t came, when as she
prepared for her wicked intent.

Soon after her husband Came, and when he had kissed and embraced her he
fell asleep. Then Psyches (somwhat feeble in body and mind, yet mooved
by cruelty of fate) received boldnes and brought forth the lampe, and
tooke the razor, so by her audacity she changed her mind: but when
she took the lamp and came to the bed side, she saw the most meeke and
sweetest beast of all beasts, even faire Cupid couched fairly, at whose
sight the very lampe encreased his light for joy, and the razor turned
his edge.

But when Psyches saw so glorious a body shee greatly feared, and amazed
in mind, with a pale countenance all trembling fel on her knees
and thought to hide the razor, yea verily in her owne heart, which
doubtlesse she had done, had it not through feare of so great an
enterprise fallen out of her hand. And when she saw and beheld the
beauty of the divine visage shee was well recreated in her mind, she saw
his haires of gold, that yeelded out a sweet savor, his neck more white
than milk, his purple cheeks, his haire hanging comely behinde and
before, the brightnesse whereof did darken the light of the lamp, his
tender plume feathers, dispersed upon his sholders like shining flours,
and trembling hither and thither, and his other parts of his body so
smooth and so soft, that it did not repent Venus to beare such a childe.
At the beds feet lay his bow, quiver, and arrowes, that be the weapons
of so great a god: which when Psyches did curiously behold, she
marvelling at her husbands weapons, took one of the arrows out of the
quiver, and pricked her selfe withall, wherwith she was so grievously
wounded that the blood followed, and thereby of her owne accord shee
added love upon love; then more broyling in the love of Cupid shee
embraced him and kissed him and kissed him a thousand times, fearing the
measure of his sleepe But alas while shee was in this great joy, whether
it were for envy for desire to touch this amiable body likewise, there
fell out a droppe of burning oyle from the lampe upon the right shoulder
of the god. O rash and bold lampe, the vile ministery of love, how
darest thou bee so bold as to burne the god of all fire? When as he
invented thee, to the intent that all lovers might with more joy passe
the nights in pleasure.

The god beeing burned in this sort, and perceiving that promise and
faith was broken, bee fled away without utterance of any word, from the