Page 53 - Yellow Feather Book 2

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let us help her” they said to each other. They all responded to this appeal and worked hard, separating the seeds, something in which they were experts. From the big original dune, they formed several smaller dunes, each with one kind of seed. When Venus saw these smaller dunes she became enraged. “You have not finished your work” she said and ordered Psyche to sleep on the ground, without giving her any food, while she leaned in her soft bed. She thought that if she could compel Psyche to hard work for a long time, her beauty would not resist. Meanwhile, Venus would not let her son leave his room, where he was all that time mourning for Psyche’s betrayal.
Next morning, Venus came up with a new task for Psyche, a dangerous task. “Can you see those black waters descending from the hill? That is the river Styx, awful and abhorrent. Fill this bottle with its water” the goddess commanded. On reaching the waterfall, Psyche realized that the surrounding rocks were slippery and steep. The waters rushed through such abrupt rocks that only a winged creature could approach. And indeed, an eagle helped her. It was flying with its huge wings above the river when it saw Psyche and fell sympathy for her. It seized the bottle from her hands with its beak, filled it with some black water and gave it back to Psyche. Venus accepted this task with a cold smile. “Someone helped you” she said sharply, “otherwise you would not have been able to perform this task on your own. I’m going to give you another chance to prove you that you are as determined as you claim to be.”
She gave a box to Psyche. She had to take it to the Underworld and ask Persephone, queen of the dead, to drain a little of her beauty into the box. Obedient as usual, Psyche took the path leading to Hades. When she entered the gates and took the boat to the other bank, where the dead people dwelled, she gave some coins to Charon the boatman to help her find her way in the dark to the palace of Persephone. Indeed, the boatman helped her and after a while, she was right in front of Persephone. When she asked her to drain a drop of her beauty into the box, Persephone was glad to serve Venus. Psyche took the box and returned cheerfully to Earth. When she gave Venus the box, the goddess was livid. She shouted portentously at the poor girl that she would never let her go and that she would always be her servant.
At this crucial moment, the Gods, who had been watching this wrongdoing all the time, decided to take up action. They sent Hermes, the messenger God, to tell Cupid about all the misfortunes that his wife was going through. Cupid was very much impressed and touched by his wife’s sacrifice, thus his wound of betrayal was healed. He left his room and found Psyche exhausted in his mother’s garden.
The Yellow Feather Literature Third Course