And she, erewhile of no strength, the hard purpose of destiny
assisting her, is confirmed in force. With lamp plucked forth, knife
in hand, she put by her sex; and lo! as the secrets of the bed became
manifest, the sweetest and most gentle of all creatures, Love
himself, reclined [75] there, in his own proper loveliness! At sight
of him the very flame of the lamp kindled more gladly! But Psyche
was afraid at the vision, and, faint of soul, trembled back upon her
knees, and would have hidden the steel in her own bosom. But the
knife slipped from her hand; and now, undone, yet ofttimes looking
upon the beauty of that divine countenance, she lives again. She
sees the locks of that golden head, pleasant with the unction of the
gods, shed down in graceful entanglement behind and before, about the
ruddy cheeks and white throat. The pinions of the winged god, yet
fresh with the dew, are spotless upon his shoulders, the delicate
plumage wavering over them as they lie at rest. Smooth he was, and,
touched with light, worthy of Venus his mother. At the foot of the
couch lay his bow and arrows, the instruments of his power,
propitious to men.

And Psyche, gazing hungrily thereon, draws an arrow from the quiver,
and trying the point upon her thumb, tremulous still, drave in the
barb, so that a drop of blood came forth. Thus fell she, by her own
act, and unaware, into the love of Love. Falling upon the
bridegroom, with indrawn breath, in a hurry of kisses from eager and
open lips, she shuddered as she thought how brief that sleep might
be. And it chanced that a drop of burning oil fell from the lamp
upon the god's shoulder. Ah! maladroit minister of love, thus to
wound him from whom [76] all fire comes; though 'twas a lover, I
trow, first devised thee, to have the fruit of his desire even in the