Apuleius – Cupid & Psyche

Apuleius, Metamorphoses 5.22

sed cum prīmum lūminis oblātiōne torī sēcrēta clāruērunt, videt omnium ferarum mitissimam dulcissimamque bestiam, ipsum illum Cupīdinem formōsum deum formōsē cubantem, cuius aspectū lucernae quoque lūmen hilarātum incrēbruit et acūminis sacrilegī novāculam paenitēbat. at vērō Psychē tantō aspectū dēterrita et impos animī, marcidō pallōre defecta tremēnsque dēsēdit in īmōs poplitēs et ferrum quaerit abscondere, sed in suō pectore.

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Notes
cum prīmum = “when first”torus, -ī, m.: bedsēcreta = “secrets”claruērunt = “became clear”oblatiō, -iōnis, f.: a bringing; presentationfera, -ae, f.: wild animalomnium: gen. plur. with ferārummitissimam and dulcissimam are the superlatives of mitis and dulcis respectively: “most …”formōsē = “handsomely”cubantem = “lying”cuius aspectū = “from whose appearance”hilarātum = “gladdened, made cheerful”incrēbuit = “grew, increased”paenitēbat = “made … (accusative) feel shame for … (+ genitive)”acumen, acuminis, n.: pointdēterrita = “frightened”tantō aspectū = “by such an appearance”impos = “powerless”marcidus, -a, -um: withered, wiltedpallor, -ōris, m.: palenessdefecta (adjective) = “weakened”tremēns = “trembling”dēsēdit = “sat down”poplitēs = “hams”abscondere = “to hide”

Amor & Psyche, Jacopo Zucchi

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