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“Sisters,” she said, “more marvels shall ye see
When ye, have been a little while with me,
Whereof I cannot tell you more than this
That ‘midst them all I dwell in ease and bliss,
Well loved and wedded to a mighty lord,
Fair beyond measure, from whose loving word
I know that happier days await me yet.
But come, my sisters, let us now forget
To seek for empty knowledge; ye shall take
Some little gifts for your lost sister’s sake;
And whatso wonders ye may see or hear
Of nothing frightful have ye any fear.”
Wondering they went with her, and looking round,
Each in the other’s eyes a strange look found,
For these, her mother’s daughters, had no part
In her divine fresh singleness of heart,
But longing to be great, remembered not
How short a time one heart on earth has got.
But keener still that guarded look now grew
As more of that strange lovely place they knew,
And as with growing hate, but still afeard,
The unseen choirs’ heart-softening strains they heard,
Which did but harden these; and when at noon
They sought the shaded waters’ freshening boon,
And all unhidden once again they saw
That peerless beauty, free from any flaw,
Which now at last had won its precious meed,
Her kindness then but fed the fire of greed
Within their hearts–her gifts, the rich attire
Wherewith she clad them, where like sparks of fire
The many-coloured gems shone midst the pearls
The soft silks’ winding lines, the work of girls
By the Five Rivers; their fair marvellous crowns,
Their sandals’ fastenings worth the rent of towns,
Zones and carved rings, and nameless wonders fair,
All things her faithful slaves had brought them there,
Given amid kisses, made them not more glad;
Since in their hearts the ravening worm they had
That love slays not, nor yet is satisfied
While aught but he has aught; yet still they tried
To look as they deemed loving folk should look,
And still with words of love her bounty took.

So at the last all being apparelled,
Her sisters to the banquet Psyche led,
Fair were they, and each seemed a glorious queen
With all that wondrous daintiness beseen,
But Psyche clad in gown of dusky blue
Little adorned, with deep grey eyes that knew
The hidden marvels of Love’s holy fire,
Seemed like the soul of innocent desire,
Shut from the mocking world, wherefrom those twain
Seemed come to lure her thence with labour vain.

Now having reached the place where they should eat,
Ere ‘neath the canopy the three took seat,
The eldest sister unto Psyche said,
“And he, dear love, the man that thou hast wed,
Will he not wish to-day thy kin to see?
Then could we tell of thy felicity
The better, to our folk and father dear.”
Then Psyche reddened, “Nay, he is not here,”
She stammered, “neither will be here to-day,
For mighty matters keep him far away.”
“Alas!” the younger sister said, “Say then,
What is the likeness of this first of men;
What sayest thou about his loving eyne,
Are his locks black, or golden-red as thine?”
“Black-haired like me,” said Psyche stammering,
And looking round, “what say I? like the king
Who rules the world, he seems to me at least–
Come, sisters, sit, and let us make good feast!
My darling and my love ye shall behold
I doubt not soon, his crispy hair of gold,
His eyes unseen; and ye shall hear his voice,
That in my joy ye also may rejoice.”