Apuleius - Metamorphoses

OCR Latin GCSE

at Psyche relicta sola,

But Psyche left alone,

nisi quod infestis Furiis agitata sola non est,

except that being harrassed by the hostile furies she is not alone,

aestu pelagi simile maerendo fluctuat,

like the tide of the sea she wavers in her grieving,

et, quamvis statuto consilio et obstinato animo,

and, although she had decided on a plan and her purpose resolute,

iam tamen facinori suas manus admovens,

however as she now applied her hands to the deed,

adhuc incerta consilii titubat multisque calamitatis suae distrahitur affectibus.

still uncertain in her resolve, she hesitates and is distracted by many emotions connected of her misfortune.

festinat differt, audet trepidat, diffidit irascitur, et,

She hurries (then) delays, is daring (then) fearful, doubtful (then) angry, and,

quod est ultimum, in eodem corpore odit bestiam, diligit maritum.

which is the final thing, in the same body she hates the beast, (but) loves her husband.

vespera tamen iam noctem trahente,

However as eveneing was now (slowly) dragging in the night,

praecipiti festinatione nefarii sceleris instruit apparatum.

in headlong haste she prepared the implements for the wicked crime.

nox aderat et maritus advenerat,

Night came and her husband had arrived,

primusque proelis Veneris proelis velitatus in altum soporem descenderat.

and having been the first to skirmish in love’s contests, he had fallen into a deep sleep.

tunc Psyche, et corporis et animi alioquin infirma,

Then Psyche, (though) in other respects she was weak in both body and mind,

fati tamen saevitia subministrante viribus roboratur,

nevertheless, with the aid of the saverage of Fate,

et prolata lucerna et adrepta novacula sexem audacia mutavit.

and when she had brought forth a lamp and grasped a sharp knife she changes her gender by her daring.

sed cum primum luminis oblatione tori secreta claruerunt,

But as soon as the secrets of the couch became clear with the provision of light,

videt omnium ferarum mitissimam dilcossimamque bestiam,

she sees the most gentle and pleasant beast of all wild animals,

ipsum illum Cupidinem formonsum deum formonse cubantem.

the well-known Cupid himself, a handsome god, reclining handsomely.

aspectu lucernae quoque lumen hilaratum increbruit et acuminis sacrilegi novaculam paenitebat,

At the sight of him even the cheerful light of the lamp increased and the sharp knife began to regret its profane sharpness.

at vero Psyche tanto aspectu deterrita et impos animi,

But Psyche however frightened by such a great sight and powerless in mind,

marcido pallore defecta tremsque desedit in imos poplites et ferrum quaerit abscondere,

exhausted with languid paleness and trembling, sat down onto the bottom of her knees and seeks to hide the knife,

sed in suo pectore.

but in her own breast.

quod profecto fecisset,

She would have undoubtedly have done this,

nisi ferrum timore tanti flagtii manibus temerariis delapsum evolasset.

if the knife in fear of such a great disgrace had not slipped from her rash hands and flown away.