“Psyche, I drank them. Tell me, do you forgive me for that?”
“Yes....”
“I followed the brook, and now I have found you here.”
She was silent; she looked at him. He knelt down by her.
“Psyche,” said he gently, “I love you. Because I saw you little and naked and winged, standing amongst your proud sisters—Psyche, I love you. I love you so much, that I would weep all your tears for you, and would give you ... the Chimera.”
“You can’t do that,” she said sadly.
“No, Psyche,” answered he, “that cannot, alas! be done. I can only weep for myself; and the Chimera ... nobody can catch him.”
“He flies too fast,” she said, “and he is much too strong; but it is very kind of you, Prince Eros....”
She stretched out her hand, and he kissed it reverentially.
Then he looked at her for a long time.