Cupid and Psyche

Cupid and Psyche by Apuleius

Jealous Venus sends her son to punish the beautiful mortal Psyche, but instead Cupid falls in love with her. He installs the girl in a castle and comes to her only at night so that she will remain ignorant of his identity. Spurred on by her mean-hearted sisters, who have convinced her that she must be living with a monster, Psyche spies upon the sleeping Cupid. He wakes when a drop of oil from her lamp falls upon his skin, and he flees, angry at her betrayal. Psyche then implores Venus to return Cupid’s love to her, and the goddess sends her to complete three difficult tasks.

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Check out a print version: Apuleius. Apuleius: Cupid and Psyche. Trans. E.J. Kenney. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 2003.