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w answer； and said that her husband was of a great province； a merchant； and a man of middle age； having his beard intersparsed with grey haires。 Which when shee had spoken （because shee would have no further talke） she filled their laps with Gold and Silver； and bid Zephyrus to bear them away。
In their returne homeward they murmured within themselves； saying； How say you sister to so apparent a lye of Psyches？ First she sayd that her husband was a young man of flourishing yeares； and had a flaxen beard； and now she sayth that he is halfe grey with age。 What is he that in so short a space can become so old？ You shall finde it no otherwise my sister； but that either this cursed queane hath invented a great lie； or else that she never saw the shape of her husband。 And if it be so that she never saw him； then verily she is married to some god； and hath a young god in her belly。 But if it be a divine babe； and fortune to come to the eares of my mother （as God forbid it should） then may I go and hang my selfe ： wherfore let us go to our parents； and with forged lies let us colour the matter。
After they were thus inflamed； and had visited their Parents； they returned againe to the mountaine； and by the aid of the winde Zephyrus were carried down into the valley； and after they had streined their eye lids； to enforce themselves to weepe； they called unto Psyches in this sort； Thou （ignorant of so great evill） thinkest thy selfe sure and happy； and sittest at home nothing regarding thy peril； whereas wee goe about thy affaires and are carefull lest any harme should happen unto you： for we are credibly informed； neither can we but utter it unto you； that there is a great serpent full of deadly poyson； with a ravenous gaping throat； that lieth with thee every night Remember the Oracle of Apollo； who pronounced that thou shouldest he married to a dire and fierce Serpent； and many of the Inhabitants hereby； and such as hunt about in the countrey； affirme that thev saw him yesternight returning from pasture and swimming over the River； whereby they doe undoubtedly say； that hee will not pamper thee long with delicate meats； but when the time of delivery shall approach he will devoure both thee and thy child ： wherefore advise thy selfe whether thou wilt agree unto us that are carefull of thy safety； and so avoid the perill of death； bee contented to live with thy sisters； or whether thou remaine with the Serpent arid in the end be swallowed into the gulfe of his body。 And ff it be so that thy solitary life； thy conversation with voices； this servile and dangerous pleasure； and the love of the Serpent doe more delight thee； say not but that we have played the parts of naturall sisters in warning thee。
Then the poore and simple miser Psyches was mooved with the feare of so dreadful words； and being amazed in her mind； did cleane forget the admonitions of her husband； and her owne promises made unto him； and throwing her selfe headlong into extreame misery； with a wanne and sallow countenance； scantly uttering a third word； at length gan say in this sort ： O my most deare sisters； I heartily thanke you for your great kindnesse toward me； and I am now verily perswaded that they which have informed you hereof hath informed you of nothing but truth； for I never saw the shape of my husband； neither know I from whence he came； only I heare his voice in the night； insomuch that I have an uncertaine husband； and one that loveth not the light of the day ： which causeth me to suspect that he is a beast； as you affirme。 Moreover； I doe greatly feare to see him； for he doth menace and threaten great evill unto mee； if I should goe about to spy and behold his shape wherefore my loving sisters if you have any wholeome remedy for your sister in danger； give it now presently。 Then they opened the gates of their subtill mindes； and did put away all privy guile； and egged her forward in her fearefull thoughts； perswading her to doe as they would have her whereupon one of them began and sayd； Because that wee little esteeme any perill or danger； to save your life we intend to shew you the best way and meane as we may possibly do。 Take a sharpe razor and put it under the pillow of your bed； and see that you have ready a privy burning lampe with oyle； hid under some part of the hanging of the chamber； and finely dissembling the matter when according to his custome he commeth to bed and sleepeth soundly； arise you secretly； and with your bare feet goe and take the lampe； with the Razor in your right hand and with valiant force cut off the head of the poysonous serpent； wherein we will aid and assist you ： and when by the death of him you shall be made safe； we wil marry you to some comely man。
After they had thus inflamed the heart of their sister fearing lest some danger might happen unto them by reason of their evill counsell； they were carried by the wind Zephyrus to the top of the mountaine； and so they ran away and tooke shipping。
When Psyches was left alone （saving that she seemed not to be alone； being stirred by so many furies） she was in a tossing minde like the waves of the sea； and although her wil was obstinate； and resisted to put in execution the counsell of her Sisters； yet she was in doubtfull and divers opinions touching her calamity。 Sometime she would； sometime she would not； sometime she is bold； sometime she feareth； sometime shee mistrusteth； somtime she is mooved； somtime she hateth the beast； somtime she loveth her husband ： but at length night came； when as she prepared for her wicked intent。
Soon after her husband Came； and when he had kissed and embraced her he fell asleep。 Then Psyches （somwhat feeble in body and mind； yet mooved by cruelty of fate） received boldnes and brought forth the lampe； and tooke the razor； so by her audacity she changed her mind ： but when she took the lamp and came to the bed side； she saw the most meeke and sweetest beast of all beasts； even faire Cupid couched fairly； at whose sight the very lampe encreased his light for joy； and the razor turned his edge。
But when Psyches saw so glorious a body shee greatly feared； and amazed in mind； with a pale countenance all trembling fel on her knees and thought to hide the razor； yea verily in her owne heart； which doubtlesse she had done； had it not through feare of so great an enterprise fallen out of her hand。 And when she saw and beheld the beauty of the divine visage shee was well recreated in her mind； she saw his haires of gold； that yeelded out a sweet savor； his neck more white than milk； his purple cheeks； his haire hanging comely behinde and before； the brightnesse whereof did darken the light of the lamp； his tender plume feathers； dispersed upon his sholders like shining flours； and trembling hither and thither； and his other parts of his body so smooth and so soft； that it did not repent Venus to beare such a childe。 At the beds feet lay his bow；
quiver； and arrowes； that be the weapons of so great a god ： which when Psyches did curiously behold； she marvelling at her husbands weapons； took one of the arrows out of the quiver； and pricked her selfe withall； wherwith she was so grievously wounded that the blood followed；