'The souls of murderers, in guise of fish, Scream as they swim therein and wail for cold, Their times of woe determined by the wish Of them they murder'd on the earth of old: Whom each five years they see, whene'er they make Their passage to the Acherusian lake, And there release may win from pains condoled. 28 'For if the pitying ear of them they slew Be haply piercèd by their voices spare, Then are they freed from pain; as are some few, But, for the most, again they forward fare To Tartarus obscene, and outcast thence Are hurried back into the cold intense, And with new company their torments share. 29 'Its biting lymph may not be touch'd of man Or god, unless the Fates have so ordain'd; Nor coud I in thy favour break the ban, Nor pass the dragons that thereby are chain'd, Didst thou not bear the sacred cup of Zeus; Which, for thy peril lent, shall turn to use, And truly do the service which it feign'd.' 30 Thus as he spake, his talons made he ring Around the crystal bowl, and soaring high Descended as from heaven upon the spring: Nor dared the hornèd snakes of hell deny The minister of Zeus, that bore his cup, To fill it with their trusted water up, Thence to the King of heaven therewith to fly. 31 But he to Psyche bent his gracious speed, And bidding her to mount his feather'd back Bore her aloft as once young Ganymede; Nor ever made his steady flight to slack, Ere that he set her down beside her goal, And gave into her hands the crystal bowl Unspill'd, o'erbrimming with the water black. JANUARY 1 But Eros now recover'd from his hurt, Felt other pangs; for who would not relent Weighing the small crime and unmatch'd desert Of Psyche with her cruel punishment? And shamed he grew to be so near allied To her, who by her taunts awoke his pride, As his compassion by her spite unspent. 2 Which Aphrodite seeing, wax'd more firm That he should never meet with Psyche more; And had in thought already set the term To their communion with that trial sore, Which sent her forth upon a quest accurst, And not to be accomplisht, that of thirst She there might perish on hell's torrid shore. 3 And now it chanced that she had called her son Into her presence-chamber, to unfold Psyche's destruction, that her fate might stun What love remained by duty uncontrol'd; And he to hide his tears' rebellious storm Was fled; when in his place another form Rose 'neath the golden lintel; and behold 4