New-York tribune., 1909-11-07

wnsn he realized her purpose, but il was
too late Sorrowfully he returned 10 the
celestial abode and fearfully he put on his
lesser panoply Arrayed in this he entered
the chamber OF the Semels. but though he
had left behind him the greater splendors
the immortal radiance consumed her to
ashes
That is one story; the other is the beau
tifuI fable. freighted with ethical SYM
bollsm. which Apuleius gave 10 literature
in the second century of the Christian era.
though. no doubt. his exquisite story is
only the elaboration of an older conceit.
Psyche. the daughter OF king, arouses
the envy OF Venus because OF her beauty.
and the goddess's anger because of the
feeling which that beauty inspires among
men, She resolves 10 punish her presump-
tuous mortal rival and sends Cupid as her
messenger of vengeance. But the God of
Love falls himself victim 10 the maiden's
charms. The spell which he puts upon her
he cannot wholly dissipaae Hosts of ad-
miTers still follow Psyche. but no worthy
man offers her marriage. Her parents
consult the oracle Of Apollo. who tells him
that she is doomed TO become the wife Of
a monster who lives upon a high noun
tain. The maiden sees in this punish
ment meted cut by Venus and offers her
helf as a propitiatory sacrifice. Left alone
by parents and friends. she climbs the rocky
sleeps and falls asleep in the wilderness.
Thither come the Zephyrs and carry her TO
a beautiful garden, where unseen hands
serve her sumptuously in a magnificent
palace and the voices of invisible singers
ravish her ears with music. Every night
she is visited by n mysterious being who
lavishes loving gifts upon her. but forbids
l.
before dawn. Psyche's sisters. envious of
her good fortune and great happiness. fill
her mind with wicked doubt and distrust.
A fatal curiosity seizes upon her. and one
night she uncovers her lamp to look upon
the form OF her doting companion. Instead
of the monster spoken of by the oracle she
sees the loveliest of the immortals. 1t is
Cupid who lies sleeping before her. with
snowy wings folded and golden rnglets
clustering about his shoulders. Anxious
for a closer view. Psyche leans over him.
but a drop of hot oil falls from the lamp
upon his shining skin. The god awakeS
and without a word flies out of the win
dow. Palace and garden disappear and
Psyche is let alone 10 suffer the conse-
quences Of her foolish curiosity. After
wandering long in search of the lost one
she wins the sympathy of Ceres, who ad-
vices her 10 seek out Venus and offer
reparation. She becomes the slave of the
goddess. who imposes cruel tasks upon her.
But at length Cupid can no longer en-
dure 10 be separated from her. and goes TO
Jupiter who intercedes with Venus and
wins her forgiveness for Psyche. Then
the supreme god gives her Immortality
and she becomes forever the wife OF Cupid.
There are two other points. one legendary.
one historical. which ought 20 be mentione1
for tho sake OF those who like 10 know the
sources OF stories like that Of l.ohengrhn.
The ancient Angles had a saga which told
OF the arrival i'm their country of a boat.
evidently ssilless. osrlsss and rudderiess.
containing only child surrounded by arms
and treasure They brought him up and
called him Skeaf from which word our
shear. because he lay upon bun
die Of grain. He became king of the
people. and. when he felt death upon him.
commanded 10 be carried back 20 the shore
where he had been found. There lay the
boat in which he had come. and when his
dead body~was placed in II it moved away