DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.3483#0045
8
ments that flattered her self-love, and her senses, never reached her heart;
and the caresses of an invisible husband, did not compensate for the severity
of her solitude. She requested once more to embrace her sisters. Her hus-
band instantly rejected her intreaty, which, however, he had anticipated, and
warned her of the fatal consequences; but overcome by her beauty, her tears
and her caresses, he at length consented, on condition, however, that if her
sisters indiscreetly enquired who her husband was, she would never acquaint
them of his strict command, that she should never attempt either to see, or to
know him. Psyche promised every thing; and the same Zephyr that had
transported her to this delicious abode, conveyed on its wings her two
sisters.
After having embraced each other a hundred times, Psyche displayed to
them the amazing beauties of her enchanting residence. Dazzled by such
magnificence, they ask who was the husband, or rather the god, who assem-
bled in one spot such beauties of nature, and such splendours of art ? Psyche,
faithful to her promise, answers that he was a beautiful youth whose cheek
was scarcely shadowed by its down; but fearful to betray her secret, she sends
her sisters back to her family with rich gifts. They returned in a few days,
but with sentiments of a different colour from those they had first felt.
To the sisterly affection of longing to embrace Psyche, and the rapture
of having found her, now succeeded all the madness of envy, and the desire
of her ruin. They feigned at first to participate in her felicity and her plea-
sures ; afterwards they urged her to tell them the name, and describe the
person of her husband; and the prudent, but forgetful, Psyche, who had
quite lost the recollection of her former account, painted him with quite
different features.
Convinced now that she had never seen her husband, they pretend to com-
passionate her destiny, and they wish, as they declare, that it was allowed
them to be silent; but their duty and their tenderness compel them to
warn her of a danger that menaced her tranquillity. They recal to her
mind the frightful prediction of the Oracle. This unknown husband was no
doubt some horrid monster, to whose ferocity she would one day assuredly
ments that flattered her self-love, and her senses, never reached her heart;
and the caresses of an invisible husband, did not compensate for the severity
of her solitude. She requested once more to embrace her sisters. Her hus-
band instantly rejected her intreaty, which, however, he had anticipated, and
warned her of the fatal consequences; but overcome by her beauty, her tears
and her caresses, he at length consented, on condition, however, that if her
sisters indiscreetly enquired who her husband was, she would never acquaint
them of his strict command, that she should never attempt either to see, or to
know him. Psyche promised every thing; and the same Zephyr that had
transported her to this delicious abode, conveyed on its wings her two
sisters.
After having embraced each other a hundred times, Psyche displayed to
them the amazing beauties of her enchanting residence. Dazzled by such
magnificence, they ask who was the husband, or rather the god, who assem-
bled in one spot such beauties of nature, and such splendours of art ? Psyche,
faithful to her promise, answers that he was a beautiful youth whose cheek
was scarcely shadowed by its down; but fearful to betray her secret, she sends
her sisters back to her family with rich gifts. They returned in a few days,
but with sentiments of a different colour from those they had first felt.
To the sisterly affection of longing to embrace Psyche, and the rapture
of having found her, now succeeded all the madness of envy, and the desire
of her ruin. They feigned at first to participate in her felicity and her plea-
sures ; afterwards they urged her to tell them the name, and describe the
person of her husband; and the prudent, but forgetful, Psyche, who had
quite lost the recollection of her former account, painted him with quite
different features.
Convinced now that she had never seen her husband, they pretend to com-
passionate her destiny, and they wish, as they declare, that it was allowed
them to be silent; but their duty and their tenderness compel them to
warn her of a danger that menaced her tranquillity. They recal to her
mind the frightful prediction of the Oracle. This unknown husband was no
doubt some horrid monster, to whose ferocity she would one day assuredly