Chapter I: Front Matter

THE STORY OF
EROS & PSYCHE

THE STORY OF
EROS & PSYCHE

(RETOLD FROM APULEIUS)

TOGETHER WITH SOME EARLY VERSES

BY

EDWARD CARPENTER

LONDON: GEORGE ALLEN & UNWIN LTD.
RUSKIN HOUSE, 40 MUSEUM STREET, W.C. 1

_First published in this form in 1923_

(_All rights reserved_)

_Printed in Great Britain by_
UNWIN BROTHERS, LIMITED, THE GRESHAM PRESS, LONDON AND WOKING

CONTENTS

PAGE

INTRODUCTORY NOTE 9

THE STORY OF EROS AND PSYCHE 13

IN A CANOE 55

THE ARTIST TO HIS LADY 58

APHRODITE 60

SCHRECKHORN 65

THE VEILED ISIS 67

THE TIDE 71

SUMMER LIGHTNING 72

IN THE GRASS: BY A MONAD 75

THE WORLD-SPIRIT 79

TO A FRIEND 83

BY THE MOUTH OF THE ARNO 86

AS ROUND A LIGHTHOUSE 87

THE COMPLAINT OF JOB (CHAP. III) 89

THE EVERNEW 93

ON A CRUCIFIX 94

THE GREAT PEEPSHOW 99

THE FELLOWSHIP OF HUMANITY 106

THE FELLOWSHIP OF SUFFERING 108

THE ANGEL OF DEATH--AND LIFE 110

SONNETS:

GENOA 117

BEETHOVEN 118

IN MORTEM. F. D. MAURICE 119

WILLIAM SMITH: AUTHOR OF “THORNDALE” 120

INSCRIBED ON A GRAVE 121

DEATH 122

SINCE, IN THINE HOUR OF SORROW 123

SEVERANCE 124

IT SHALL BE 125

WALDSTEIN SONATA. BEETHOVEN 126

THE STORY OF EROS AND PSYCHE

INTRODUCTORY NOTE

Tho’ the story of Eros and Psyche is alluded to by various earlier writers, our only source for its details is, I believe, in that animated and amusing romance, the _Golden Ass_ of Apuleius; where it occurs as an Episode, and where it is told at considerable length and with elaboration.

Apuleius was a Roman citizen of Madaura in N. Africa, and was born about 130 A.D. He inherited a large sum of money from his father, and after spending much of it in extensive travels, settled down ultimately to a literary life at Carthage, where he was held in great honor. He had an inquiring adventurous turn of mind and character, uniting a thorough enjoyment of life with a tendency to mysticism and oriental speculation (the theosophy of the time), which shows itself in his works. He is said to have been initiated in the ‘mysteries’ of various religious fraternities.

The story of Eros and Psyche (or Cupid and Psyche as he calls it) probably came to Apuleius thro’ Greek channels; but it seems to be one of those world-old fables to which it is difficult to assign a date or locality, and which owing to some hidden pregnancy of meaning are graciously received in all ages and places. In this respect _Eros and Psyche_ may be compared with _Cinderella_ and with the _Sleeping Beauty_, to both of which stories it shows considerable resemblance both in detail and meaning.

Cinderella the cinder-maiden sits unbeknown in her earthly hutch;

Gibed and jeered at she bewails her lonely fate;

Nevertheless youngest-born she surpasses her sisters and endues a
garment of the sun and stars,

From a tiny spark she ascends and irradiates the universe, and is
wedded to the prince of heaven.

To what extent Apuleius may have amplified and elaborated the material that came to him, it would be impossible to say. As a writer he is full of invention, humour, lively wit and varied learning and experience; but his style is often overloaded and affected; and the Story as told by him is somewhat involved and laborious in places.

In re-telling the story I have taken the liberty (while adhering to his outlines) of using Greek instead of Latin names for the divinities, also of cutting down the details and transposing and slightly varying a few items--with the view of rendering the whole more _transparent_, so to speak.

For the conduct of Aphrodite, however, who is represented as ‘bawling’ and brawling in so undignified a way Apuleius is alone responsible!

Here and there I have adopted a phrase from the excellent translation in Bohn’s “Classics.” For the rest, there is a prose paraphrase of the story by Mr. Walter Pater in _Marius_, and one in verse by Mr. Robert Bridges, which may be consulted by those interested in the subject.

* * * * *

As to the “Early Verses” here reprinted with _Eros and Psyche_, they are selected from a small volume entitled _Narcissus and other Poems_, which was published by Henry S. King & Co. in 1873 (i.e. some fifty years ago). I was at that time at Cambridge, and I vividly remember the care and even anxiety with which--following the ideals then and there current--I launched these first attempts at verse. Nor is it impossible that as specimens of the work of that period they may (notwithstanding their juvenile character) present even now some points of interest.

E. C.

THE STORY OF EROS AND PSYCHE