Storytelling Week 3: Cupid's Forgiveness

            “One little drop will certainly go unnoticed,” Psyche whispered. With great care, she opened the jar of Proserpine’s beauty, eager to take just the tiniest portion for herself. If she could become more beautiful, perhaps her angry husband would forgive her deplorable transgressions. She could be the smallest step closer to feeling worthy of his divine love.

            But as the jar slowly unsealed, Psyche’s vision began to darken. Her head felt light. She slumped to the ground with sudden fatigue.

            “A trap,” she lamented breathlessly. She was fading quickly, thinking herself as good as dead. “What a fool I’ve been…”

           

***

            Cupid awoke in the tower room of his mother’s home. His touched his shoulder, finding his burns nearly healed. Now, his heartache was by far the worst of his pain. He thought of his lovely wife, and, though still hurt by her actions, could no longer stay away from her. He rose from his bed and walked to the window, where a helpful bird waited to fill him in on the events he missed during his recovery.

            “Your mother’s wrath is fierce,” the bird said hesitantly. “Psyche has endured much punishment.”

            Cupid clenched his fists, overcome with anger and concern.

            “Where is my wife?” he asked the small informant.

            “She lies in the forest, in a death-like sleep, tricked by your mother’s trap and victim to her own foolishness.” The bird bowed to Cupid and turned to lead the way.

            Cupid unfolded his rejuvenated wings and flapped them powerfully. He leapt from the window and took off, following the nimble bird to his wife’s woodland bed. When they found her in the shaded forest, Cupid dropped to her side. She looked truly dead, and though he knew she would wake with his aid, the image struck a frightening cord in his heart. Psyche was mortal and would one day die. His love, his very heart, would be taken from him. He would be left to live an eternity of heartache, never to love another.

            “I cannot bear that torture,” Cupid murmured, taking Psyche into his arms. He kissed her lightly, breaking the spell of his mother’s evil trickery. The death-sleep slunk back into its prison and the jar resealed itself.

            Psyche’s eyes slowly opened and focused on the angelic face before her.

            “Can it be true?” she whispered drowsily. “Or does Venus continue my punishment by sending fleeting dreams of my dearest love?”

            Cupid smiled sadly. “I am here, dear Psyche,” he said. “My cruel mother will punish you no longer. She seems to know your weakness well, tricking you to fall victim to your own curiosity once again.” Cupid stood, lifting Psyche in his arms. He set her on her feet gently. “Have you the strength to finish your task?” he asked.

            Psyche nodded, though she feared facing Venus again and leaving Cupid’s calming presence.

            “Good,” he said, taking her hand in both of his. “Deliver the malevolent vile to my mother. I promise it will be the last thing you must do. You are my wife, and I will not tolerate my mother’s foul treatment of you any longer. Psyche, if you consent, I will plead for your immortality.”

            Psyche’s heart filled with joy and she nodded, unable to speak. Her saintly husband had forgiven her, and he loved her deeply despite her countless faults. Cupid kissed her again, and she felt herself already in heaven. 

(Cupid and Psyche by Anthony van Dyck, 1639-40)

Author's Note. This story is based off The Sleep of the Dead from the Cupid and Psyche Unit. In this scene, Psyche is on the way back to Venus' house as part of a task Venus assigned her for punishment. Psyche was instructed to venture to the Underworld and get a jar of Proserpine's (Persephone's) beauty for Venus. However, the task was a trap. The jar was filled instead with a death-like sleep, so when Psyche opened it for her own use (which was against the rules of the task) she fell into a deep sleep. Up to this point, Psyche has suffered many beatings and difficult tasks from Venus, Cupid's mother.
My version is pretty similar to the original, but I wanted to go more in depth into Cupid and Psyche's thoughts and emotions. They are two young lovers who have been torn apart by foolish mistakes, scandal, and a meddling mother, so I wanted to reflect that emotion in their thoughts and dialogue. I also changed the way Cupid wakes Psyche from her sleep. In the original story, he pricks her with his arrow. I changed it to have him wake her with a kiss so it was more "Disney."

Bibliography: "Cupid and Psyche," from The Golden Ass, an ancient Roman novel by Apuleius, translated by Tony Kline.