The story of Psyche’s Wedding is a myth of Greek origin, and runs as
follows: A certain king in the west country had three beautiful daughters.
The youngest was by far the most beautiful; so beautiful, indeed, that she
received homage from men which was due to Venus alone. The anger of the
goddess was aroused against her, and the maiden herself became unhappy
because, due to her awesome beauty, no one sought her in marriage. The
King, her father, inquired of the Oracle of Apollo what should be done.
The story is told in Walter Pater’s Marius the Epicurean, from which the
following extract is taken:
“And Apollo answered him thus: ‘Let the damsel be placed on the top of a
certain mountain, adorned as for the bed of marriage and of death. Look
not for a son-in-law of mortal birth but for that evil serpent-thing by
reason of whom even the gods tremble and the shades of Styx are afraid.’
So the king returned home and made known the oracle to his wife. For many
days she lamented, but at last the fulfillment of the divine precept is
urgent upon her, and the company make ready to conduct the maiden to her
deadly bridal. And now the nuptial torch gathers dark smoke and ashes,
the pleasant sound of the pipe is changed into a cry, the marriage hymn
concludes in a sorrowful wailing, below her yellow wedding veil, the bride
shook away her tears; insomuch that the whole city was afflicted together
at the ill-luck of the stricken household.... she was silent, and with
firm step went on her way, and they proceeded to the appointed place on a
steep mountain and left there the maiden alone and took their way homeward
dejectedly.” It was Cupid, however, not a monster, who welcomed the
sorrowful maiden, and after many adventures, Psyche found happiness.
[Silver and Green. Hilda Fearon, English, ?-1917]