Back to the part where Cupid's real form is discovered:
Startled, awakened by hot oil from Psyche's lamp falling on his shoulder, Cupid springs to action and flies out the window. Psyche, stunned by Cupid's striking form and not thinking clearly, tries to follow him. She proceeds to extend out the window to reach Cupid, and - having no wings, herself, plummets to the ground instead.
Cupid, seeing Psyche's fall, pauses briefly to look upon her form, sprawled in the dust below and says:
"O foolish Psyche, is it thus you repay my love? After having disobeyed my mother’s commands and made you my wife, will you think me a monster and cut off my head? But go; return to your sisters, whose advice you seem to think preferable to mine. I inflict no other punishment on you than to leave you forever. Love cannot dwell with suspicion."
That said, Cupid flew away, leaving Psyche lying in the dirt, alone. After a time, a semblance of her composure returned and she noticed that she was no longer surrounded by the makings of the palace and gardens she had become accustomed to. Instead, she found herself near to the town where her sisters lived and once able, she composed herself further and went to them, telling her sisters of her ordeal.
Her sisters pretended to grieve with Psyche over her lost mate, however, they inwardly rejoiced, thinking then that perhaps now, Cupid would select one of them as a mate.
(Same character flaws that the step-sisters have in 'Cinderella'?)
With this in mind, the next morning, each of the sisters rose early and went out to the mountain, ascending to the top, and called Psyche's Zephyr, expecting that Zephyr would take each to his lord, Cupid. Zephyr, however, would bear neither of the sisters, and as each sister leapt to mount Zephyr, and Zephyr not sustaining their weight, each fell fast into the crevice below, dashed to pieces.
Meanwhile, in her grief, Psyche wandered, day and night, neither sleeping nor eating, constantly searching for her husband. Glancing up to view a magnificent mountain with what appeared a temple at its heights, she resolved to go there, thinking that perhaps, Cupid resided there.
She gained entry to the temple, and found herself surrounded by heaps of corn all around, some in loose ears and some in sheaves, and the corn was mixed with ears of barley. Tools of harvest lay about, too - sickles and rakes - lay carelessly strewn about, and Psyche's reaction was to put some order to this careless array of instruments.
She separated and sorted things into their proper types and places, believing she should honour the gods by doing so. Also, this might gain back the favour of the gods, and no sooner had she set the place in better order than Ceres (Greek, Demeter) noticed her efforts and spoke:
"O Psyche, truly worthy of our pity, though I cannot shield you from the frowns of Venus, yet I can teach you how best to allay her displeasure. Go, then, and voluntarily surrender yourself to your lady and sovereign, and try by modesty and submission to win her forgiveness, and perhaps her favor will restore you the husband you have lost."
Showing posts with label love. Show all posts
Showing posts with label love. Show all posts
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Saturday, June 16, 2007
Return To Cupid and Psyche
The place in the story where I left off was where Psyche had gone into the ornate palace, been shown around and seated to a spectacular feast - but she hadn't yet seen her new husband...
During this first night in the palace, Psyche dines and still does not 'see' her husband, however, he visits her, speaks to her - under cover of darkness, from standing in the shadows. He expressly asks her not to make attempts to look upon him, to 'see' him, and he speaks affectionately enough to Psyche and she is unafraid. She asks, from time to time, that her husband allow her to see what he looks like but he refuses this request
"Why should you wish to behold me?" he said. "Have you any doubt of my love? Have you any wish ungratified? If you saw me, perhaps you would fear me, perhaps adore me, but all I ask of you is to love me. I would rather you would love me as an equal than adore me as a god."
He dashes away before the morning dawn's light appears.
These words sufficed for a while to excuse her new husband's behavior - and the wonderful novelty of the palace and its glitter kept Psyche distracted and reasonably content for a while. She was quite happy for a while, and her husband continued to speak with love in his voice, respect in his words - even though she still could not look upon his face. After a time, however, Psyche began to miss her family - who could not know all this while of her fate - or that she actually was enjoying such splendid circumstances, and she wished she could share the delights of the palace with them. Pretty soon, the ornate palace began to feel like a prison.
Finally, she expressed her concerns and her unhappiness to her husband one evening and he consented to allow Psyche's sisters to be brought to the palace to see her, though this consent was not easily won.
Psyche summoned Zephyr and so Zephyr could become accustomed to her husband's commands, so they rode Zephyr down through the mountains and into the sisters' valley. The sisters embraced Psyche and she returned their caresses.
"Come," said Psyche, "enter with me my house and refresh yourselves with whatever your sister has to offer."
Taking the sisters' hands, Psyche led them to the palace, made them familiar and comfortable with the surroundings, and committed them to the care of the attendant voices. The sisters were able to bathe in luxurious surroundings to refresh themselves then join Psyche at her table and Psyche continued to show them the treasures of the palace. The sisters were taken with a certain jealousy at their younger sister's good fortune and the splendor all around, which much exceeded their own.
They asked a seemingly unending stream of questions, in addition to being curious as to where Psyche's new husband was. She answered by saying that he was a beautiful youth who spent most of his days hunting in the mountains. This answer didn't satisfy the sisters and they finally pulled from Psyche the truth that she hadn't actually ever seen her husband. To this, the sisters talked negatively, filling their young sister with worries and dark suspicions. They reminded their sister that the Pythian oracle had said she would marry a "direful and tremendous monster!"
They warned Psyche that the rumours about the village said that this husband was only nourishing Psyche and keeping her happy until it was time for him to devour her! They request that Psyche start arming herself with a sharp knife for protection and a lamp by which to see. They tell her to hide these items in her room until her husband's next visit. Psyche was instructed to wait until her husband fell asleep - then to take the lamp and look at him to see whether he was, indeed, and beautiful youth - or rather - a hideous monster:
"...when he is sound asleep, slip out of bed, bring forth your lamp, and see for yourself whether what they say is true or not. If it is, hesitate not to cut off the monster's head, and thereby recover your liberty."
Psyche struggled to erase these thoughts from her mind but they just wouldn't go away. Once her sisters were gone, she couldn't resist playing over in her mind what had been said and suggested. She gathered a knife and lamp and hid them in her room. When her husband fell asleep, she quickly grabbed the lamp and shone it toward him and beheld...
The most beautiful and charming looking God with golden ringlets draped over a snowy white neck and crimson cheeks. She saw two dewy wings at his shoulders, whiter than snow, with shining feathers like the tender blossoms of spring. So taken up by his beauty, Psyche leaned forward with the lamp to gain a better view. A drop of burning oil from the lamp fell on the god's shoulder.
Startled, he opened his eyes and fixed them upon Psyche's face. Without a word, he spread his white wings and flew out the window. So caught up in the moment, Psyche tried to follow. She reached the window and outward toward him and toppled from the window - all the way to the ground...
During this first night in the palace, Psyche dines and still does not 'see' her husband, however, he visits her, speaks to her - under cover of darkness, from standing in the shadows. He expressly asks her not to make attempts to look upon him, to 'see' him, and he speaks affectionately enough to Psyche and she is unafraid. She asks, from time to time, that her husband allow her to see what he looks like but he refuses this request
"Why should you wish to behold me?" he said. "Have you any doubt of my love? Have you any wish ungratified? If you saw me, perhaps you would fear me, perhaps adore me, but all I ask of you is to love me. I would rather you would love me as an equal than adore me as a god."
He dashes away before the morning dawn's light appears.
These words sufficed for a while to excuse her new husband's behavior - and the wonderful novelty of the palace and its glitter kept Psyche distracted and reasonably content for a while. She was quite happy for a while, and her husband continued to speak with love in his voice, respect in his words - even though she still could not look upon his face. After a time, however, Psyche began to miss her family - who could not know all this while of her fate - or that she actually was enjoying such splendid circumstances, and she wished she could share the delights of the palace with them. Pretty soon, the ornate palace began to feel like a prison.
Finally, she expressed her concerns and her unhappiness to her husband one evening and he consented to allow Psyche's sisters to be brought to the palace to see her, though this consent was not easily won.
Psyche summoned Zephyr and so Zephyr could become accustomed to her husband's commands, so they rode Zephyr down through the mountains and into the sisters' valley. The sisters embraced Psyche and she returned their caresses.
"Come," said Psyche, "enter with me my house and refresh yourselves with whatever your sister has to offer."
Taking the sisters' hands, Psyche led them to the palace, made them familiar and comfortable with the surroundings, and committed them to the care of the attendant voices. The sisters were able to bathe in luxurious surroundings to refresh themselves then join Psyche at her table and Psyche continued to show them the treasures of the palace. The sisters were taken with a certain jealousy at their younger sister's good fortune and the splendor all around, which much exceeded their own.
They asked a seemingly unending stream of questions, in addition to being curious as to where Psyche's new husband was. She answered by saying that he was a beautiful youth who spent most of his days hunting in the mountains. This answer didn't satisfy the sisters and they finally pulled from Psyche the truth that she hadn't actually ever seen her husband. To this, the sisters talked negatively, filling their young sister with worries and dark suspicions. They reminded their sister that the Pythian oracle had said she would marry a "direful and tremendous monster!"
They warned Psyche that the rumours about the village said that this husband was only nourishing Psyche and keeping her happy until it was time for him to devour her! They request that Psyche start arming herself with a sharp knife for protection and a lamp by which to see. They tell her to hide these items in her room until her husband's next visit. Psyche was instructed to wait until her husband fell asleep - then to take the lamp and look at him to see whether he was, indeed, and beautiful youth - or rather - a hideous monster:
"...when he is sound asleep, slip out of bed, bring forth your lamp, and see for yourself whether what they say is true or not. If it is, hesitate not to cut off the monster's head, and thereby recover your liberty."
Psyche struggled to erase these thoughts from her mind but they just wouldn't go away. Once her sisters were gone, she couldn't resist playing over in her mind what had been said and suggested. She gathered a knife and lamp and hid them in her room. When her husband fell asleep, she quickly grabbed the lamp and shone it toward him and beheld...
The most beautiful and charming looking God with golden ringlets draped over a snowy white neck and crimson cheeks. She saw two dewy wings at his shoulders, whiter than snow, with shining feathers like the tender blossoms of spring. So taken up by his beauty, Psyche leaned forward with the lamp to gain a better view. A drop of burning oil from the lamp fell on the god's shoulder.
Startled, he opened his eyes and fixed them upon Psyche's face. Without a word, he spread his white wings and flew out the window. So caught up in the moment, Psyche tried to follow. She reached the window and outward toward him and toppled from the window - all the way to the ground...
Sunday, May 6, 2007
Goddess of Love Springs Forth Asexually
Aphrodite, the Goddess of beauty, love and sexual rapture was born, ironically 'a-sexually' out of the foam that erupted when Uranus' castrated body parts fell to the sea. Cronus usurped Uranus by taking away his manhood then declaring him unfit for Rulership. Out of the churning foam where Uranus' blood and flesh dropped into the sea, Aphrodite emerged - from the 'aphros'='sea foam.' She emerged sexually developed, beautiful and of some power.
She was so breathtakingly attractive that Zeus placed her in a marriage with Hephaestus, an unattractive but a steady, stable and strong mate - because Zeus was afraid that the other male Gods would constantly fight over Aphrodite. Hephaestus, amazed at his good fortune, and obviously as smitten with Aphrodite as anyone else, fashioned his metals into intricate jewels to compliment Aphrodite's features further, hoping to actually win her love.
This never did act to soften Aphrodite's heart for him, but instead, caused even more problems as the additional enhancements to Aphrodite's features - from the loving, expert craftmanship of Hephaestus' work - then only made Aphrodite even more irresistible to other males!
Aphrodite is often portrayed as having been prone to gaeity, a certain light-heartedness, and she had a weakness for glamour, so her pairing with the serious, hard-working, ugly, lame Hephaestus was a pretty bad match.
Consequently, Aphrodite had other lovers - one of the most well-know, being Adonis. Another, Anchises of Troy, who fathered Aeneas with her.
Other children of Aphrodite: Eros, Anteros, Hymenaios.
Some versions of myth say that the Three Graces/Charities... (Aglaea="Splendor,"Euphrosyne="Mirth," and Thalia="Good Cheer.")
...are the offspring of Aphrodite and fellow-deity, Dionysus, however many other versions of myth detail that The Graces are the products of a union between Zeus and Eurynome (an Oceanid, probably one of Poseidon's daughters). Regardless, a great deal of myth from many sources shows Aphrodite often accompanied by The Graces. Whether these three figures (The Graces) are with her often because they are her daughters or not is anyone's guess. Possibly they stay within her vicinity often because they are drawn to her beauty - and their 'spirits' are conducive to good character and beautiful parts of personality, so it would be fitting that they surround the Goddess of beauty, love, and sexual attraction.
Eros is often Aphrodite's accomplice in matters of love (Eros, Greek=Cupid, Roman), and is actually considered her 'messenger' in most versions of myth. He is supposedly the son of Aphrodite, but some myth has Eros being born in an a-sexual manner, from a silver egg or jewelled egg. This second explanation would be quite fitting, being that the one attributed as his 'mother' was also produced a-sexually. We have two of the most powerful 'love' and 'sexual' creatures in the forms of Aphrodite and Eros - in fact, they often pool their powers in working side by side but, according to some mythical accounts, both were born outside of the act of sex.
Symbols of Aphrodite are - the plant, 'myrtle,' the dove, sparrow, and swan.
She was so breathtakingly attractive that Zeus placed her in a marriage with Hephaestus, an unattractive but a steady, stable and strong mate - because Zeus was afraid that the other male Gods would constantly fight over Aphrodite. Hephaestus, amazed at his good fortune, and obviously as smitten with Aphrodite as anyone else, fashioned his metals into intricate jewels to compliment Aphrodite's features further, hoping to actually win her love.
This never did act to soften Aphrodite's heart for him, but instead, caused even more problems as the additional enhancements to Aphrodite's features - from the loving, expert craftmanship of Hephaestus' work - then only made Aphrodite even more irresistible to other males!
Aphrodite is often portrayed as having been prone to gaeity, a certain light-heartedness, and she had a weakness for glamour, so her pairing with the serious, hard-working, ugly, lame Hephaestus was a pretty bad match.
Consequently, Aphrodite had other lovers - one of the most well-know, being Adonis. Another, Anchises of Troy, who fathered Aeneas with her.
Other children of Aphrodite: Eros, Anteros, Hymenaios.
Some versions of myth say that the Three Graces/Charities... (Aglaea="Splendor,"Euphrosyne="Mirth," and Thalia="Good Cheer.")
...are the offspring of Aphrodite and fellow-deity, Dionysus, however many other versions of myth detail that The Graces are the products of a union between Zeus and Eurynome (an Oceanid, probably one of Poseidon's daughters). Regardless, a great deal of myth from many sources shows Aphrodite often accompanied by The Graces. Whether these three figures (The Graces) are with her often because they are her daughters or not is anyone's guess. Possibly they stay within her vicinity often because they are drawn to her beauty - and their 'spirits' are conducive to good character and beautiful parts of personality, so it would be fitting that they surround the Goddess of beauty, love, and sexual attraction.
Eros is often Aphrodite's accomplice in matters of love (Eros, Greek=Cupid, Roman), and is actually considered her 'messenger' in most versions of myth. He is supposedly the son of Aphrodite, but some myth has Eros being born in an a-sexual manner, from a silver egg or jewelled egg. This second explanation would be quite fitting, being that the one attributed as his 'mother' was also produced a-sexually. We have two of the most powerful 'love' and 'sexual' creatures in the forms of Aphrodite and Eros - in fact, they often pool their powers in working side by side but, according to some mythical accounts, both were born outside of the act of sex.
Symbols of Aphrodite are - the plant, 'myrtle,' the dove, sparrow, and swan.
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