Cupid Warns Psyche

.It was Auster, South Wind, who brought word to Cupid about the sisters. Well, to give credit where credit is due, it was the trees who told South Wind.

Trees know practically everything that goes on. Their leaves are like ears, and with that many ears, there is not much they don't hear. They might stand there looking dumb, but trees are smart. Not only do they hear words, they can also hear thoughts. The trees knew that the sisters did not care about Psyche and that if they found her alive, they would kill her.

When South Wind blew through the trees, they told him everything they had heard. That's what's going on any time you see the wind shaking trees. The wind is collecting all the news the trees have learned that day. Then the wind spreads what it has learned to whoever needs to know. So, the next time a wind is blowing in your face, listen. The wind is trying to tell you something.

Cupid had no problem understanding what Auster told him, and that night he warned Psyche.

"My love, something may happen which will seek to destroy our relationship," he told her.

"What are you referring to?" Psyche wanted to know.

"It is your sisters. To win the affection of your parents, they are pretending to be distressed by what they believe to have been your death. Soon they will come to the top of the mountain from whence West Wind brought you here, to see if they can discover your fate. They will call out your name and you will hear them. I warn you: do not answer them. I will be deeply hurt if you do, and you will lose all you have now."

"Beloved, I would sooner die than do something that would hurt you."

But words uttered in darkness can lose much of their conviction when scrutinized in the light of day. Psyche had never been close to her sisters, nor they to her. If asked, Psyche would have said they hated her. But now that Thomasina and Calla were coming to look for her, Psyche chose to ignore what she knew about them. And the thought of seeing her sisters made her even more aware of how lonely she was.

All that day Psyche cried. Her tears were not only from loneliness, however. These were also the tears of anger and resentment. How dare her husband, whoever he was, refuse to let her see her sisters. How dare he not allow her to, at the very least, take away their anguish by letting them know she was alive. How dare he!

Cupid heard her tears and came as soon as Night covered the sky. He held her in his arms, but her sobbing did not stop. Cupid may have been a god, but, in one respect, he was like practically all men: he could not withstand a woman's tears.

"Beloved Psyche. You promised me one thing, but you have spent the day regretting that promise. You are angry with me because you think I am denying you something you need. I assure you I am not. I seek only to save you from yourself and to save us. Alas, I see that it is not in my power. Do what you think best. But I warn you. When you realize the damage you have done, it will be too late to repair it."

If Psyche had stopped to ask how he knew about her sisters, how he knew she had cried all day, she would have understood that only a god could have such knowledge. But she was incapable of knowing anything except her overwhelming loneliness.

"Please understand," she began, "it would do my heart so much good to see my sisters. They grieve for me and I need to let them know that not only am I alive, but that I am married. Would you mind if I gave them a few pieces of jewelry? I have more than I can ever wear. Please, my love." And she began to cry again.

"Do as you think best," Cupid responded. "But listen to me. Your sisters have minds that care only for evil. They will do everything they can to convince you to see what I look like. I repeat: if you look at me, all the happiness you have now will vanish."

"I understand," Psyche told him in all sincerity. "I would not do anything that would hurt our love. Even being held and kissed by Cupid himself could not fill me with the joy I find in your arms."

For an instant, Cupid was tempted to light the oil lamp and let her see from whose embrace and kisses came the joy she spoke of. But a sadness overcame him as he realized that Psyche would have said anything at that moment to get her way.

"I will command West Wind to bring your sisters here. You should pray that the gods will have mercy on your soul."

Chapter end