2b 
FLOWERS BY THE POETS. 
A NEW LEGEND OF THE FORGET-ME-NOT. 
The mythological story upon which the following poem is found¬ 
ed is one of unusual interest and is briefly related thus :—Psyche 
was the daughter of a king and queen, and the youngest of three 
sisters. Her beauty was wonderful—people came from all parts in 
throngs to see her, and altars were erected to her, and she was 
worshipped as a second Venus. At this the Queen of Love was 
irritated, and ordered her son, Cupid, to inspire Psyche with a 
passion ior some vile wretch. The sisters of Psyche, who were 
far inferior to her in charms, were married, but she remained single 
and despised her own beauty. Her father consulted the oracle of 
Apollo, and was ordered to expose her on a rock, where she would be 
carried away by a monster. The oracle was obeyed, and while 
the whole populace wept, Psyche was placed on a lofty crag. Here, 
while she sat weeping, a zephyr gently raised and carried her to a 
charming valley. Overcome by grief she fell asleep, and, on 
awakening, found herself near a fountain in the midst of a grove 
and in front of a splendid palace. Venturing into the palace she 
was lost in admiration of its grandeurs ; when, suddenly, she heard 
a voice telling her that all there is hers, and that her commands 
will be obeyed. She bathes, partakes of a rich repast, and is regaled 
with music by invisible performers. At night she retires, and an 
unseen youth addresses her in the softest accents, and she becomes 
his bride. She desires of her invisible spouse that her sisters may 
come to see her ; he consents and an obedient zephyr conveys them 
there. They become.envious of Psyche’s happiness, and persuade 
her that her invisible lord is a serpent, who will finally devour her. 
