A Book of Myths, by Jean Lang - Umnet

deny anything to Psyche, and on the following day Zephyrus was sent
to bring the two sisters to the pleasant valley where Psyche had her
home. Eagerly, as she awaited them, Psyche thought she might make
the princely palace wherein she dwelt yet fairer than it was. And almost
ere she could think, her thoughts became realities. When the two sisters
came, they were bewildered with the beauty and the magnificence of it
all. Beside this, their own possessions were paltry trifles indeed.
Quickly, in their little hearts, black envy grew. They had always been
jealous of their younger sister, and now that they found her, whom all
the world believed to have been slain by a horrible monster, more
beautiful than ever, decked with rare jewels, radiant in her happiness,
and queen of a palace fit for the gods, their envy soon turned to hatred,
and they sought how best to wreak their malice upon the joyous
creature who loaded them with priceless gifts. They began to ply
Psyche with questions. He who was her lord, to whom she owed all her
happiness, where was he? Why did he stay away when her sisters came
to be presented to him? What manner of man was he? Was he fair or
dark? Young or old? And as they questioned her, Psyche grew like a
bewildered child and answered in frightened words that contradicted
one another. And well the wicked sisters, who brooded evil in their
hearts, knew that this husband whom Psyche had never seen must
indeed be one of the deathless gods. Wily words they spoke to her then.
"Alas! unhappy one," they said, "dost think to escape the evil fate the
gods meted out for thee? Thy husband is none other than the monster of
which the oracle spake! Oh, foolish Psyche! canst not understand that
the monster fears the light? Too great horror would it mean for thee to
see the loathsome thing that comes in the blackness of night and speaks
to thee words of love."
White-lipped and trembling, Psyche listened. Drop by drop the
poisonous words passed into her soul. She had thought him king of all
living things--worthy to rule over gods as well as men. She was so sure
that his body was worthy sheath for the heart she knew so well.... She
had pictured him beautiful as Eros, son of Aphrodite--young and fair,
with crisp, golden locks--a husband to glory in--a lover to adore. And
now she knew, with shame and dread, that he who had won her love