This is a chapter of Evergreen Stories by W. M. L. Hutchinson. It includes the following stories: King Midas and His Strange Adventures — Alcestis, the Noble Wife — The Real Helen — Cupid and Psyche — The Vision of Er
Once upon a time, in a land of the west, there lived a king and queen who had three lovely daughters. The two eldest were indeed so beautiful that when they grew up and appeared at court together —for they were near of an age— no lady there could compare with them, and all who saw them allowed that they were by far the fairest maidens in the whole kingdom.
But when the third and youngest princess, whose name was Psyche, being now fifteen, was brought to court in her turn, she as much surpassed her sisters in beauty and maidenly majesty as the moon outshines the stars. And they were filled with jealousy, for now they were praised no longer; no one had any eyes for them when Psyche was by; and the fame of her loveliness spread abroad in the city and through the whole country.
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Hundreds of people, both citizens and strangers, flocked to her father’s palace to behold this marvel; and when they looked on her, they were overcome with awe and wonder, so that they bowed down and worshipped, crying out that Lady Venus herself was come among them. Soon the rumor was carried to neighboring countries, and from thence over a great part of the world, that this glorious and incomparable maid was no mortal, but none other than the goddess of love and beauty, born of the sea foam, whom the Greeks called Aphrodite, but other nations call Venus. And innumerable travelers from far countries came by sea and land to learn the truth of this, who, after seeing Psyche, went home and declared that she was certainly Venus, or else a new and more adorable goddess had appeared on earth. And so the worship of the true Venus fell into contempt and was utterly neglected; her famous temples were deserted, her images left ungarlanded, and her altars no longer smoked with burned sacrifices. For all her honors were now paid to Psyche, who was forced against her will to receive them from the folk; every morning, crowds of worshippers assembled before the palace and, when she appeared, they burned sweet incense before her, and humbly offered flowers and myrtle garlands.
Now, when Venus saw all this, she was greatly enraged against poor Psyche.
“What!” said she to herself. “Was it for nothing that the shepherd Paris, whom Jove himself deemed worthy to judge, gave me the prize as fairest of the immortal goddesses? Must I be scorned and set at naught by gods and men because a wretched mortal dares to set up herself as excelling me in beauty? Nay, this girl, whoever she is, that usurps my honors, shall bitterly repent it, or I am no true goddess.”
With that, she called her son Cupid to her and passionately prayed him, if he had any love for his mother, to avenge the grievous injury done her by a false, wicked, and impious mortal. And having told him all the story and where Psyche lived, she bade him fly instantly to punish her as she deserved.
“With all my heart, sweet mother,” answered Cupid. “Only tell me what I must do. For you know I have no thunderbolts, like Jove, and my shafts do not kill, like Apollo’s.”
“No,” said Venus, “but I do not wish to kill this wretch. Death were too short and light a punishment for her — I would have her suffer such misery that she will long in vain to die. So let one of your magical burning arrows pierce her heart, and make her fall in love with the poorest, the ugliest, and vilest man in her father’s kingdom.”
Cupid promised to obey; and when Venus had kissed him and armed him with his golden bow and crystal quiver, away he flew into the west.