide. into the
paIayce Of heaven And then he toks a polite Of