CHAPTER VIII. 



P'IG. 27. 



The Fable, 



WHAT measure could mete our indebtedness to Apuleius 

 for his charming story one of the loveliest myths of 

 later antiquity of the union of Cupid and Psyche ? 

 Apuleius introduces it into a playful satire on the follies 

 and vices of the day, consisting of an elaborate romance, 

 the " Metamorphoses," or " Golden Ass," so called pro- 

 bably from its affinity to the " Ass " of Lucian, the epithet 

 " Golden " being added as a mark of admiration ; but 



