Raphael and the Villa Farnesina (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1884. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER V. THE STORY OF PSYCHE. I. must go down very far in ancient literature to find the name and the adventures of Psyche. Apuleius, a writer of the Antonine period, in his curious and somewhat strange book, the Metamorphoses, tells this marvellous story, and he gives it rather as a fairy tale than as a religious legend. An old woman, half crazy, half tipsy, in order to console a young girl ravished by brigands on her wedding day, tells this tale of another maiden's sorrows and troubles. The writer himself, - changed into an ass for the occasion, hears the story, and regrets having no tablets or stylet in order to give an exact account of the pretty fable. This is the substance of the old woman's narration. It begins like all fairy tales: "There was once upon a time a king and a queen. . ." This king and this queen had three beautiful daughters; but Psyche, the youngest of the sisters, was by far the most beautiful. Never had so marvellous a creature been seen upon earth. Men came from all countries to admire her; but such was this beauty's perfection, that she inspired admiration rather than love. In her honour the temples of Venus were deserted; but her elder sisters married kings, and no one dared to claim her hand. Psyche mourned greatly over the fatal gift bestowed upon her. Venus, whose temples were deserted, furious that a mortal maiden should thus insult her immortal glory, calls upon her son to chastise this audacious young girl; she orders him to wound her with his arrows, to cause her to love the most hideous among men, the most repugnant, the most horrible to look upon. Cupid sees Psyche, but not to hate her. Instead of avenging his mother's wrongs, he determines to have her as his wife. The parents consult the oracle, who declares that Psych...