Soon afterwards another band of robbers arrived, carrying a young and lovely maid arrayed as a bride.  Her beautiful features were pale, and wet with tears, and she tore her hair and her garments.  “Take this girl,” said the robbers to the old woman who waited upon them, “and comfort her.  Tell her she’s in no danger.  Her people are rich, and will soon ransom her.”

Charite, for such was the name of the beautiful bride, fell weeping into one of the old women’s arms.

“They tore me away from Tlepolemus,” she said, “when he was about to enter my bridal chamber.  Our house was decked with laurel, and the bridal-song was being sung, when a band of swordsmen entered with drawn swords, and carried me off.  Now I shall never see my bridegroom again.”

“Yes, you will, dearie,” said the old woman.  “But don’t let us talk about it now.  After all, you are not in so evil a plight as Psyche was when she lost her husband, Cupid.  Now, listen, while I tell you that marvellous tale.”

And here is the tale of Cupid and Psyche as the old woman related it to Charite: 

IV.—­The Marvellous Story of Cupid and Psyche

“There was once a king of a certain city who had three daughters.  All of them were very beautiful, but Psyche, the youngest, was lovelier even than Venus.  The people worshipped her as she walked the streets, and strewed her path with flowers.  Strangers from all parts of the world thronged to see her and to adore her.  The temples of Venus were deserted, and no garlands were laid at her shrines.  Thereupon, the goddess of love and beauty grew angry.  She tossed her head with a cry of rage, and called to her son, Cupid, and showed him Psyche walking the streets of the city.

“‘Avenge me!’ she said.  ’Fill this maiden with burning love for the ugliest, wretchedest creature that lives on earth.’

“The king was thereupon commanded by an oracle to array his daughter in bridal robes, and set her upon a high mountain, so that she might be wedded to a horrible monster.  All the city was filled with grief and lamentation when Psyche was led out to her doom, and placed upon the lonely peak.  Then a mighty wind arose, and carried the maiden to an enchanted palace, where she was waited on by unseen spirits who played sweet music for her delight, and fed her with delicious food.  But in the darkness of night someone came to her couch and wooed her tenderly, and she fell in love with him and became his wife.  And he said:  ’Psyche, you may do what you will in the palace I have built for you.  But one thing you must not do—­you must not attempt to see my face.’

“Her husband was very sweet and kind, but he came only in the night time; and in the daytime Psyche felt very lonesome.  So she begged her husband to let her sisters come and stay with her, and her husband had them brought on a mighty wind.  When they saw how delightfully Psyche lived in the enchanted palace they grew jealous of her strange happiness.