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fatal mountain. Steeped in tears, and torn with inexpreffible agony, fhe flowly proceeded to the folemnization of what were to be at once her bridal and funereal rites. The origi nal is highly beautiful: et lachrymofa Psyche comitatur non nuptias, fed exfequias fuas.

Arrived at the spot marked out by the oracle, which was the highest eminence of the mountain, she was there left by her miserable parents and the forrowing multitude, who, -returning to the city, gave way to the violence of their grief as for a beloved relative deceased, and both the walls of the palace and the private houses of the citizens were hung with fable, in token of refpect to her memory. In the mean time, Pfyche, deeply regretting her past impatience under the reftraints of virtuous celibacy, remained in her lofty exiled situation in a state of the utmost fufpenfe and anxiety. It was not long before a zephyr embraced the trembling fair one, and bore her, gently gliding through the air, into the bofom of a spacious valley, rich with verdure and fragrant with flowers. Here, reclined upon a bed of soft aromatic herbage, the tumult of her mind gradually fubfided, her fears were diffipated, and her fenfes enlivened. After a fhort repofe, curiofity induced her to rife and explore

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the receffes of a fpacious wood adjoining, where mufic, more fweet than mortal ever be fore heard, warbled from the branches, and fountains of the pureft water perpetually played, cooling and refreshing the air, heated by the beams of a meridian fun. Proceeding farther, fhe entered a stately palace, the roofs of which glittered with gold and filver; while its variegated pavement sparkled with precious ftones of the lovelieft hue and the richest brilliancy. What appeared to her most wonderful of all was, that this beautiful palace was without an owner; for, as fhe wandered through its rich faloons, no human being met her eye, though the most melodious voices from invifible forms accofted her ear, inceffantly inviting her to make that palace her conftant refidence, to bathe by day without restraint in its ambrofial fountains, and repose by night without fear on its gilded fofas; fofas of a texture far fofter than the springing down of the cygnet, for the filk which formed them was woven in a celeftial loom. Deriving confidence from this foothing address, Psyche now fat down to partake of a banquet prepared by the fame invifible agents. The most elegant viands were fucceffively ferved up in golden dishes, and wines of exquifite

exquifite flavour sparkled before her in agate vases. To this miraculous banquet, succeeded concerts of soft music from immortal harps, whose tender thrilling strains pierced the foul of the delighted virgin, and diffolved it in voluptuous languor. These were but a prelude. to the refined pleasures of nuptial love, which, with advancing night, were rapidly approaching, when Pfyche, with mingled terror and transport, was to clafp the mysterious husband promised her by heaven.

The star of evening, friendly to Hymen, already began to glimmer on high in the blue vault of heaven. Fatigued with the alternate fufferings and joy, produced by the wonderful viciffitudes of the past day, and deriving fome gleams of hope from what she had already experienced, yet still trembling at the dreadful oracle, Pfyche at length retired to the nuptial bed, which her unfeen attendants had prepared, fprinkled with odours and decorated with flowers. The folitude of the fcene, and the darkness of surrounding night, added to her perplexity, and filled with unutterable folicitude the throbbing bofom of the virgin. After a fhort interval of dreadful fufpence, a voice benign and soothing bade her difmifs unneceffary terror, and in an in

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inftant fhe found herfelf locked in the fond embrace of a husband, who, though unknown, inspired no terror; but, on the contrary, whofe precipitate retreat on the approach of day filled her with concern and grief. Invifible nymphs now hover around the deferted bed, who with harmonious voices hail the new bride, and invite her to a repetition of the pleafures of the preceding day. She ranges with fresh delight through the delicious gardens and all the apartments of that magnificent palace; fhe liftens to the warbling of the birds and the murmuring of the fountains; fhe again bathes in the ftream her beauteous limbs, fits down to the delicious repast, is regaled with mufic by celestial bands, and, at night, no longer reluctant, retires to the fame bed, and again enjoys the embrace of her affectionate, but fugitive, husband.

A long period elapfed in this unceafing round of daily pleasure, and this nightly commerce with a bridegroom, whom as yet fhe had not beheld. All remembrance of her former fufferings was erased from her mind, while her invisible attendants prevented her feeling the tedium of folitude and the abfence of her lord during the day, by perpetually varying the amusements of the enchanting paradife

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that held her a willing prifoner. Her happiness might have continued for ever could she have KEPT A SECRET, or reftrained within due bounds that fatal CURIOSITY which too often betrays the unthinking part of her fex into errors never to be remedied.

Anxiety for the fate of their daughter had long banished repofe from the bofom of her difconfolate parents. They prevailed on her two fifters to undertake the task of exploring her retreat; and the latter repaired without delay to the defolate mountain, on whofe fummit she had been expofed. The fame gentle zephyr that had conveyed Psyche to the happy valley was also ready to conduct her fifters to that fecluded fpot, and they were foon wafted to the palace of delights. Pfyche had been forewarned by her nightly paramour of their intended vifit, and, at first, received his ftrict injunctions not to have any communion with them, as the interview might be productive of the moft dreadful calamities to all parties. She promised to obey those injunctions; but growing, in confequence, dejected and melancholy, the obtained his permiffion to entertain them. The adventurous princeffes were received with tranfport, fhewn all the rarities of the caftle, and difmifled to the court

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