i68 TRUE TALES OF THE INSECTS. 



invariably leaves her before the morning light ; she has 

 never beheld him, nor heard his name, and is threatened 

 with dire calamity should she attempt to inquire con- 

 cerning the person of her lover. But after a while 

 Psyche's heart yearns towards her family, and she begs 

 that she may receive the visits of her sisters. At first 

 the sisters are content to embrace and rejoice over her 

 whom they had believed to be dead, but soon the 

 gorgeousness of her surroundings, her good fortune 

 as compared with theirs, aroused within them feelings 

 of envy, hatred, and malice ; " I am not a woman," 

 exclaimed one, " nor do I breathe if I do not hurl 

 her headlong from such mighty possessions ; " and they 

 agree to unite to accomplish this. Repeatedly is Psyche 

 warned to beware her of their perfidy. But Psyche 

 is simple, of a loving and pliant disposition, no match 

 for her sharp-witted, determined sisters. Simulating 

 their base designs under an appearance of great affection, 

 they entrap her into what amounts to a confession of 

 ignorance of her husband, and induce her, by insinuation, 

 to behold his countenance. Silently, at dead of night, 

 she steals to the side of his couch, a lamp in her hand, 

 and a razor, to cut off the head of the monster that she 

 has been persuaded to expect. To her startled eyes 

 no monster is revealed, but the beautiful god Cupid. 



The razor drops from her powerless hand, and, 

 terrified and shaking in every limb, she sinks fainting 



