For now so changed she was by heavy woe, That for the little likeness that she bore To her description she was fear'd to go Within the fane; and when she stood before The priestess, scarce coud she with oath persuade That she was Psyche, the renownèd maid, Whom men had left the temple to adore. 17 But when to Hermes she was shown and given, He took no doubt, but eager to be quit, And proud of speed, return'd with her to heaven, And left her with the proclamation writ, Hung at her neck, the board with letters large, At Aphrodite's gate with those in charge; And up whence first he came made haste to flit. 18 But hapless Psyche fell, for so it chanced, To moody SYNETHEA'S care, the one Of Aphrodite's train whom she advanced To try the work abandon'd by her son. Who by perpetual presence made ill end Of good or bad; though she coud both amend, And merit praise for work by her begun. 19 But she to better thought her heart had shut, And proved she had a spite beyond compare: Nor coud the keenest taunts her anger glut, Which she when sour'd was never wont to spare: And now she mock'd at Psyche's shame and grief, As only she might do, and to her chief Along the courtyard dragg'd her by the hair. 20 Nor now was Aphrodite kinder grown: Having her hated rival in her power, She laught for joy, and in triumphant tone Bade her a merry welcome to her bower: ''Tis fit indeed daughters-in-law should wait Upon their mothers; but thou comest late, Psyche; I lookt for thee before this hour. 21 'And yet,' thus gave she rein to jeer and gibe, 'Forgive me if I held thee negligent, Or if accustom'd vanity ascribe An honour to myself that was not meant. Thy lover is it, who so dearly prized The pretty soul, then left her and despised? To him more like thy heavenward steps were bent: 22 'Nor without reason: Zeus, I tell thee, swoon'd To hear the story of the drop of oil, The revelation and the ghastly wound: My merriment is but my fear's recoil. But if my son was unkind, thou shalt see How kind a goddess can his mother be To bring thy tainted honour clear of soil.' 23 And so, to match her promise with her mirth, Two of her ministers she call'd in ken, That work the melancholy of the earth; MERIMNA that with care perplexes, when The hearts of mortals have the gods forgot, And LYPÈ, that her sorrow spares them not, When mortals have forgot their fellow men. 24 These, like twin sharks that in a fair ship's wake Swim constant, showing 'bove the water blue Their shearing fins, and hasty ravin make Of overthrow or offal, so these two On Aphrodite's passing follow hard; And now she offer'd to their glut's regard Sweet Psyche, with command their wont to do. 25