The Tale of Soul and Love, part II

As we have learned, Eros never allows Psyche to see his form in the light. But as Apuleius describes in The Golden Ass, “there was no part of him that could not be apprehended by her senses, by hands and ears if not by eyes.” She continues this fairy tale existence for some time, although she worries for her parents. She pleads her case to Eros, her sorrow at their state of unknowing about her fortunate turn of events on the mountaintop. Eros warns her repeatedly that her path will bring her only sorrow, yet like a good fairytale character, she does not heed the ominous warnings. And so he eventually concedes and promises that Zephyr will help her sisters descend into the enchanted valley where her palace hides. But he does so on the condition that she not allow her sisters to convince her to seek out the physical form of her husband. She replies that she “would die a hundred deaths, before I would deprive myself of this sweet, sweet marriage to you. For I love you, whoever you are, and I am out of my mind in longing for you as for my own life’s breath; I wouldn’t even pit Cupid against you.” She wraps him in her kisses and praises and the two are happy until dawn, when he is gone. to be continued...

(all quotes used are from Joel. C. Relihan’s 2007 translation of Apuleius’ The Golden Ass )