THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES GIFT OF Charles Fenn THE HISTORY OF PSYCHE FROM RAPHAEL'S DRAWINGS, ETCHED ON STEEL BY REVEIL; BY M. LEMOLT PHAXARY. LONDON. CHARLES TILT, 86, FLEET STREET. 1832. PARIS. PRIMED BY FAIN LES AMOURS DE PSYCHE D'APRES RAPHAEL. X GRAVURES SUR ACIER, PAR REVE1L; A TEC UKK NOUVEI. I. B HISTOIHE DE PSYC PAR M. LEMOLT PHALARY, PARIS. AUUOT, ED1TEUR, RUE DU PAOH, K. 8, ECOLE DE MEDEC1HE. 1832. I'AKIS. _ IMPRIMKUIK ET FONDERJE DE FAH , Hue Racine, no, 4, place tiie modern world, in courts, in politics, how they act when it happens that it is necessary to protect some person of consequence, rather too susceptible of love, against the dangerous charms of some young beauty of mean birth. They make choice of a foreigner, the first who comes to hand, a poor creature without friends, fortune, neither possessed of manners nor merit, a good and solid marriage unites them and that ends it what the goddess desires, almost resembles that sort of proceeding, she must have Psyche violently in love, and against the will of her family, with a man whose patrimony is misery, disease, and misfortune in the extreme. Cupid promised complete satisfaclion to the offended one , and Venus triumphant gains the sea-shore. II etait une fois une ville, un roi et une reine. La ville, les archifectes 1'avaient faite belle, a grand renfort de futs , de piedestaux, d'entablemens, d'e'le'gans attiques , de portiques hardis et de longues galeries a jour. Quant au roi et a la reine , ils avaient de leur mariage trois filles. Si belle e'lait la cadette, qui se nommait Psyche, que, pour peu qu'elle se montrat en public suivie de ses saurs , on voyait, au grand depit des ainees, accourir par les places et les rues, et se grouper aulour d'elle comme en extase , homines, femmes, enfans, vieillards ; ici, et sous ses pas, on jonchait le chemin de fleurs ; la , on lui faisait offrande de parfums. Quelques-uns meme, s'agenouillant , 1'adoraient. Insenses ! qui oublienl qu'il est dans 1'Olympe une deesse de la beaute , dout les jalouses susceplibililes peuvent cruelle- ment faire payer un jour a une pauvre morlelle ces bom- mages et ce culte auquel ont droit les seuls autels de Cy- theree. Toujours esl-il qu'irrite'e de ce qu'on la neglige , la mere de 1'Amour se concerte avec son fils. Du haul des ce- lestes demeures , elle lui designe du doigt la rivale qu'elle bait, qu'il faut punir et lui sacrifier. Vous savez, de par notre monde moderne , de par le monde des cours, comment en use la diplomatic, alors qu'il lui arrive d'avoir a pre'munir centre les dangereux al- l rails d'une jeune beaute sans consequence quelque notabi- lite un peu trop prompte a s'enflammer. On prend un e'tranger, le premier venu, un pauvre here sans entourage, sans fortune , sans dehors ni merite ; un bon et solide ma- riage se cimente, et tout est dit. Ce que veut la deesse ne ressemble pas mal a cette tactique ; il lui faut Psyche amoureuse a 1'exces , et centre le gre de sa famille , d'un homme ayant pour tout patrimoine la misere , la maladie , et le malheur porte a son comble. L' Amour a promis com- plete satisfaction a I'offenseejet, triomphante, Venus a gagne le rivage de la mer. Of all the hours this is one of the most delightful, one in which the sun only shewing above the horizon the half of his disk, both the bottom of the clouds, the tops of moun- tains and of forests, glitler as if fringed with fire. Then , on the liquid plains , at the surface of waves scar- cely ruffled, the soft breeze blowing and half bending the sea-weed of the shore, fleets by, light and voluptuous, one knows not what ravishing figure of a woman , of beauty su- perhuman , such as to defy the chisel of the sculptor , the pallet of the painter, and the pen of the Poet. What most chaste, and agreeable contours! See '.floating and scattered, the light sports of the wind, her fine luxuriant locks, which the white sea-gull touches whith his beak and as for the im- mortal which Gnidus and Paphos cherishes, the dolphins with eyes prominent, and round, whith their huge backs and broad fins accustom themselves to the yoke. Delighted are the marine Deities in pressing around her, and forming her train! The one proud of his sonorous shell, the oilier atten- tive to oppose to the ardour of the sun a light silken sail , this, armed with a trident, the other preparing relays of dolphins, impatient to bear away the sweet burthen. Thus old Ocean delights in welcoming, aided by all his court, the presfleCe of bis beloved daughter. 11 est une lieure delicieuse entre toutes , une heure oil le soleil ne laissant voir a 1'horizon qu'une moilie de son dis- que , le dessous des nuages , le sommet des moots et la cime des forets flamLloient comme franges de feu. Alors, et sur les liquides plaines , a la surface des flots a peine ride's , au souffle d'une molle brise courbant a demi les algues de la rive , glisse , legere et voluptueuse , on ne sail quelle ravis- sante figure de femme, de beaulc surhumaine , a de'sesperer le ciseau du sculpleur , la palette du peintre et la plume du poele. Quels plus purs et plus suaves contours ? "Voyez comme flottent et s'epandent , jouets le'gers des vents , ses cheveux fins et soyeux que becquele la blanche mouelle , et comme, pour 1'immortelle qui che'rit Gnide et Paphos, les dauphins aux j'eux ronds et saillans, aux vastes dos et aux larges na- geoires, se faconnent au joug. Heureuses Jes de'ile's marines de se presser aulour d'elle et de lui faire cortege ! 1'une fiere de sa conque sonore , 1'autre attentive a opposer aux ardeurs du soleil un le'ger voile de soie , celle-ci armee du trident , celle-la preparant des relais de dauphins impatiens de leur doux fardeau. Ainsi le vieil Ocean se complait-il a feter, aide de toute sa cour , la presence de sa fille cherie. But let us return to Psyche. Wbo is there unacquainted with Apollo, whose lyre knows, and speaks of the future? Apollo whose altar, all emblem and poetry, seems the ca- pital of a column reversed, round which, the whim of an arlist, has thrown the heads of rams, a figure of a woman and symbolic [sphynxes? At the foot of his statue fire is lighted, the direction of which, and its colour are carefully considered, and here in the enclosure of the temple, they lead to the sacrificing priests the victims that the sacred knife threatens. Armed with their slick, and hand up, the heralds have driven back the crowd, and commanded si- lence. Of whom does the pontiff speak to the oracle , that old man whose forehead is bound withacrown?.. Of Psyche! Poor maiden ! the crowd still continue their imprudent homage to her, its mad anticipations of consecration , but as to demand in marriage, not a word. And Venus also begins to insult these pains of the heart, and to relish these beginnings of vengeance. Mais revenons a Psyche. Qui ne connait Apollon dont la tyre sail et dit 1'avenir , Apollon dont 1'autel, tout embleme et poesie, semble nn chapiteau de colonne renverse , autour dequel un caprice d'artisle aurait jele des tetes de belier, une figure de femme et des sphynx symboliques? Aux pieds de sa statue s'allumeDt des feux donl on inlerrogera soigneu- sement la direction et la couleur; et voici qu'en 1'enceinte du temple on amene aux sacrificateurs les vicLimes que me- nace le couteau sacre. Armes de leur baton et le doigt leve , Jes he'rauts ont fait reculer la foule et ont commande le si- lence. De 'qui parlent a 1'oracle ce pontife, ce vieillard dont le front ceiut la couronne ? de Psyche. Pauvre jeune fille! la foule lui continue toujours ses im- prudens hommages, ses folles anticipalions d'apotbeose ; mais de demande en mariage , pas un mot. Et Venus d'in- sulter a ces peines de cceur, a ces douleurs de famille dont elle est cause, et de savourer ces commencemens de ven- geance. As to the elder sisters, and there is still a project on the part of the Goddess, every thing seems favourable, twenty offers of marriage present themselves, they are only embar- rassed as to the choice. People of quality, sons of Kings, princes at least, suitors whom they would have been willing to accept for husbands had they been younger, and more agreeable in their persons, but the gold of their indented crowns was of the finest sort . the fashion of their tunics and cloacks, the embroidery of their buskins and sandals, defied criticism in every respect. They had also given sufficient proof of their distinguished manners, meanwile from a lofty canopy supporting the throne, and covered with purple, a father and mother , occupied in their thoughts , even at ihis very time, about the fate of their youngest daughter, had given their royal assent to the happiness of two couple. So many charms, and such a complete state of rest!.... Apollo, instead of accounting for the cause of such an extra- ordinary circumstance , as on their knees they entreated him, replied in verses rather unfeelingly. Let Phyche be conducted to the highest part of a rock y In funeral array , becoming to such a hymen, And for husband to her, expect no one of human lineage But a savage monster, untameable, inhuman, Bearing a light wing More to be (eared than a viper Making war against all. He embroils all , armed with fire and sword ; Jupin fears him , thus ordain the Heavens , the Waters , the Infernal regions. Is what Venus desires right? that which she asks of her son , that which he has promished to her jealous fury? It rests with time alone to inform us. Quant aux aine'es, et c'est encore un calcul de la part de la deesse, tout leur sourit ; vingl partis se sont presente's , elles ii'ont eu que 1'embarras du choix. Gens de Jjon lieu , fils derois, princes pour le moins , les soupirans qu'elles ont Lien voulu tinir par accepter pour maris eussent pu elre plus jeunes et mieux pris de leur personne , mais 1'or de leurs couronnes dentele'es etait du meilleur aloi ; la coupe de leurs tuniques et manteaux , les broderies de leurs brode- quins et cothurnes defiaient de lout point la critique. Us avaient d'ailleurs fait preuve de Leaucoup de savoir-vivre , alors que, du haul de 1'estrade qui supporte le trone et que recouvrela pourpre, unpere et une mere, pre'occupes, meme en cet instant, du sort de leur cadette, avaient prononce des paroles de rojal assentiment au bonheur de deux couples. Tant d'altraits, elun si complet delaissement !... Apollon, au lieu de faire connaitre, ainsi qu'on le demandail a ge- noux , les causes de ce prodige, repondit eu vers lant soil peu barbares : Au plus haul d'un rocher que Psyche soil menee En funebre arroy propre a eel hyraeuee ; Et pour gendre n'attends nul du lignage humain , Mais un monstre i'aroucbe, indumptable , inhumain , Porlant aile legere , Plus a redouter que vipere , A tous faisant la guerre ; It brouille tout , arme de feu . de fer ; .lupin le craint , si font les cieui , les eaux, I'enfer. Est-ce bien la ce que Venus attend , ce qu'elle a demandc a son fils, ce qui a ele promis a ses jalouses fureurs? Au temps seul il appartient de nous 1'apprendre. Psvche. B. 5. The God bad more than prophesied as to what would happen , he had inlimaled orders, which it would have been monstrous impiety to have disregarded. After Jong contests, after cruel reluctances over come, that which the oracle foretels is executed, and they put themselves in march towards the place designed. In the first ranks , players of mournful music, and children bearing torches, careless as at their age, seeing nothing beyond a ceremony in it, then a chair hung with mourning , borne by four strong arms was seen, supporting the poor bride, and who resembled no other person. Her forehead bent down languishingly, absor- bed in grief, she wished (little hurried as she was to perceive the fatal rock ), to lurn her back to the head of the procession, to salute again with her hand, and with one more look of adieu a .falher whose heart is torn, a mother distracted , the crowd which follows in tears, at length , the trees, the mou- ntains, the city which witnessed her birth, she who is re- served so young, to so extraordinary and so little encouraging a destiny. Le dieu avail fait plus que propheliser 1'avenir; il avail intime des ordres qu'il y aurait eu nionslrucuse impiele a ne pas suirre. Apres de longs combats , apres de cruelles repugnances vaincues, ce qu'a dil 1'oracle s'execufe, et Ton se mel en marche vers le lieu designe. Aux premiers rangs, de lugubres instrumentistes et de jeunes enfans por- leurs de torches, insoucians comme leur age, ne vojant la qu'une ce'remonie; puis, sur une chaise drape'e , portee par quatre bras vigoureux, venait, ne ressemblant a nulle autre, la pauvre fiancee. Le front languissamment penche , absorbee par la douleur , elle avail voulu , peu empressee qu'elle e'lail d'apercevoir le fatal rocher , tourner le dos a la tele du cor- tege, et cela encore pour saluer plus long-temps de la main el d'un regard d'adieu un pere dont le coeur est dechire , une mere eperdue , la foule qui suit eplore'e , enfin les ar- bres, les monts, la ville qui 1'a vue naitre, elle re'servee si jeune a de si elranges, de si peu rassuranles destinees. Once only Psyche began to tremble in every limb, and lo weep. We may easily conjecture what were the thoughts which agitated her. Suddenly she felt upon her cheek still wet with tears, a balmy breath, it was that of Zephyr, in- tervening in person. Also generally very heedless, the hus- band of Flora behaved here courteously, and acting like a demi-god well instructed said softly to the beauty : Fear not! hope! Then without further words, and at the risk of rudely disordering her dress, he lifts her up, and bears her thro, the aerial space. No carriage more soft, or more rapid. The turn of the mountain is already passed, and Psyche de- posed at a considerable distance from where she set out , upon an enamelled flowery bank. High and thick is found the grass, soft and perfumed the bed, so that soon prepared, they do not delay causing her to sleep. Psyche, was she not surprised to see at her awaking, three young girls advance towards her, offering her water, according to the usages and traditions of the time, and inviting her to enter. In the interior of the building every thing announces wealth, the delightful residence of a god. Wherever the eye is carried, nothing but gold, silver and precious stones present themselves, the mosaic rivals painting, the ceilings of ivory, and of lemon-wood, of the most delicate finish. The insignificance of feeble mortals can scarce even conceive such works. Psyche can scarce sufficiently express her unaf- fected admiration , but when they told her that this rich dwelling would be thence forth her own , that these trea- sures, this sumptuous furniture, was prepared with no other design than to delight her, that she had only to command, to wish even, to be served. Oh! it was then she began to doubt the reality of all that surrounded her, and it was only to be convinced that she was not decei- ved by an idle dream , and its illusions , that she wished for, (recollecting that she was a traveller) the bath that lakes off fatigue, and the couch that invites sweet repose. 7- Uuefois seule , Psyche se prit a trembler de tous ses mem- bres, a pleurer; et Ton comprend quelles pre'occupalions 1'agilaient. Tout-a-coup elle sentitsur sa joue humide encore de larmes une caressante baleine;c'e'tait celle de Zephyre in- lervenant en personne. Bien que tres-e'lourdi d' ordinaire, 1'epoux de Flore usa ici de precedes , et agissant en demi- dieu bien appris : N'ayez peur ! espe'rez ! dil-il tout bas a la belle de'sole'e. Puis, sans plus de precautions oratoires, et aux.risques de quelques indiscretions, il la souleve et Temporle a travers 1'espace. Nulle voiture plus douce et plus rapide. De'ja le versant de la montagne est franchi , et Psy- che mollement de'pose'e a une assez grande distance du point de depart, sur un gazon des mieux e'mailles. Haute et bien fournie se trouva 1'herbe , douillelte et parfutne'e la couche , a tel point que, bientot remise, la voyageuse ne tarda pas a s'assoupir. Non loin de la, s'e'levaient, accouple'es deux a deux comme soeurs jumelles , les svelles colonnes d'un im- posant peristyle. Qui fut surprise? ce fut Psyche, de voir a son re'veil trois jeunes filles s'avaucer , lui donner a laver les mains, suivant les usages et traditions d'alors , et 1'iuviter a enlrer. A 1'inlerieur tout annoncait le noble , le delicieux se'jour d'un dieu. Quelque part que se portassent les yeux, ils ne rencontraient qu'or, argent, pierreries , mosa'iques defiant la peinture , lambris d'ivoire et de citronnier du travail le plus de'lical. Arriere les faibles mortelsl leur impuissance ne saurait oser ou meme concevoir de telles oeuvres. Psyche ne pouvait suffire a exprimer sa na'ive admiration ; mais quand on lui cut dit que cette riche demeure serait de'sormais la sienne; que ces tresors , ce somptueux ameublement n'avaient d'autre destination quo de lui agre'er ; qu'elfe n'avait plus qu'a commander , qu'a souhaiter meme pour etre servie ; oh ! alors elle vint a douter de la realite de tout ce qui 1'environ- nai! , et ne ful-ce que pour se convaincre qu'un vain songe el ses illusions ne 1'abusaieut pas, elle voulut et le bain qui de'lasse et le lit de repos qui provoque a un doux sommeil. To the boudoir joined the hall of the bath, simple and commodious above allothers, and receiving light only from two narrow windows. Art had not tried to add any thing to the rich ornaments of the ground, of the ceiling, or of the walls, or to the white partitions of the bath of marble. Psy- che timid even io fear, not choosing to bathe alone, and it was, we may easily imagine, a picture worthy of the elegant Albane, that of seeing these three young girls beslowing their attentions on their charming mistress, compelled by her to amuse themselves, playful and laughing for their own pleasure, at these details of the toilette. As to Raphael there he is, it seems to us, far from being occupied with hismadonas with their eyes bent downewards, the forehead veiled , forms scarcely apparent, and carefully hid under ample clothes, and high shapes, Raphael, and all that is voluptuous, forms perfectly naked! Many times again in the course of this work, we shall see re-produced a similar anomaly. Au boudoir altenait la salle de bain, celle-ci simple et commode avant tout, et ne recevant de jour que de deux e'troitesfenetres. L'arl n' avail essave de rien ajouter auxriches revetemens du sol , du plafond el des murs , non plus qu'aux blanches parois de la baignoire de marbre. Ps_yche, timide jusqu'a la peur , ne voulut pas se baigner seule , et ce fut , on le comprendra , un tableau digne du gracieux Albane , que ces trois jeunes filles prodiguant leurs soins a Jeur char- manle maitresse , forcees par elle de s'associer, folalres et rieuses et pour leur compte , a ces details de toilette. Quant a Raphael, le voila, ce noussemble, loin de ses madones aux veux baisses, au front voile, aux formes a peine indi- que'es, et soigneusement dissimulees par d'amples vetemens et de montans corsages ; Raphael ! et de voluptueuses, de completes nuditesl... Maintefois encore , au cours de celte O3iivre, verrons-nous se reproduire ne telle anomaiie. The repast succeeded , more delicate than sumptuous , and served dish after dish by two attendants. But as to eat alone, however finely carved the legs of a table be, however rich may be the drapery of the couch, is not very agreeable; there was care taken to remedy that. A chorus of men accompa- nying a corded instrument, of a form altogether different from any other, executed delightful airs. It was, says an old translator of Apuleum. The honeyed sweets of music. It appeared even to Psyche, that whilst she was at table, some one unperceived by all, invisible even to herself, placed himself at her side, murmuring sweet words, and as if happy in busying himself, that she should be in want of nothing. Succeda le repas, plus delicat que somptueux, et servi mels a mets par deux des suivantes. Mais comme man- ger seule , quelque Lien sculple's que soient les pieds de la table , quelque riches que soient les draperies du lit , n'a rien de tres-agreable , on cut soin de reme'dier a cela. Un chceur d'hommes , s'accompagnant d'un instrument a cordes d'une forme tout a part, exe'cuta de delicieux trios : c'etait, dit un vieux traducteur d'Apulee (i), emmiellee dou- ceur que celte musique. II sembla meme a Psyche que , pen- dant qu'elle etait a table, quelqu'un d'inapergu pour tous , d'iuvisible pour elle-meme, se placait a ses cotes, lui murmu- rant de douces paroles, soigneux et comme heureux de s'oc- cuper que rien ne lui manquat. (i) De Montlyard, 1616. The evening at length came, it's obscurity it's silence, and it's solitude, which recal to Psyche for the first time, the thought of the dreadful oracle , which she had some what lost light of. That the night would pass in every respect like the last, as under the paternal roof, her feelings as a woman seemed to say was impossible, but that a day which had only been a continuation of enchantments and pleasures , would finish by the appearance of a frightful husband, by an inter- view with the monster which the sacred tripod had threatened, was a circumstance she could not suppose possible. For a long time she scarce dared to breathe, tired at length of listening and waiting, she yielded to sleep. She slept as a young girl , that is to say profoundly , carelessly bent over her pillow , one arm under her head , the other hanging over the side of the bed , when by^ stealth , the mysterious and unknown Being, passed by her, whose presence she suspected in the morning. There was nothing like a profane touch ! Here un- der the disordered bed-clothes , was seen the delicate form of a child with wings, slightly touching, softly, and vo- luptuously, the elegant form of a female whom no veil concealed! Two arms were here interlaced! Two mouths touched each other. You , at least can comprehend such mysteries, you , who have felt and are acquainted with the soft delights of life, you, between whose arms a beloved and timid lover has passed by insensible degrees of fear to con- fidence, to pleasure , to a delirium of joy. s For our part, the accoutrements of an archer, abandoned and thrown carelessly on the flag stones of the floor, suffi- ciently inform us, that Cupid is there, and of what monster, the dread of Gods and men , has the oracle spoken of ? Whoever it be, this husband takes his departure at the break of day , he makes a point more than he himself can express, of not being seen by any one. If we may believe him, at the moment when it would no longer be necessary for him to preserve his incognito , even to his mild Psyche , it would become necessary for him to disappear for ever, and from that event, what dreadful misfortunes would arise. Vinrent enfin le soir, son obscurite, son silence, sa soli- tude, qui rappelerent a Psyche , pour la premiere fois , 1'ide'e un peu perdue de vue du redoutable oracle. Que la nuit diit se passer semLlable de tout point a celles qui 1'avaient pre- ce'de'e, comme une nuit sous le toit paternel son instinct de femme lui disait le contraire ; ma is qu'une journee qui n'avait ele qu'une suite d'enchantemens et de plaisirs, diit finir par un bideux mari , par un tete-a-lele avec le monslre dont I'avait menace le trepied sacre , elle ne pouvait se re- soudre a ie supposer. Long-lemps osa-t-elle a peine respirer ; lasse enfin d'ecouter et d'atteudre, elle ce'da au sommeil. Elle dormait a la maniere d'une jeune fille , c'est-a-dire pro- fonde'ment, pencb.ee noncbalamment sur un oreiller , un bras sur sa tete , 1'autre bras tombant sur les bords du lit , lorsque furtivement se glissa pres d'elle 1'e'tre myste'rieux et inconnu dout elle avail le matin soupconne la presence. Loin, bien loin tout profane! Ici, et sous les rideaux froisse's d'une coucbe en de'sordre , un corps de'licat d'enfanl aile , ef- fleurant, voluptueux et doux, un gracieux corps tie feinme que ne prote'gent plus aucuns voiles ; ici des brasenlrelace's, deux bouches toutes voisiues... . A vous , sinon de trabir, au moins de comprendre de lels mvsteres, vous qui avez appris et savez les plus douces choses de la vie , vous entre les bras de qui ua elre aimant et timide passa, par d'insensibles nuances, de I'effroi a la confiance , a 1'abandon , au plaisir. Quant a nous, tout un e'quipement d'arcber delaisse et jete au basard sur la large dalle du plancher nous dit assez qu'Amour est la , et de quel monstre , effroi des hommes et des dieux, a entendu parler 1'oracle. Quelqu'il soit, ce mari s'eloigne au point du jour. II tient, plus que lui-meme ne saurait 1'exprimer , a n'etre vu de per- sonnc. S'il faut Ten croire , au moment oil cesserait son in- cognito , meme pour sa douce Psyche, il y aurail necessite pour lui de disparaitre a toujours ; et de la d 'eflroyables mal- heurs. A litlle confused at her rising, to encounter the smile on the lips of her ladies of honour, Psyche failed in no point whatever , to repair what I should call the wrongs of the night. Already had two skilful hands taken possession of her fair long hair, when all at once, a strange noise commanded attention. The voices of women were heard in the distance, and with them were mingled groans and sobs, all which seemed to proceed from a rock well known to Psyche. It was the heldest sisters come expressly from beyond the seas and mountains; it was the compulsory ostensible tribute, and noisy grief, which they considered becoming to pay to the fate of their youngest sister. The heart of Psyche was affected by these demonstrations, and at once to thank and console her sisters, to hear again friendly voices, perhaps also to know to whom she should shew such prodigious treasures, she mentally demended of her invisible husband permission to dispose of Zephyr. Un peu confuse , a son lever , de rencontrer le sourire stir les levres de ses dames d'atour , Psyche ne manqua de rien pour rcparer ce que j'appellerai les torts de lanuit. Dejadeux mains adroiles s'e'taient empare'es de ses blonds et longs che- veux , quand tout-a-coup un bruit e'trange commanda 1'atten- lion. On entendit au loin des voix de femmes , et a ces voix se melaient des ge'missemeus et des sanglots; le tout partait d'un roc bien connu de Psyche. C'etaient les sceurs aine'es, venues tout expres de par-dela les mers et les mouts; c'e'tait 1'oblige tribul d'oslensible et bruyante douleiir qu'elles regar- daient comme de biense'ance de payer au sort de leur ca- dette. Le cceur de Psyche s'e'mut a ces demonstrations, et tout a la fois , pour remercier et consoler ses sceurs , pour ouir encore des voix amies , peut-etre aussi pour avoir a qui montrer tant et de si prodigieux tresors, elle demanda mentalemeut a son invisible mari la permission de disposer de Ze'phyre. m t ,t * A single word lo the docile messenger, and behold the two sisters softlj Lome away, as Psyche had been, but bolder than she , although not knowing what issue so novel and extra- ordinary an adventure would have, during the voyage, they continually gave themselves the airs of goddesses. The sisters once united, we may imagine the kind reception, the tears and mutual embraces, sincere on the one part, hypocritical on the other. There was nothing remarkable in architecture, not a terrace commending tine gardens, and a vast horizon, that Psyche did not shew with the eagerness of a child, and which the elder sisters did not explore, as if with a longing and envious eye. At length , after a number of questions about the husband of Psyche , about the master and lord of so many wonders, about his age, his sort of figure . and his turn of character, they departed bearing with them more than one token of munificence. tin mot dit au docile messager , et voila les deux soeurs doucement enlevees comme 1'avait etc Psyche; mais, plus intrepides bien que ne sachant quelle issue devait avoir une si nouvelle el si peu ordinaire aventure, elles ne cessent de se donner, pendant le trajet, des airs de deesses. Une fois les sceurs reunies, je laisse a penser le doux accueil, les larmes et les mutuels embrassemens , sinceres d'une part, hypocrites de 1'autre. II n'y cut pas un detail d'architec- ture, pas une terrasse commandant de beaux jardins et un vaste horizon , que Psyche ne montrat avec une insistance d'enfant, et que les sceurs ainees n'explorassent comme a regret et d'un ail d'envie. Enfin , apres nombre de questions sur le mari de Psyche , sur le maitre et seigneur de tant de merveilles, sur son age, son genre de figure, de tournure, son caraclere, questions auxquelles on ne repondit pas avec une grande precision, elles partirent, emportant avec elles plus d'un gage de munificence. What Psyche again , and for ever talking of your sisters ! Has Zephyr nothing else to do but to shorten the distance which separates you from them? Again and continually your sisters? And this time, invested with your dwelling, almost asif mistresses , sitting in the seat of honour, and you standing behind like a servant, they proud, and triumphing, and you abased, and oppressed! Oh! let them depart, and without delay. But they already are in possession of your secret. This husband whom you declare never to have seen , full of the ambiguity inseparable from an Oracle , they transform him into a serpent. What do I say ? into a frightful dragon , waiting only a moment of lassitude , or satiety , to leave you for ever, after having rendered you a mother. Fascinated, subdued you have promised not to pay any attention to his entreaties and prayers , you would fain try to deceive his vigilance , to satisfy at every hasard a dangerous curiosity. A lamp, a poniard have been placed in your feebles hands. And to what end? Oh ! may the waves swallow up the perfi- dious ones who deceive you , those whom your happiness dis- pleases. May the winds break against the rocks the ships which brought them , all in sight of that dwelling, to them so hos- pitable ! Eh quo! , Psyche ! encore et toujours vos soeurs ! Zephyre n'a-t-il plus d'autre mission que d'abre'ger la distance qui vous separe d'elles? Encore et toujours vos soeurs ! Et celte fois, installe'es chez vous, presque com'nae 'xhai tresses , assises sur vos .sieges d'honneur , et vous debout derriere comme une servanle; elles triomphantes et fieres, et vous abattue et oppressed Oh! qu'elles partent.et sans retard. Mais deja votre secret leur appartient. Ge mari que vous leur avouez 11 'avoir jamais vu, fortes des ambiguites inseparables d'un. oracle, elles vous le transforment en serpent , que sais-je ? en dragon aux hideux embrassemens , n'attendant , pour en finir avec vous qu'il a reudue mere, qu'un instant de lassi- tude ou de satie'te. Fascinee, subjugue'e, vous avez promis de ne tenir comple de ses recommandalions et prieres; vous allez essayer de tromper sa vigilance, de contenter a tout prix une dangereuse curiosite. Une lampe, un poignard, ont etc rerais en vos faibles mains et a quelles fins? Oh ! que puisseiit les flots engloutir les perfides qui vous trompent , a. qui votre bonheur pese ! Puissent les vents briser contre les rocs les nefs qui les ont amenees, le tout en vue des hauls combles de cetle demeure pour elles si hospitaliere 1 It is night, and every one sleeps except Psyche ! Her hair fastened on the top of her head so that the ligth rubbing of it on her white shoulders, cannot be heard, unincumbered by any dress , that no noise about her person might lead to her discovery, a lamp, and a weapon in her hand, ready to strike, if before her should appear the monster of whom her young imagination has been so long beset; she advances with trembling steps and hesitatingly; searching about, finds sleeping so sweetly thai nothing can equal it whom? the celebrated son of Venus, the God of love! the most perfect and finished in beauty, and polished manners that can be desired; such indeed, that the beautiful Venus was unable to find the smallest cause of being sorry for having begotten him. On the ground lay a bow , a quiver, and arrows, and Psyche curious to try, on her knees the steeled point of the darts, to give herself a slight wound thus inoculating herself slrongly with love from Cupid himself. At length , she comes to the couch where Cupid reposes, and half bending over the beautiful infant, at this ravishing sight, forgetful of her poniard, she covers with light the beautiful body that she admires. But from the lamp lamp of misfortune ! spouts a drop of oil, which falls scalding on the shoulder of the God. He awakes. Psyche, the lamp, the poniard, at the same moment strike his view, faithful to his promise, he escapes from the arms of the unfortunate one , whatever efforts she makes to restrain him, or to stop him, or even to attach her- self to him. 11 est nuit et lout dort... lout, excepte Psyche. Les cheveux releves sur le sommet de la tele , pour qu'on n'en puisse ouir Je le'ger froissemeut sur ses blanches e'paules ; de'barrassee de toul vetemenl, pour que nul bruil aulour d'elle nela de'cele; une lampe , une arme a la main , prele a frapper si a ses yeux s'offre le monstre dont sa jeune imagination esl depuis long-lemps obse'de'e ; elle avance a pas Iremblans et suspen- dus, regarde et Irouve (*) dormant tant doucement que rien plus, qui? I' excellent fils de Venus , le dieu d' amour , le plus parfait et accompli en beaute et bonne grace qu'on pourrait souhaiter, tel enfin que la belle Venus n'eut su trouper en lui la moindre occasion du monde de se repentir de I'avoir engendre. A terre sonl un arc, un carquois , des fleches , et toujours cu- rieuse d'essayer, a genoux , la poinle ace're'e des traits, Psyche de se faire merne au doigt le'gere blessure , s'inoculanl ainsi a haule dose de 1'amour pour 1'Amour meme. Enfin, revient- elle a la couche oil Cupidon repose , et demi-peuchee sur le bel enfant, loul a ce ravissant spectacle, oublieuse de son poignard , elle inonde de lumiere ce corps gracieux qu'elle admire. Mais de la lampe, lampe de malheur, jaillit une goulte d'huile qui relombe bouillante sur 1'e'paule du dieu. II s'e'veille : Psyche, la lampe, le poignard, frappenl en meme lemps sa vue; et, fidele a sa parole, il s'e'chappe des bras de la malheureuse , quelques efforts qu'elle fasse pour 1'arreler , le retenir, ou tout au moins s'attacher a lui. (*) Traduction de Georges de la Bouthiere , i553. Psycht. C. 14- Light as the fugitive cloud, or (he bird, Cupid swiftly divides the air, Lis bow in his hand ! So rapid is his flight , that the long tresses of his hair are thrown back behind. Woody hills, smiling valies, rivers with limpid course, are spread in panoramic view beneath him , without obtaining a single glance , any more than Psyche , who without taking time to throw on any clothing, has not ceased to follow him. In vain kneeling down, with upraised arms, and tearing her hair in despair, does she exhaust herself in supplica- tions and entreaties ; (he fugitive is already even out of sight, and Psyche casls herself in the river head foremost, to put an end to her anguish. But the tide rejecting the life of the young girl, deposes her in safely, upon the bank. There, the goat-footed God, Pan, with hairy body, with forehead armed with horns, and beard thick and bushy , invites her lo sit near him ; he even forgot for some moments both his seven reeded pipe , and his skipping flock , which con- stitute his riches, and his joy, to say , byway of consolation to the unfortunate one, that between Cupid, and a pretty woman like her, mailers could only finish by being arran- ged. Besides the little God had already done so much ; and now, for the first time Psyche learnt, what were the orders Venus had intimated to her son, and the manner in which he had transgressed them. Yet more deeply enamoured , if it were only through grati- tude, and not losing all hope , she travelled so hard day and night , that at length she arrived on the lop of a rock, whose situation and almost form , reminded her of that on which she had been exposed. On its top was an irregular platform hovering over the country, and over a city which was not deficient in towns, triumphal arches, and narrow obelisks. It chanced to happen, that having descended in the city, and standing near a building not yet finished, Psyche meets with her sisters , and it was with great difficulty that she was recognized by them. She was in a manner obliged to make herself known , and when she had related her adventure, what loud exclamations there were, what endless complaints. The event had slighted both them, their fears, and their coun- sels; but who is there that does not deceive? Besides, they had placed such entire confidence, and. again ; all might not be lost perhaps. Cupid having been once smitten with the charms of a mortal, could he answer for himself in future? His favour offered, Psyche had hastened to possess herself of it ; she related so artlessly a little fable quite extempore , that each of the sisters retired, with the conviction that Cupid disatisfied with their youngest sister, and repudiating her, would return to one of them. So far these foolish pre- tentions of theirs were only ridiculous; but the following day , the eldest sisters were found dead at the foot of a rock. As soon as night was come, each sister had taken advantage of it, to visit the platform. There believing themselves already in the arms of the god of love, deceiving themselves on account of the vague resemblance of the siluations, mistaking for the officious Zephyr a light breeze , which blowed of adven- ture, and flattering themselves with being sustained, and transported as formerly, they abandoned themselves to this deceitful breath ; an instant had sufficed to pass from life iu death. Thus was Psyche revenged. 16. Le'ger comme 1'oiseau , comme le nuage vagabond, Cupidon fend 1'air a lire-d'ailes , son arc a la main. Si rapide est son vol , que les longues boucles de ses cheveux en sont rejetees en arriere. Col lines boise'es, vallees rianles, fleuves au limpide cours, se deploient en panorama au-dessous de lui sans oble- nir un regard, non plus que Psyche, qui , sans prendre le lemps de revetir quelques habits, n'a cesse de le suivre. En vain, agenouillee, les brasleves, et s'arrachant les cheveux de de'sespoir, s'epuise-l-elle en supplications, en prieres ; le fugitif est dc'ja hors de la porle'e meme de la vue ; et Psvche de se lancer dans le fleuve, la tele !a premiere, pour meltre un terme a ses angoisses. Mais Jes llols, comme ne voulant pas d'elle et de sa vie de jeune fille, la deposerenl saine et sauve sur le rivage. La, le dieu Pan, aux pieds de chevre, au corps velu, au front arme de comes , et a la barbe melee et touffue , la fit asseoir pres de lui ; il oublia meme quelques instans et Jes sept luyaux de sa flute , et ses bondissans troupeaux , sa richesse et sa joie , pour dire , a litre de con- solation, a I'infortunee, qu'enlre 1'amour et une jolie femme ainsi qu'elle les choses ne pouvaient que finirpar s'arranger. D'ailleurs, le petit dieu avail tant fait deja ; et ici, pour la premiere fois, Psvche apprit quels ordres Venus avail intimes a son fils , el commenl il les avail transgresses. Plus eprise encore , ne fut-ce que par reconnaissance , et ne perdant pas lout espoir, tant elle chemina de jour et de nuit, qu'enfin elle arriva sur un haul rocher dont la situa- tion et presque la forme lui rappelerent celui oil on 1'avait. exposee- De son sommet , irregulier plateau , on planait sur la campagne et sur une cite qui ne manquait non plus de lours , d'arcs de triompbe , ni d'obelisques elances. Le hasard voulul que, descendue en la ville et pres d'un monu- ment encore en construction , Psyche fit rencontre de ses sceurs : a grand' peine en ful-elle reconnue. Force lui fut de senommer; et quand elle cut raconleson avenlure, cefurent de grandes exclamations, d'inlinies doleances. L'evenement leur avail donne tort, a elles, a leurs craintes , a leurs con- seils; mais qui ne se trompe ? Elles etaient d'ailleurs de si bonne foi ; el puis lout n'etait peut-etre pas perdu. L' Amour, apres s'etre laisse prendre une fois aux charmes d'une mor- lelle, pouvail-il bien repondre de lui pour I'avenir? Getle derniere donnee , Psyche se hala de s'en emparer ; elle dc'bila si naturellemenl uue petite fable loul improvisee , que cba- que sojur se retira , emportanl cette conviction que 1'Amour, mecontenl de leur cadelle, et la repudiant, allait revenir a 1'une d'elles. Jusque-la il n'y avail qu'a rire de ces folles prelenlions ; mais le lendemain on Irouva les deux ainees sans vieau pied du roc. Silol la nuit venue, chaque sceur en avail profile pour se rendre sur le plateau. La, se crojant deja dans les bras du dieu d'amour, s'abusanl elles-memes en raison de la vague ressernblauce des localite's, prenaul pour rofllcieux Zephyr une legere brise qui soufflail d' avenlure , et se flaltant d'etre comme autrefois soutenues el Iransporlees , elles s'elaienl abandonnees a ce souffle Irompeur ; un inslant avail suffi pour qu'elles dussenl passer de vie a trepas. Ainsi fut vengee Psyche. As for Cupid, a solemn edict confines him to his bed. Do vou see him not knowing what position to remain iu, throw- ing about curtains, and blankets, with the impatience of a child more indisposed from weariness, than from his burn, At liberty to break, if he should take a fancy to it, his bow, which they left him for a plaything ; he will equally suffer confinement, and no less submit to receive from his mother, all those reproaches which a feeling of dignity as goddess and of mother disobeyed, suggest to Venus; and for the cer- tain fact known to her , and to every one, of the pregnancy of Psyche. What a fine father of a family you will make truly, cried she to him. And as for me, am I not of an age and shape to hear myself called grandmother? She would have continued to rail on , if Juno and Ceres had not entered to pay a visit, Divinities very talkative, and rather gossips , they exacted twenty times a repetition of the fact, and all particulars , not sparing either to the son or the mother their compliments of condolence , so nearly border- ing on raillery, any more than malignant allusions and kind suppositions. Venus in accompanying them to the door, asked them to assist her in the active search she was about to make. She added that she must have the insolent Psyche dead or alive ; then they separated. Quant a 1' Amour, une grave ordonnance le retient au lif. Le voyez-vous, ne sachant quelle position garder, rejeter loin de lui rideaux et couverlures avec 1'impalience d'un enfant plus malade d'ennui que de sa LrulureTLibre a lui de briser, s'il lui en prend fantaisie, son arc qu'on lui a laisse comme jouet ; il n'en sera pas moins garde a vue , il ne lui en faudra pas moins subir, de la part de sa mere, toute la serie de reproches que suggerent a Venus le sentiment de sa dignite de de'esse et de mere meconnue, et le fait, constant aujourd'hui pourelle comme pour tous, de la grossesse de Psyche. Que vous ferez vraiment un beau pere de famille! lui repelait-elle. Ne guis-je pas, moi , pour ma part, d'age et de tournure a m'entendre appeler grand'mere? Elle parlerait encore , si Junon et Geres ne fussent venues en visile. Divinilcs fort causeuses et un peu coinmeres, elles se iirent vingt fois repeter le fait et les details , n'epargnant ni au fils ni a la mere les complimens de condoleance, si voi- sinsde la raillerie, non plus que les allusions malignes et les ohligeantes suppositions. Venus, en les reconduisant jusqu'a la porte , leur demanda de 1'aider dans les actives recherches qu'elle allait faire. Elle ajoula qu'il lui fallait 1'insolente Psyche morte on vive ; puis on se separa. Too muck royally fatigues; it is the same with respect to divinity. Happy sometimes the immortals to forsake Olym- pus, and lo exchange stately dwellings , for modest residen- ces; altogether those of friendship, where, as ease , we lead the private and retired life of citizens. Ceres and Juno pos- sessed not far from each other, their villa, their Trianon , their Country seat as the English term it. Ceres made choice of a corner possessing a smiling landscape; it was an estate of middling extent , inclosed by delightful hills, and interspersed with wood, with fields, meadows, and rustic habitations Less moderate in her taste , Juno fixed upon the centre of a stately and umbrageous wood. She delighted in solemn trees , only admitting under their vaulted foliage, a sombre light, and whose strong branches might sustain perhaps , offerings from devotees of rich hangings, bearing the name embroidered in gold of the suppliant lo the god- dess, and an indication of the sort of benefit, that was soli- cited as well from her kindness , as from her immense power. Besides which , she chose to have a temple of noble and bold proportions, where all should appear dignified and worthy of the wife , and sister of Jupiter. That of Ceres , on the contrary, was remarkable for its simplicity, for its slender columns , and for the smallnessof ils extent. At the entrance lay heaped up, and in confusion, sheaves of barley and of wheat, flexible ears of corn, plai- sed into crowns, with sickles and rakes, the first fruits of harvest, and implements of agriculture, offered by the hus- bandmen to the good goddess. Psyche prostrate, after calling lo mind her intercourse with Cupid, her curiosity, and is fatal consequences; also the anger of Venus, and what she had lo dread from it, asked the favour alone of being permitted to conceal her- self, if it were merely for a day or two; under the sheaves, and to subsist upon the grain that might fall from them; ,8,-, 9 . but whatever good-will Ceres owed llie suppliant, on ac- count of the wild red poppies , corn flowers , and others , which grow in the fields, with which she had taken care to refresken and lo ornament her emblematic Cornucopia; she only answered by a refusal , and begged her to begone. Juno, whom Psyche flattered herself to conciliate, by in- voking her under the name of Jugalis and that of Lucina; Juno, whom she stopt even on the threshold of her temple , did not condescend to listen , and passed on , delighted ho- wever, by not detaining the fugitive, to have occasion without its appearing loo palpable , to disoblige Venus ; who impatient to gain her ends , was going to have recourse to strong measures. Trop de royaule fatigue; ainsi en serait-il de trop de divi- nile ? Heureux parfois les immortels de deserter 1'OIympe et d'en echanger les magnifiques lambris contre de modestes residences, toules d'affection, oil Ton peut a 1'aise faire de la vie prive'e et humaine , de la bourgeoisie ! Ceres et Junon avaient , non loin 1'une de 1'aulre , leur Villa, leur Trianon, leur relraite orne'e , comme disent les Anglais. Ceres s'elait choisi le coin d'un rianl paysage : c'elail un terrain de me- diocre elendue, ceint d'agreables coleaux, et mele de bois, de champs , de prairies et d'habilations rusliques. Moins mo- desle dans ses gouts, Junon se plaisait au centre d'une clai- riere d'un bois epais. Elle aimait les arbres seculaires, ne laissanl peuelrer sous leurs voules de feuillage qu'un jour religieux, el donl les branches vigoureuses pussenl recevoir en guise d'ejc-voto de riches tentures , portant en broderies d'or le nom du suppliant de la deesse, et 1'indicalion du genre de bienfait qu'on allendail de sa bonle comme de sa toule-puissance. Elle avail de plus voulu un lemple de pro- porlions nobles el hardies , oil lout fut grandiose el digne de la femme et de la soeur de Jupiter. Celui de Ceres , au con- traire, elail remarquable par sa simplicile , par ses greles colonnes el par le peu d'e'lendue de son pourlour. A 1'entree gisaient, enlasses et pele-mele , des gerbes d'orge et deble, de flexibles epis tresses en couronnes , des faucilles et des raleaux, pre'mices de recolles el inslrumens araloires offerls par les laboureurs a la bonne deesse. Psyche proslernee , apres avoir rappele en deux mots ses rapports avec 1'Amour , sa curiosite el ses falales suiles , la colere de Venus el ce qu'elle avail a en redouter, demanda pour toule grace qu'il lui fut permis de se cacher , ne ful-ce qu'un jour un oudeux, sous les javelles , el de vivredu grain qui en lomberail; mais, quelque gre que Ceres sut a la sup- plianle, des coquelicots , bleuels el aulres fleurs qui croissent daus les champs, dont elle avail pris soin de rajeunir et ,8. - , 3 . d'orner son emble'matique corne d'aboudance , elle ne repon- dif que par utt refus , et 1'invita a s'e'loigner. Junon , que Ps_yche se flattait de se concilier en 1'invo- quant sous ses noms de Jugalis et de Lucina ; Junon qu'elle arreta au seuil meme de son temple , ne daigna pas 1'e'couter et passa outre , encbante'e toutefois , en ne retenant pas la fugitive , d'avoir 1'occasion , sans qu'il y parut trop , de desobliger Venus , qui , impatiente d'en venir a ses fins , va recourir aux grands mojens. * After due attention paid to her head-dress, Venus attires herself with care and coquetry , orders forth her golden car , the workmanship of Vulcan, her chariot with carved wheels. At her voice four young and delicate pigeons, white like the plumage of the swan , present of their own accord , their necks of divers hues, to the yoke of pearl which the goddess attache to them. A double silken thread in her hand, Venus seats herself, and quitting the earth, guides the charming team towards the skies, and the regions of air grow serene, the clouds disperse, and dissipate at her approach. It was a day of Far niente, of holiday, in Empireum , Jupiter having Mercury at his side, on his knees was the thunder quiescent, at his feet his eagle with his usual air of fierce- ness, he was discoursing of amorous adventures with the son of Maia, of great repute in matters of that kind. The new comes was received with a smiling look. The dreadful brow which Apuleus qualiile by the word cceruleus that brow, a single movement of which, shakes all Olympus, wore no frown; the goddess was left at liberty lo order the celestial crier the Deus vocalis, as Apuleus calls him (*), Mer- cury, charged from time immemorial with the employment, as every one knows, after having learnt by heart four written lines that Gytherea had given him, takes his speaking trumpet; and for greater agility he neither invests himself in tunic nor cloak. He went forth to publish in all the roads and cross-roads. it is made known to every one, both high and low , Venus having lost a certain fair slave ng herself the wife of her son, who is now gadding about the world ; ever will make known her retreat to Venus is a matter which very nearly concerns her, Shall receive two kisses of her mouth , And whoever .hall deliver her up , .hall have someting btvond ("). I, 3o. (") La Font.in., Thus described , Psyche could not escape ! Tired of wand- ering through roads and fields, she prefered surrendering herself up , and to declare to the attendants of Venus B scarlet and purple, or of grey and blackened smoke colour. As for Psyche , occupied with her mission she presents on her knees her humble request to the Queen of the infernal Regions. Proserpine goes out an instant, returns with the box filled, and well closed , then she dismisses the messenger. Hell and its details pass with the rapidity of a dream be fore Psyche, and behold her restored lo air, to light and to life. Plus loin s'offrent a sa vue et presque en incmc temps, ici Irois vieilles appr^leuses de chanvre, la premiere plus laide, ]>lus ridee tjue les deux autres ; la, 1'horrible et triple gueule du chien Cerbere ; le trio de Ira vail leuses assis sous unesorle de hangar, et dans le voisinage d'arbres sansombrage quoique touffus; Je trio de teles canines se dressant, fier et menacant, sous le porcbe eleve d'un vestibule, d'ou s'apercoivent deja Jes Jueurs de 1'immense fournaise. Un salut respeclueux, un gafenn de farine d'orge pelrie avec du miel , c'est tout ce qu'obtiendront de Psyche' les obst ; quieuses invitations des. vieilles , le chien et ses furieux aboiemens. Enfin la messagere de Venus est admise a se proslerncr aux pieds de Proserpine ; elle Ja Irouve assise a 1'entree de son palais, le seul endroit oil, pour recreer les yeux de la fille de Ceres, la terre aride et brulante laisse echapper de son sein quelques vege'taux d'une indecise verdure. Un artiste cut admire ces massifs, ces ciutres, ces colonnes de pierre blanche, se detachant en vifs rebauls sur un fond de flamme ecarlale et pourpre, ou de grise et noiratre fumee. Pour Psyche , loute a sa mission , elle presente a genoux son humble requele a la reine des enfers. Proserpine sort un in- stant, revient avec la boile remplie et bien ferme'e ; puis congedie 1'envojee. Devant Psjche repassent avec la rapidite d'un songe 1'enfer et ses details , et la voila rendue a 1'air, a la lumiere, a la vie. It was there that curiosity, waited to whisper in her ear. A Lox of beauty Psyche ! What an extraordinary wonder! A cover to raise, and you will know how this beauty is formed, which presents itself to you so pointedly. No wit- nesses here, no unlucky lamp to burn the shoulder of a God, or sleeper to awake, and if you conceal from your odious tyrant a very small portion of this precious treasure, in order to regain the heart of your husband, where would be the harm ? Prudence opposes certain answers to these insinuations, and to this logic; but silence is imposed on her, The hand is passed a huudred times over the glossy compartments of the box, the solidity of the hinge his tried, in short the box was opened, and there escaped from it, instead of beauly, a nauseous and somniferous vapour, Psyche as though struck with lethargy falls with her face towards the earth. This lime she had been for ever lost, had not Cupid himself unexpectedly come to her aid. Her wound healed, her recovery complete, she suffers only now for the absence of her well beloved. Venus imagined indeed that she had placed guards at the door, but there remained a narrow window and the malicious God escapes. His wing as though renovated by such long inactivity , he makes but one flight to her whom he is impatient to see again. What a spectacle! Psyche extended on the earth as if dead! He begins by collecting from around, the iutoxicating vapour, and the whole is replaced in the box as before, then slightly tou- ching Psyche with the point of one of his arrows, he awakes her : There then , poor little creature said he to her, how- well you take warning by former lessons, now that all is repaired, it is for you to rejoin my mother, and for me to act. {Detail la que la Curiosite 1'altendait, pour lui dire a I'o- reille : Une boite de beaule, Psyche! quelle singularity -merveilleuse ! un couvercle a soulever, et lu saurais com- ment esl faite cetle beaule' , qui le viendrait a loi-rueme si bien a point. Nuls le'moins ici; pas de lampe maleucon- treuse, d'e'paule de dieu a bruler, de dormeur a e veiller ; et quand lu de'roberais a ton odieux lyran une toule petile porlion de ce pre'eieux Ire'sor pour parvenir a reconquerir le coeur de ton mari , oil serait le rnal ? La Prudence opposa bien quelques repliques a ces insinua- tions el a cetle logique ; mais on lui imposa siience. On passa la main cent fois sur les lisses parois de la boile; on voulut essajer la solidile de la charniere ; bref , la boite fut ouveile; il s'en e'chappa, au lieu de beauie , une vapeur nauseabonde el somnifere ; et Psyche de tomber le visage conlre lerie; vous la diriez frappe'e de le'lhargie. Gette fois e'en e'lait fail d'elle a loujours , ne fut survenu I'Amour lui-meme. Sa blessure est cicatrisee, sa convalescence com- plete; il ue souffrc plus quede 1'absence de sa mieujcaime'e("). Ye'iius a bien pense a mellre gardiens aux portes ; mais reste une elroile fenelre; le malin dieu s'e'cliappe. L'aile couime rajeunie par une aussi longue inaclion, il ne fait qu'un vol jusqn'a celle qu'il a impalience de revoir. Quel spectacle! Psvche e'lendue a terre comme morte ! II commence par en- lever d'aulour d'elle I'enivranle vapeur, el le lout relrouve place en la boite comme devant; puis, effleurant Psyche de la pointe d'une de ses fleches, il la reveille. Voila done , pauvrelle , lui dit-il, comme les leyons vous profilenl t main tenant que lout esl repare , a vous de icjoindre ma mere, a moi d'agir. (")Jned'or, 1616. Lors il tenle un tour tie son metier. Faisant force d'ailes, il monle jusqu'au plus haul descieux, va trouver Jupiter , el tant et si Lien plaitlc qu'on lui donne gain de cause. I'our miepx embrasser le gentil Cupidon , le bon Jupia s'en remet du soin de lenir ses carreaux au bee de son aigle; il emploie meme, ainsi qu'on peut le voir au texle d'ApuIe'e, trenle lignes environ d'allocution a declarer que, bien que 1'Amour en use quelquefois le plus leslement du monde avec son Omnipotence, lui imposant mille exlravaganles passions ou travestissemens ridicules, il n'a , divinite sans rancune, rien a refuser a 1'eufant dout il est en quelque sorte le pere nourricier. II y met toutefois uiie condition : si par aveuture se rencontre quelque mortelle , jeune et de rare beaute , clout veuille s'occuper le dieu par excellence, Gupidon fera en sorte d'amenei* les choses a bien; ainsi, service pour ser- vice. L' Amour epousera done Psjche. Resle toutefois a y fa ire consentir Venus, et, pour qu'il n'y ait pas trop choquanfe mesalliance a obtenir de 1'Olympe en corps un brevet d'itn- mortalile pour la future. Point de temps a perdre. Mercure revet de la tele aux pieds la giande tenue de messager ce- leste : ailes au chef, ailes aux talons, en main le caducee , aulour des reins une scuple et llottante e'charpe , leger , ele- gant a ravir , il glissea travers les nuages , aussi prompt que la pensee, de libre allure comme elle. Point d'immortcls iuscrilsen V Album des Muses, qu'il ne convoque a peine de iix mille ecus d'amende (*). Sa lournee faite , il servira d'in- troducteur a la nouvelle venue. (*) Apulec, torn, II , pag. 3g Then he has recourse to a trick of his trade , with great exertion of flying , he mounts even to the highest heavens , presents himself to Jupiter, and pleads so long, and so well, that his request is granted. The better to embrace the pretty Cupid, good Jupin remist his care of supplying thunder bolts to the beak of hif eagle. He employs even ( as may be seen by the text of Apuleus) about 3o lines of harangue to declare , that although Cupid acts sometimes most scur- vily with his Godhead , imposing on him a thousand extra- vagant passions, or ridiculous disguises, he can refuse noth- ing to the child of -whom he is in some degree the. He however annexes condition to it ; if by chance some mortal should be met with, young, and of rare beauty, about whom the G0d should occupy himself by way of emi- nence, Cupid will act so as to bring matters to a happy conclusion , thus service for service : Cupid will then espouse Psyche. There remains however to obtain the consent of Venus , and that there may not appear a disparity of rank too shocking, there must be no time lost in obtaining a grant of immortality for the bride, from the assembly at Olympus. Mercury invests himself from head to foot in ihe full dress of the celestial messenger, wings on head, and on heel?, caduceus in hand around his loins, a pliant and waving scarf. Light, elegant even to admiration , he shoots across the clouds as quick , and with step as free as thought itself. No immortals inscribed in the Album of the muses whom he does not summon under a tine of 10000 crowns*. His circuit finished, he will perferm the office of usher- ing in the new corner. Apuleius, V. 3. . 3o. Chose rare ! onse trouva au grand complet. QueJle plus im- posante reunion ! En avant de lous, Jupiter et Junon ; Jupiter, un globe sous les pieds, tient d'uue main sur ses genoux son lonnerre tout pacifique pour 1'instant, et de 1'autre flalte et apaise son- aiijle , qui , la serre en avant, les ailes demi- ouverles , menace de 1'ceil et du bee le paon de la reine des dieux. Ranges en cercle , les aulres dieux et de'esses sont re- connaissaLles a leurs altributs : Hercule , a sa peau de lion , a sa massue; Apollon, a sa lyre ; Neptune , a sou trident ; Mars, a son casque; Janus, a son double visage ; Diane, a son croissant; Minerve , a sa lance a sa cuirasse ; aux derniers rangs se voieut 1'Hjmen et autres divinite's de moindr* im- portance. La mesure est mise aux voix et adoptee a 1'unani- mite. Mercure, en execution du vo?u general, gratifie Psyche d'une ample tasse d'ambroisie, et 1'Amour j>re'sente a tout le cercle sa douce inoitie , lout fier d'avoir, avanl la noce, de'forme une jolie taiile. 3*. - 33- They pass on to the bankelting hall ; Juno does the honours of the table, and places all the guests with suitable elegance of manner. Jupiter was gallant with the ladies ; Pluto chaced every sombre idea; Hercule did not spare the nectar, and Vulcan always ready with pun , and jest, excited more than once Homeric laughter. From the first course to the last, Cupid did not cease to pass from the knees of Psyche to those of Venus; the mother in law, and daughter in law, being on the best possible terms. As for the Hours , whose short wings are decorated or not with those eyes seen on the wings of butterflies, according as they are hours of day or of night, they strewed with flowers, both the table and the floor. . . - ; %* * * * .** 3 4 . _35. On passe en la salle du banquet ; Junon fait les honneur?, et place avec tact et convenance ses convives. Jupiter fut galant avec les dames ; Pluton chassa toule idee noire ; Hercule ne s'e'pargna pas le nectar ; toujours fort sur Ie quolibet et le bon mot , Vulcaia provoqua plus d'une fois Ie rire home'rique. Du premier service au dernier , 1'Amour ne cessa d'aller des genoux de sa Psyche aux genoux de Yeinis, la belle-mere et la bru s'entendant le mieux du monde. Pour les Heures, dont les courtes ailes sont de'corees ou non de ces veux qu'on voit aux ailes des papillons , selon qu'elles sont heures de jour ou beures de nuit , elles joncherent de fleurs la table et le plancher. Every history must have a conclusion , how will this end? A single glance cast on the last and all significant sheet of our author , will shew more even lo (he least experienced than long phrase woul do. View turn by turn , this vast and isolated chamber, those ample curtains, which the boldness of painlaing has raised for a moment, that downy pillow upon which two heads repose, that couch, which is pressed both by a stripling and a young woman, over whom he watches; the one with a sly and commanding air, the other all submission joy and voluptuousness. This whole does it not answer (o Psyche, lo the pretty playful son of Venus to Cupid and to his mild and well belowed Tsyche ? Thus said the old Tbessalian woman whom Apuleus does not scruple lo style dolard but merely in order that we may protest against it : And now Go , little book , God send thee good passage , And specially let ihis be thy prayer , Unto them all that thee will read or hear, Where thou art wrong , after their help to call , Thee to correct in any part or all. CHAUCER'S , Belle Jam* , II faut a toute Listoire une conclusion : comment prendra fincelle-ci? Un seul coup-d'oeil, jele sur le dernier et lout significatif carton de notre auteur, en apprendra plus , meme au moins experimente, que ne le feraient de longues phrases . Tnlerrogez lour a tour cette chambre vaste et isolee , ces am- ples rideaux qu'une hardiesse de peintre a releves pour un instant, ce moelleux oreiller sur qui reposent deux tetes, cetle couche que foulent a la fois un jouvenceau qui veille et une jeune femme endormie ; 1'un , Fair malin et conque- rant ; Fautre, tout repos, abandon et volupte. Get ensemble ne repond-il pas : A Psyche , le gentil , le folatre fils de Ve- nus ; a F Amour , sa douce, sa mieux aimee Psyche. Ainsi disait la vieille Thessalienne qu'Apulee ne se geue pas de qualifier de Radoteuse , mais uniquement pour qu'on proteste. Veuille le lecteur , meme en depit de ces Ireote pages ecrites apres tant d'autres pages , consentir a rayer Fe'pithete! Et maintenant ! . . . . Va , petit lirre, que Diu t'envoie un heureux passage , Et surtout que te soil permise la priere A tous ceux qui te liront ou t'entendront lire , Pour qu'ils veuillent , ou tu seras faible , te preter leur f'oree , Oil tu pecherat , te corriger en tout ou en partie. CHADGIK'S, Belle Dame sans mcrci. La Notice en tete de la premiere livraison des Loges de Raphael est de M. Duchesne. Le texte en regard de chaque planche est extrait litteralement de la Bible de Sacy. La Notice sur les dessins de Psyche est de M. Duchesne. Le texte explicatif des sujets est de M. Lemolt Phalary. MM. les Souscripteurs recevront des litres pour ces deux Collections. The palace of the Vatican , like that of most sovereigns is composed of several parts constructed and decorated at diffe, rent periods. Amongst the artisls who were ordered (o em- bellish it', Raphael may be considered as the principal, as well for the number of his paintings, as for (heir variety aud richness. In three of the rooms he executed large historical or alle- gorical subjects, Ihe merit of which is well known; he also adorned the arched roofs in the same manner; and in a building of three stories in heigth , called ( Les Loges) he also painted fancy ornaments in fresco altogether remarka- ble for their elegance , their richness , and for the variety of their colours. These ornaments done in imitation of those which were just discovered in the baths of Titus, and of Livy, were composed and drawn by Raphael; the execution in fresco, is by Jean de Udine , and some of his fellow students, ac- customed to work after the style of their master. The pil- lars also, and surface of the Pier Glasses, as well as the cor- responding part on the wall at the bottom , are covered with these elegant paintings ; the vault of each arch presents four subjects, in which this great master has represented many scenes from sacred history, from the book of Genesis, down to the last supper of our Saviour with his Apostles. The figures are two feet high , and the pictures about 6 fact 4 inches, by 4 feet 3 inches. It is in the first of these compositions that we have an opportunity of judging of the talent of Raphael, as compared with that of Machael Angelo, for it could not be olher than intentionally thai the young Roman painter represented subjects already selected by the old Florentine artist. There Loges. is no reason however to suppose Ibat be did it from a motive of jealousy , and lo shew himself superior to his predecessor. We must however allow , that he has given a proof of a sublime genius when he represensed the Deity clearing away Chaos, then creating light, and placing in the Heavens the two planets which illumine the earth , as well as, the moment in which Adam in presented with a wife formed from himself, and who is ever to remain his own half. Most of these figures are admirably conceived , that of God dispersing Chaos has something about it so unutterably grand, as (o render the beholder dumb with awe, and strikes the imagination so forcibly, that one may imagine this figure as large as Ihe -word itself. This collection of 82 paintings has often been designated the Bible of Raphael, it was published, in 1607, by Sixle Badolochi and Jean Lanfranc, and in 1688 by Ni- colas Chapron. Montagnari engaged different engravers to make a continuation of it, and published the same at Rome, in 1790. At length M. de Meulemester, an eminent engraver (pupil of Bervic) passed twelve years in Rome in making with all the care possible, and at a great expense , very exact drawing, which he afterwards engraved himself, with remarkable accuracy. Three numbers only have as yet ap- peared , but we must hope , that the encouragement which he will receive from the friends and protectors of the arts, will enable him to surmount the obstacles which the revolu- tions of France and Belgium have produced in the publica- tion of all works on the arts and sciences. N. B. We should only make extracts from the holy scrip- tures of such parts as relate to the compositions of Raphael, without paying attention to Ihe continuity of any certain history. Le palais du Valican, ainsi qne ceux de la plupart des souverains, est compose de plusieurs parties construites et decorees a dese'poques differentes. Parmi lesarlistesquifurent charge's d'embellir ce palais, Raphael peut elre regarde comme le principal , tant a cause du nombre de ses peintures qu'a cause de leur variete el de leur richesse. II fit dans trois salles de grandes compositions hisloriques on allegoriques dont le me'rite esl bien connu, il en decora aussi les voutes et dans une construction a trois e'lages, dite les Loges, il peignit des ornemens arabesques lout-a-fait re- marquables par leur elegance, leur richesse et la variete de leurscouleurs. Ces ornemens fails a 1'imilation de ceux qui venaient d'etre decouverts dans les bains de Titus et dans ceux de Livie , furent composes et dessiries par Raphael ; quant a 1'exe'culion a fresque, elle est de Jean de Udine et de quelques-uns de ses condisciples habitue's a travailler en commun d'apres les ide'es de Jeur maitre.L'e'paisseur des piliers, aiusi que la sur- face des trumeaux et la parlie correspondante sur le mur du fond, sont couverls par ces elegantes peintures; la voiite de chaque trave'e offre quatre tableaux, dans lesquels cet habile mailre a represente plusieurs sujets del'hisloiresainte, depuis les premiers temps de la Genese, jusqu'a la Gene de Jesus- Christ uvec ses apotres. Les figures ont deux pieds de propor- tion , et les tableaux environ six pieds sur quatre. G'est dans les premieres de ces compositions, que Ton peut trouver des motifs pour juger le talent de Raphael compara- livement a celui de Michel-Ange, car ce ne peut etre sans intention que le jeune peinlre romain ait represente des sujels deja trailes par le vieil artiste florentin. Mais il n'est pas ne'~ Loges. i. II cessaire de croire qu'il 1'ait fait par un motif de jalousie , et pour se montrer supe'rieur a son devancier. Gependaul on ne peut se dissimuler qu'il ait fait preuve d'un genie sublime lorsqu'il a peint Dieu de'brouillanl le chaos , puis cre'ant la lumiere, et placant dans le ciel les deux astres qui e'clairenl la lerre; aiusi que le moment oil il donne a Adam une femuie tiree de lui , et qui doit toujours rester la moitie de lui-meine. Plusieurs de ces figures sont d'une pose admirable, celle de Dieu de'brouillant le chaos a quelque chose de grandiose qui rend muet de stupefaction, et frappe tellemeut 1'imaginalion que Ton pourrait croire celle figure aussi immense que le monde. Cette suile de 5 tableaux a souvent etc designe'e sous la denomination de Bible de Raphael, elle a e'te publiee en 1607; par Sixte Badolochi et Jean Lanfranc, en i638 par Nicolas Chapron. Monfagnanien fit faire une suite par divers graveurs et la publia a Rome en 1790. Enfin M. de Meulemester, ha- bile graveur, e'leve de Bervic, a passe douze anne'es a Rome, pour faire avec tout le soin possible et une grande de'pense des dessins exacts qu'il a ensuile grave's lui-meme avec un talent remarquable. Trois livraisons seulement de cette der- niere publication ont paru jusqu'a present; esperons que les encouragemens que 1'auleur recevra des amis et des protecteurs des arts lui donneront la possibilite de surmonler les obstacles que les revolutions de France et de Belgique sont venus ap- porler a toutes les publications d'ouvrages sur les arls et les sciences. Nola. Nous n'avons du extraire de la Bible que ce qui se rapporte aux compositions de Raphael, sans cherchera con- server une histoire suivie. In the beginning God created the Heaven and the Earth. And the earth was without form and void ; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said; Let there be light : and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good : and God divided the light from the darkness. And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day. And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters. And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament, and it was so. And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day. And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear : and it was so. , And God called the dry land Earth ; and the gathering to- gether of the waters called the Seas : and God saw that it wa$ good. And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth : and it was so. And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind : and God saw that it was good. And the evening and the morning were the third day. (GENESIS j.) Au commencement Dieu cre'a le Ciel et laTerre. La lerre elait informe et toule nue ; les le'nebres couvraient Ja face de 1'abime ; et 1'Espritde Dieu elait porle sur les eaux. Or Dieu dit: Que Ja lumiere soil faile : et la Jurniere fut faite. Dieu vit que la lumiere e'tait bonne , et se'para la lumiere d'avec les tenebres. II donna a la lumiere le iiom de Jour, et aux le'nebres le nom de Nuit ; et du soir et du matin se fit le premier jour. Dieu dit aussi : Que le firmament soil ,fait au milieu des eaux, et qu'il separe les eaux d'avec les eaux. Et Dieu fit le firmament : et il se'para les eaux qui e'taient sous le firmament d'avec celles qui e'laient au-dessus du fir- mament. Et cela se fit ainsi. Et Dieu donna au firmament le nom de Ciel ; et du soir et du matin se fit le second jour. Dieu dit encore : Que les eaux qui sont sous le ciel se ras- semblent en un seul lieu , et que I 'element aride paraisse. Et cela se fit ainsi. Dieu donna a I' dement aride le nom de Terre , et il appela Mers toutes les eaux rassemblees. Et il vit que cela e'tait bon. Dieu dit encore : Que la terre produise de 1'herbe verte qui porte de la graine , et des arbres fruiliers qui portent du fruit chacun selon son espece, et qui renferment leur semence en eux-memes pour se reproduire sur la terre. Et cela se fit ainsi. La terre produisit done de 1'herbe verte qui porlait de la graine selon son espece, el des arbres fruitiers qui rcnfer- maient leur semence en eux-memes , chacun selon son espece. Et Dieu vit que cela elait bon. Et du soir et du matin se fit Je troisieme jour. HI. - IV. And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years : And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth : and it was so. And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night : he made the stars also, And God set them in the firmament of the heaven tc give light upon the earth. And to rule over the day and over the nighf, and to divide the light from the darkness : and God saw that it was good. And. the evening and the morning were the fourth day. And Good said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven. And God created great-whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind : and God saw that it was good. And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth. And the evening and the morning were the fifth day. And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth'after his hind : and it was so. And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepech upon the eartb after his kind : and God saw that it was good. (GENESIS i.) 111. IV. Dieu dit aussi : Que des corps de lumiere soient fails dans le firmament du ciel , afin qu'ils se'parent le jour d'avec la nuit, et qu'ils servant de signes pour marquer les temps el les saisons , les jours et les anne'es. Qu'ils luisent dans le firmament du ciel, et qu'ils eclairent la terre. Et cela se fit ainsi. Dieu fit done deux grands corps lumineux, 1'un plus grand pour pre'sider au jour, et 1'autre moindre pour pre- sider a la nuit : il Jit aussi les e'toiles. Et il les rait dans le firmament du ciel pour luire sur la terre , Pour pre'sider au jour et a la nuit, et pour se'parer la lu- miere d'avec les tenebres. Et Dieu vit que cela etait bon. Et du soir et du ma I in se fit le quatrieme jour. Dieu dit encore : Que les eaux produisent des animaux vivans qui nagent dans I can , el des oiseaux qui voleul sur la terre sous le firmament du ciel. Dieu cre'a done les grands poissons, et tous les animaux qui ont la vie et le mouvement, que les eaux produisirent chacun selon son espece , et il cre'a aussi tous les oiseaux selon leur espece. 11 vit que cela etait bon. Et il lesbe'nit, en disant : Groissez et multipliez-vous, et remplissez les eaux de la mer; et que les oiseaux se inul- liplient sur la terre. Et du soir et du matin se fit le cinquieme jour. Dieu dit aussi : Que la terre produise des animaux vivans chacun selon son espeee, les animaux domestiques , les rep- tiles et les betes sauvages de la lerre selon leurs differentes especes. Et cela se fit ainsi. Dieu fit done les betes sauvages de la terre selon leurs es- peces, les animaux domestiques et lous les reptiles chacun selon son espece. Et Dieu vit que cela etait bon. (GENESE i.) ~ V. And God said, Let us make man in our image, after Our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, andover every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruit- ful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it : and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. And the lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone ; I will make him an help meet for him. And out the ground thejLord God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them : and what-soever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof. And Adam gave names of all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field ; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him. And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept : and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh : she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife : and they shall be one flesh. And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed. ( GENESIS i , 2 . ) V. 11 tlit ensuile : Faisons 1'homme a notre image et a notre ressemblauce, et qu'il commande aux poissons de la mer , aux. oiseaux du ciel , aux beles , a toute la lerre, et a lous les reptiles qui se meuvent sur la terre. Dieu crea done 1'homme a son image, il le crea a 1'image de Dieu , et il les crea male et femelle. Dieu les benil, et il leur dit : Croissez el mullipliez-vous ; remplissez la terre, et vous 1'assujetlissez , et dominez sur les poissons dela mer , sur les oiseaux du ciel, et sur lous les ani~ maux qui se meuvent sur la terre. Le Seigneur Dieu dit aussi : II n'est pas bon que I'homme soil seul ; faisons-lui un aide semblable a lui. Le Seigneur Dieu ayant done forme de la terre tous les ani- maux terrestres, et tous les oiseaux du ciel, il les amena de- vanl Adam, afin qu'il vit comment il les appellerait. Et le nom qu'Adam donna a chacun des animaux esl son nom veritable. Adam appela done lous les animaux d'un nom qui leur efail propre , lant les oiseaux du ciel que les betes de la terre. Mais il ne se trouvait point d'aide pour Adam, qui lui fiit semblable, et 1'amena a Adam. Le Seigneur Dieu envoja done a Adam un profond som- meil; et lorsqu'il elait endormi il lira une de ses coles , el mil de la chair a la place. El le Seigneur Dieu forma la femme de la cote qu'il avail liree d'Adam, Alors Adam dil : Voila mainlenanl 1'os de mesos, el la chair de ma chair. Celle-ci s'appellera d'un nom qui marque I'homme , parce qu'elle a ele prise de I'homme. G'esl pourquoi 1'homme quitlera son pere el sa mere , et s'altachera a sa femme, et ils seront deux dans une seule chair. Or Adam el sa femme elaienl alors lous deux nus, el ils u en rougissaienl point. (GENESE i , j.) VI. Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden ? And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of every tree of the garden : But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said , Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. And when the woman saw that the freew<7,f good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked ; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. (GENESIS 3. ) Or le serpent etait Ic plus fin de tous les animaux que le Seigneur Dieu avail formes sur la terre. Et il dit a la femme : Pourquoi Dieu vous-a-t-il commande de ne pas manger du fruit de tous les arbres qui sont dans le paradis? La femme lui repondit : Nous mangeons du fruit de tous les arbres qui sont dans le paradis; Mais pour ce qui est du fruit de 1'arbre qui est au milieu du paradis, Dieu nous a commande de u'en point manger, et de n'y point toucher, de peur que nous ne fussions en danger de mourir. Le serpent reparlit a la femme : Assurement vous ne mourrez point. Mais c'est que Dieu sail qu'aussitot que vous aurez mange de ce fruit, vos yeux seront ouverts, el vous serez comme des dieux, connaissant le bien el le mal. La femme consideranldonc que lefruit de ret arbre etait bon a manger; qu'il etait beau et agreable a la vue ; et en ayant pris , elle en mangea , et en donna a son mari , qui en mangea aussi. En meme temps leurs yeux furent ouverts a (ous deux; ils reconnurent qu'ils elaienl nus ; el ils entrelacerent des feuilles de figuier, et s'en firent de quoi se couvrir. ( GENESE 3.) VII. Et Dieu dit : Voila Adam devenu comme nous , sachant le bien el le mal. Empechons done maintenant qu'il ne porle sa main a 1'arbre de vie, qu'il ne prenne aussi de son fruit, et que mangeant de ce fruit il ne vive e'lernellement. Le Seigneur Dieu le fit sortir ensuite du jardin de delices ; afin qu'il allal Iravailler a la culture de la terre dont il avail etc tire. Et 1'en ayant chasse, il mit des cherubins devant le jardin de delices , qui faisaient e'tinceler une epe'e de feu , pour garder le chemin qui conduisait a 1'arbre de vie. (GENKSE 3.) V11I. And Adam knew Eve his wife ; arid she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the Lord. And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brough of the fruit of the ground an offering unlo the Lord. (GENESIS 4-) VIII. Or Adam connut Eve sa femme, et elle confut et enfanta Cain , en disant : Je possede un homme par la grace de Dieu. Elle enfanta de nouveau, et mit au monde son frere Abel. Or Abel fut pasleur de brebis, et Ca'in s'appliqua a 1'agri- culture. (GEKESE 4.) IX. The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was cor- rupt ; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth. And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come be- fore me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth, Make thee an ark of gopher wood ; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pilch it within and without with pitch. And this is the fashion which thou shalt make it of .- The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits. , A window shalt thou make to the ark, and in a cubit shalt thou finish it above ; and the door of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof; with lower, second, and third stories shalt thou make it. And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven ; and every thing that is in the earth shall die. But with thee will I establish my covenant ; and thou shall come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons' wives with thee. And of every living thing of all flesh, two of every sort shalt thou bring into the ark, to keep them alive with thee ; they shall be male and female. Of fowls after their kind, and of cattle after their kind, of every creeping thing of the earth after his kind, two of every sort shall come unto thee, to keep them alive. And take thou unto thee of all food that is eaten, and thou shalt gather it to thee; and it shall be for food for thee, and for them. Thus did Noah ; according to all that God commanded him so did he. (GENESIS 6.) IX. Or la terre etait corrompue devanl Dieu, et remplie d'iniquite. Dieu voyant done cetle corruption de la lerre ( car la vie que tous les hommes y menaieut etait toute corrompue), il dit a Noe : J'ai resolu de faire perir tous les hommes. Us ont rempli toute la terre d'iniquite, et je les exterminerai avec la terre. Failes-vous une arche de pieces de bois aplanies. Vous y ferez de petites charnbres, et vous 1'enduirez de bitume de- dans et dehors. Voici la forme que vous lui donnerez : Sa longueur sera de trois cents coudees ; sa largeur de cinquante; et sa hauteur de trente. Vous ferez a 1'arche une fenetre. Le comble qui la cou- Trira sera haut d'une coudee ; et TOUS mettrez la porte de 1'arche au cote : vous ferez un elage tout en bas, un au milieu, et un troisieme. Je vais re'pandre les eaux du deluge sur la terre pour faire mourir toute chair qui respire, et qui est vivante sous le ciel. Toutce qui est sur la terre sera consume. J'etablirai mon alliance avec vous ; et vous entrerez dans 1'arche, vous et vos fils, votre femme et les femmes de vos fils avec vous. Voii ferez entrer aussi dans 1'arche deux de chaque espece de tous les animaux, male et femelle, afm qu'ils vivent avec vous. De chaque espece des oiseaux vous en prendrez deux; de chaque espece des animaux terrestres deux; de chaque espece de ce qui rampe sur la terre deux. Deux de toute espece entreront avec vous dans 1'arche, afm qu'ils puissent vivre. Vous prendrez aussi avec vous de tout ce qui se peut manger, et vous le porterez dans 1'arohe, pour servir a votre nour- riture , el a celle de lous Jes animaux. Noe accomplit done tout ce que Dieu lui avail commande- (GENESE 6.) X. And the waters of the flood were upon the earth. In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the win- dows of heaven were opened. And the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights. lu the selfsame day enlered Noah, and Shem, and Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah , and Noah's wife, and the three wives of his sons with them, into the ark ; They, and every beast after his kind, and all the cattle after their kind, and every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind, and every fowl after his kind, every bird of every sort. And the went in unto Noah into the ark, two and two of all flesh, wherein is the breath of life. And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him : and the Lord shut him in. And the flood was forty days upon the earth ; and the wa- ters increased, and bare up the ark, and it vas lift up above the earth. Fifteen cubits upward did the waters prevail; and the mountains were covered. And all flesh died that moved upon the earth, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of beast, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth, and every man : All in whose nostrils was the breath of life, of all that was in the dry land, died. And every living substance was destroyed which was upon the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and the creeping things, and fowl of the heaven ; and they were destroyed from the earth : and Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark. (GENESIS 7.) X. Les eaux du deluge se repandirenl sur toute la lerre. L'annee six cent de la vie de Noe, le dix-seplieme jour du second mois de la meme annee, toutes les sources du grand abime des eaux furent rompues, et les cataractes du ciel furent ouverles ; Et la pluie tomba sur la terre pendant quaranle jours et quaranle nuits. Aussilot que ce jour parut , Noe entra dans 1'arche avec ses fils Sem , Cham et Japhelh , sa femme , et les trois femmes de ses fils. Tous les animaux sauvages selon leur espece y enlrerenl aussi avec eux, lous les animaux domesliques selon leur espece; tout ce qui se meut sur la (erre selon son espece ; tout ce "qui vole chacun selon son espece, tous les oiseaux, et lout ce qui s'eleve dans 1'air ; tous ces animaux entrerent avec Noe dans 1'arche deux a deux, male et femelle, de toule chair vivante et animee. Ceux qui y entrerent elaienl done males et femelles de toute espece, selon que Dieu 1'avait commande a Noe; et le Seigneur 1'y enferma par dehors. Le deluge se re'paudit sur la terre pendant quarante jours; et les eaux s'e'tant accrues, eleverent 1'arche en haul au-dessus de la terre. L'eau ayant gagne le sommet des montagnes, s'e'leva encore de quinze coude'es plus haut. Toute chair qui se meut sur la lerre en fut consumee , tous les oiseaux, lous les animaux, toutes les betes, et loul ce qui rampe sur la lerre. Tous les hommes moururenl, el ge'neralemenl loul ce qui a vie el qui respire sur la ierre. Toulesles'crealures qui elaienl sur la lerre, depuisl'liomme jusqu'aux beles, lanl celles qui rampenlque celles qui volenl dans 1'air, loul peril de dessus la lerre : il ne demeura que Noe scul, et ceux qui elaienl avec lui dans 1'arche. Loges b. (GENESE 7.') XI, And God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the cattle that was with him the ark : and God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters asswaged. The fountains also of the deep and the windows of heaven were stopped, and the rain from heareri was restrained. And the waters returned from off the earth continually : and after the end of the hundred and fifty days the waters were abated. And it came to pass in the six hundredth and first year, in the first month, the first day of the month, the waters were dried up from off the earth : and Noah removed the cover- ing of the ark, and looked, and, behold, the face of the ground was dry- And God spake unto Noah, saving. Go forth of the ark, thou, and thy wife, and thy sons, and thy sons's wives with thee, Bring forth with thee every living thing that is with thee, of all flesh, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of every creep- ing thing that creepeth upon the earth; that they may bVeed abundantly in the earth, and be fruitful, and multiply upon the earth. And Noah went forth, and his sons, and his wife, and his son's wiwes with him : Every beast, every creeping thing, and every fowl, and whatsoever creepeth upon the earth, after their hinds, went forth out of the ark. (GENESIS 8.) XI. Mais Dieu s'etant souvenu de Noe, de toutes les betes sau- eaget, et de tous les animaux domestiques qui elaientavec lui dans I'arcbe , fit soufflerun vent sur la terre, et les eaux com- mencerent a diminuer. Les sources de 1'abime furent fermees, aussi-Lien que les cataracles du ciel, et les pluies qui tombaient du ciel furent arretees. Les eaux etant agitees de cote et d'autre se retirerent , et commencerent a diminuer apres cent cinquanle jours. Ainsi 1'an de 7Vboint encore ehoisi celui-la. Isa'i fit done venir ses sept fils devant Samuel ; Et Samuel lut dit : Le seigneur n'en a ehoisi aucun de ceux-ei. Alors Samuel dit ;i Isa'i : sont-ce la tous vos enfans ? Isai Jui repondit : II en resle encore uu pelitqui garde Jes brebis. Envoyez-le querir, dit Samuel : car nous ne nous mettrons pas a table qu'il ne soil venu. Isai 1'envoja done querir, el le present a a Samuel. Or il etait roux , d'une mine avantageuse , el il avail le visage fort beau. Le Seigneur lui dit : Sacrez-le presenlemeut, ear c'esl celui-la. Samuel prit done la corne pleine d'hiiilc , et il Je sacra au milieu de ses freres : depnis ce (emps Kespril. du Seigneur fill (oujours en David. (1. Rois 1 6.) XLII. And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew nigh to meet David , lhal David hasted, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. And David put his hand in his bag, and look thence a stone, and slang it , and smole the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth. So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David. Therefore David ran , and stood upon the Philistine , and look his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled. And the men of Israel and of Judah arose, and shouted, and pursued the Philistines, until thou come to the walley, and to the gales of Ekron. And the wounded of the Phili- stines, fell down by the way to Shaaraim, even unto Gath , and unto Ekron. And Ihe children of Israel returned from chasing after the Philistines, and they spoiled their tents. And David took the head of the Philistine, and brought il to Jerusalem, but he put his armour in his tent. XL1I. Le Philistin s'avanca done , et marcba conlre David. Et lorsqu'il en fut proche , David se liala , et courut conlre lui pour le combattre. II mil la main dans sa panetiere, il en pril nne pierre , la lancaavec sa fronde , et etf frappa le Pbilistin dans le front. La pierre s'enfonca dans le front du Philistin , et il loniLa le visage centre terre. Ainsi David remporta la victoire sur le Pbilistin avec une. fronde et une pierre seule .- il Je renversa par lerre et le lua. Et comme il n'avait point d'epee a la main , il courut , et se jela sur le Philislin : il prit son epe'e , la tira du fourreau , et aclieva de lui oler la vie en lui coupant la tele. Les Philis- tins, vojantque le plus vaillant d'entre eux e'lait mort , s'en- fuirent. Et les Israe'liles et ceux de Juda, s'elevant avec un grand cri , les poursuivirent jusqu'a la valle'e et aux portes d'Acca- jon. Et plusieurs des Pliilislins lomberenl perce's de coups dans le chemin de Sara'im jusqu'a Gelh et Accaron. Les enfans d'Israel, e'tant revenus apres avoir poursuivi Jes Pliilislins, pillerent leur camp. Et David pril la tete du Philislin, la poria a Jerusalem, et niit sesarmes dans son lo