Cupid and Psyche~

Psyche, the youngest daughter of a king and queen, had such an extraordinary beauty that the people in the kingdom began to pay tribute to her in the manner reserved only for the gods and goddesses. Venus especially took offense at the homage given to this mortal girl and called upon her son, the mischevious Cupid, to remedy the situation by teaching Psyche a lesson.

Cupid filled two vases with waters from the fountains in his mother's gardens. One vase was sweet water, the other bitter- then he hastened to Psyche's bedchamber and sprinkled a few drops of the bitter waters on her lips, thus preventing any man from pleasing her.

He then touched his arrow to her side, which startled her into awakening. Psyche could not see Cupid because he was invisible but sensed his presence. Confused at her wakeful satte, Cupid wounded himself with his own arrow. Heedless of his wound, he now only wanted to repair the damage he did to her and poured the drops of sweet water over her.

From then on, Psyche, in spite of her beauty, derived no pleasure from her charms, for she had displeasured Venus. Although all gazed upon her with admiration, none presented himself with an offer of marriage. Her two elder sisters of moderate charms had long been married to two royal princes, but Psyche remained alone and lonely.

Her parents took her to the Oracle of Apollo and were told that she was destined to marry a mortal man. Her future husband awaited her on the top of the mountain whom neitheer gods nor men could resist.

Psyche, resigned to her fate, went to the mountain, fully expecting the gods to put an end to her life. Instead, she found a magnificent palace run by unseen servants. Her every wish became a reality. The man to whom she became wedded was a tender and loving husband, but she was never permitted to see him. He came in darkness and left in darkness.

Psyche, wishing to share her beautiful life with her sisters, asked that they be permitted to visit. But, instead of sharing in psyches good fortune, they became jealous and envious of all she had and filled her head with suspicions and fear about her husband.

After they left, Psyche was so plagued by their words that she broke her promise to her husband and sought to see what his appearance actually was. Instead of a monster lying in her bed, she saw Cupid, who awakened and was angered by Psyche's duplicity. He left her alone, vowing never to see her again.

In vain, Psyche sought to regain her husband. Finally she went to Venus, hoping to regain the Goddesse's favor and thus the love of Cupid. Venus issued impossible tasks for Psyche to accomplish, who - with the secret help of Cupid - completed them successfully. But even with the missions done, it took Cupid pleading his case to Jupiter to fulfill his desire for Psyche to be his immortal mate.

Jupiter intervened and sent Mercury to bring Psyche before him. Giving her a cup of Ambrosia to drink, he proclaimed her immortal and her marriage to Cupid eternal.