This, I suppose, is a condensation of the lovely allegory of Apuleius in the second century of our era, but it seems to me Elisabeth made some additions.
Margaret said that everybody had to contend with the meddlesome sisters. They were at the bottom of every fairy story, from that of Psyche to Beauty and the Beast.
Elisabeth Hoar said it was always with the young soul as it was with Psyche. It could give no account of the love which made it so happy.
So, I said, every human heart shrivels under a curious touch. Love is angry that we wound him, and if he ever does return it is with Immortality in his hand. When custom berates, God accepts.
James Clarke asked if there was not a celebrated statue of Cupid and Psyche.
Margaret had only heard of Canova’s, but James said he was sure there was one older.
William Story asked if it were older than Apuleius, but James did not know.
Ida Russell said it was wrong for Psyche to look.
Yes, Margaret said, but her temptations were strong; and if they had not come through her sisters, they must have come through her own soul. Everything was produced by antagonism. This morning she had taken up Kreitzer, meaning to open the Greek volume, but took up the Indian. In that Mythology which William Story called deep and all-embracing there were the antagonist principles of Vishnu, or unclouded innocence, and Brahm, who could only become pure by wading through all wickedness. There seemed to be a need of sin, to work out salvation for human beings.