And Psyche, instructed thus by the simple reed, in the humanity of
its heart, filled her bosom with the soft golden stuff, and returned
to Venus. But the goddess smiled bitterly, and said to her, "Well
know I who was the author of this thing also. I will make further
trial of thy discretion, and the boldness of thy heart. Seest thou
the utmost peak of yonder steep mountain? The dark stream which
flows down thence waters the Stygian fields, and swells the flood of
Cocytus. Bring me now, in this little urn, a draught from its
innermost source." And therewith she put into her hands a vessel of
wrought crystal.

And Psyche set forth in haste on her way to the mountain, looking
there at last to find the end of her hapless life. But when she came
to the region which borders on the cliff that was showed to her, she
understood the deadly nature of her task. From a great rock, steep
and slippery, a horrible river of water poured forth, falling
straightway by a channel exceeding narrow into the unseen gulf below.
And lo! creeping from the rocks on either hand, angry serpents, with
their long necks and sleepless eyes. The very waters found a voice
and bade her depart, in smothered cries of, Depart hence! and [86]
What doest thou here? Look around thee! and Destruction is upon
thee! And then sense left her, in the immensity of her peril, as one
changed to stone.

Yet not even then did the distress of this innocent soul escape the
steady eye of a gentle providence. For the bird of Jupiter spread
his wings and took flight to her, and asked her, "Didst thou think,
simple one, even thou! that thou couldst steal one drop of that
relentless stream, the holy river of Styx, terrible even to the gods?
But give me thine urn." And the bird took the urn, and filled it at