to most readers.

The fable is briefly thus:--

Venus was jealous of the beauty of a maiden named Psyche, the youngest
of three daughters of a king. She sent misery on the land and family,
and caused an oracle to declare that the only remedy was to deck his
youngest daughter as a bride, and leave her in a lonely place to become
the prey of a monster. Cupid was commissioned by his mother to destroy
her. He is here represented not as a child, but as a youth, who on
seeing Psyche's charms, became enamoured of her, and resolved to save
her from his mother and make her his own. He therefore caused Zephyr
to transport her to a palace where everything delightful and valuable
was at her service, feasts spread, music playing, all her wishes
fulfilled, but all by invisible hands. At night in the dark, she was
conscious of a presence who called himself her husband, showed the
fondest affection for her, and promised her all sorts of glory and
bliss, if she would be patient and obedient for a time.

This lasted till yearnings awoke to see her family. She obtained
consent with much difficulty and many warnings. Then the splendour
in which she lived excited the jealousy of her sisters, and they
persuaded her that her visitor was really the monster who would
deceive her and devour her. They thus induced her to accept a lamp
with which to gaze on him when asleep. She obeyed them, then
beholding the exquisite beauty of the sleeping god of love, she hung
over him in rapture till a drop of the hot oil fell on his shoulder
and awoke him. He sprang up, sorrowfully reproached her with having
ruined herself and him, and flew away, letting her fall as she clung
to him.