SYMBOLS OF PSYCHE. 173 



torment the miserable girl, and, laughing and scoffing, 

 she flies upon her, rending her garments, tearing her 

 hair, and beating her, and subsequently sets her a series 

 of impossible tasks, all of which Psyche accomplishes by 

 extraneous aid ; but there was no appeasing the ire of 

 the enraged goddess. " There is one more labour, my 

 dear, that you ought to perform," said she, with a sinister 

 smile. To the realms of the Shades Psyche must go, 

 to fetch a casket from Proserpine. Psyche is sensible 

 that her last hour has come. Again, however, miraculous 

 assistance intervenes, and she has almost fulfilled her 

 embassy, and is returning from the infernal regions, when 

 a rash curiosity seizes her to open the box, from which 

 issues a deadly sleep, and she falls down motionless, in 

 appearance a corpse. 



Cupid could contain himself no longer, but flying 

 swiftly to her, lovingly called her back to life, then, 

 with rapid wing, mounted to the summit of heaven, and 

 entreated mighty Jupiter on his behalf. A meeting of 

 the Celestials is summoned, before whom Jupiter pro- 

 claims it to be his will that Cupid shall abide by his 

 choice, and orders Mercury to convey Psyche to heaven ; 

 and as soon as she arrived, extending to her a cup of 

 ambrosia, "Take this, Psyche," he said, "and be im- 

 mortal ; nor shall Cupid ever depart from thy embrace, 

 but these nuptials of yours shall be perpetual ; " and 

 without delay, the wedding supper was served. And, 



