Chapters 13-15 with context

sic harundo simplex et humana Psychen aegerrimam salutem suam docebat:

In this way the simple and kind reed was instructing most desperate Psyche as to her own safety:

nec auscultatu impaenitendo diligenter instructa illa cessavit,

She, having been instructed carefully with an obedience that did not need to be repented, was not inactive,

sed observatis omnibus furatrina facili flaventis auri mollitie congestum gremium Veneri reportat.

but with all [advice] heeded, she carried back to Venus a lap loaded with the softness of yellow gold from the easy theft.

nec tamen apud dominam saltem secundi laboris periculum secundum testimonium meruit,

However, in the eyes of her mistress at least, the danger of the second task did not warrant favourable testimony,

sed contortis superciliis surridens amarum sic inquit:

but with eyebrows twisted, smiling bitterly Venus spoke as follows:

“contortis superciliis” - what is this a sign of?

Annoyance

‘nec me praeterit huius quoque facti auctor adulterinus.

“The counterfeit mastermind of this deed also does not escape my notice.

“adulterinus” - what else can this mean and what does it signify?

insulting or false - Cupid’s unseen action is what is saving Psyche and opposing his mother’s will

sed iam nunc ego sedulo periclitabor,

But already now I shall carefully test

an oppido forti animo singularique prudentia sis praedita.

whether you have been exceedingly endowed with a strong spirit and unusual good-sense.

videsne insistentem celsissimae illi rupi montis ardui verticem,

Do you see looming over that most high rock the peak of the steep mountain,

de quo fontis atri fuscae defluunt undae

from which the dark waters of the black spring flow down

proxumaeque conceptaculo vallis inclusae Stygias irrigant paludes

and, having been shut in by the enclosure of the nearby valley, water the Stygian marshes

et rauca Cocyti fluenta nutriunt?

and feed the raucous streams of the River Cocytus?

indidem mihi de summi fontis penita scaturigine

“From the same place, from the inner stone at the top of the water-source,

rorem rigentem hauritum ista confestim defer urnula.’

draw up the ice-cold spray of water and bring it down to me immediately in this little jar.”

sic aiens crystallo dedolatum vasculum, insuper ei graviora comminata, tradidit.

Speaking thus, Venus handed over a small vial which had been hewn from crystal, having made more serious threats to her in addition.

at illa studiose gradum celerans

However, Psyche, quickening her pace eagerly,

montis extremum petit cumulum certe vel illic inventura vitae pessimae finem.

made for the highest mound of the mountain sure at least to find there an end to her most terrible life.

sed cum primum praedicti iugi conterminos locos appulit,

But as soon as she reached the places which are neighbouring the ridge, which had been pointed out,

videt rei vastae letalem difficultatem:

she saw the deadly difficulty of the vast task:

namque saxum immani magnitudine procerum

For the rock, which was lofty with its immense size

et inaccessa salebritate lubricum

and slippery from its inaccessible ruggedness

mediis e faucibus lapidis fontes horridos evomebat,

was pouring out from the middle of the chasms of stone wild streams

qui statim proni foraminis lacunis editi

which, having been produced at once from the hollows of the sloping fissure

perque proclive delapsi

and having slipped down along the downward slope

et angusti canalis exarato contecti tramite

and having been hidden by the ploughed up track of a narrow channel

proxumam convallem latenter incidebant.

was flowing upon the nearby valley by secret ways.

dextra laevaque cautibus cavatis proserpunt et longa colla porrecti saevi dracones

To the right and to the left from hollowed out crags fierce serpents creep forward with their long necks stretched out,

inconivae vigiliae luminibus addictis

with their eyes dedicated to unsleeping watchfulness

et in perpetuam lucem pupulis excubantibus.

and with pupils attentive to everlasting vision.

iamque et ipsae semet muniebant vocales aquae;

And now also the very tuneful waters were defending themselves.

nam et ‘discede,’ et ‘quid facis? vide,’ et ‘quid agis? cave,’ et ‘fuge,’ et ‘peribis’ subinde clamant.

For they cry repeatedly both “Leave!” and “What are you doing? See!” and “what are you doing? Watch out!” and “Flee” and “You will die!”

sic impossibilitate ipsa mutata in lapidem Psyche

Thus Psyche herself having been changed into stone by the impossibility [of fulfilling her task],

quamvis praesenti corpore, sensibus tamen aberat,

although with her body present, nevertheless was absent from her senses

et inextricabilis periculi mole prorsus obruta

and having been entirely overwhelmed by the weight of a danger impossible to disentangle,

lacrimarum etiam extremo solacio carebat.

she was lacking even the extreme comfort of tears.

nec Providentiae bonae graves oculos innocentis animae latuit aerumna:

Nor did the distress of her innocent soul lay hidden from the earnest eyes of Good Fortune:

nam supremi Iovis regalis ales illa repente propansis utrimque pinnis affuit

For that regal bird of almighty Jupiter suddenly with wings outspread on each side was there,

rapax aquila, memorque veteris obsequii,

the rapacious eagle - and mindful of its previous service,

quo ductu Cupidinis Iovi pocillatorem Phrygium sustulerat,

at which time, led by Cupid, it had stolen away the Trojan cupbearer for Jupiter

opportunam ferens opem deique numen in uxoris laboribus percolens,

bringing timely aid and honouring completely the divinity of the god [Cupid] in his wife’s labours,

alti culminis Diales vias deserit,

it left behind the ways of Jupiter of the lofty height

et ob os puellae praevolans incipit:

and flying before the face of the girl, it began:

‘at tu simplex alioquin et expers rerum talium,

 “Yet you, simple in general and lacking experience of such things,

speras te sanctissimi nec minus truculenti fontis vel unam stillam posse furari

you hope that you can steal at least one drop of the most holy and no less dangerous spring

vel omnino contingere!

or even touch it at all!

diis etiam ipsique Iovi formidabiles aquas istas Stygias vel fando comperisti,

Have you heard at least from hearsay that those Stygian waters are terrifying to the gods and even to Jupiter himself,

quodque vos deieratis per numina deorum,

and just as you swear by the power of the gods,

deos per Stygis maiestatem solere!

have you heard that the gods are accustomed to swear by the majesty of the River Styx?

sed cedo istam urnulam.’

But hand over that urn!”

et protinus arreptam complexamque

And the eagle immediately, once the urn had been snatched up and tightly held,

festinat libratisque pinnarum nutantium molibus inter genas saevientium dentium

when the weight of its fluttering feathers had been balanced, it hurried between the jaws with their ferocious teeth

et trisulca vibramina draconum

and the triple-forked fangs of serpents,

remigium dextra laevaque porrigens

stretching out its oar to the right and the left,

nolentes aquas et ut abiret innoxius praeminantes excipit,

and, while still unharmed, it received waters, although they were unwilling and thoroughly threatening it to go away,

commentus ob iussum Veneris petere

since it had pretended that it was seeking them on account of Venus’ command

eique se praeministrare,

and that he was in service to her,

quare paulo facilior adeundi fuit copia.

whereby the means of approaching [these waters] was a little easier.