Cupid, the god of love and son of Venus, went to carry out this dark deed, but could not when he set his eyes upon Psyche. Cupid accidentally pierced his foot with the love-poisoned arrow while admiring the sleeping woman, and fell in love with her. As soon as Venus found out that her son did not do as she asked, she ordered him to leave, then placed a spell on Psyche that would prevent men from asking for her hand in marriage. When Cupid realized what his mother had done, he didn’t shoot anymore of his arrows on earth as revenge. Emotion fled from the earth, and nobody worshipped Venus. Realizing that she didn’t benefit from this, Venus agreed that Cupid could have Psyche if he restored love to the world. Cupid spread love in the world again, but the spell wasn’t lifted from Psyche. Psyche’s parents were troubled by this, and the father went to Apollo’s oracle for advice. The oracle said that Psyche was destined for a being greater than man, and gave directions to leave her on the mountaintop. Once hearing the news, Psyche bravely set out with her family, then told them to leave her once near the top of the mountain. Zephyr, the sweetest and kindest of all the winds, picked Psyche up and carried her to a meadow where a palace was. Intrigued by the palace, Psyche went in and explored. Invisible servants took care of her every want in the daytime, and Cupid slept with Psyche in his arms in the night. The only request Cupid had was that Psyche not see him. One day, Psyche wished to see her sisters, and Zephyr carried her two elder sisters to the palace. Weeping with joy, Psyche showed her beloved sisters the palace, and ate a hearty meal with them. Overcome with jealousy, the sisters questioned about Psyche’s husband, and drove Psyche to tell them that she had never seen him. Filling Psyche’s mind with doubt and fear, Psyche said that she never wanted to see them again. Zephyr gave the sisters a violent ride back home at once. Psyche wondered what her husband really looked like for the rest of the day, and curiosity overcame her. At night, when Cupid fell asleep beside Psyche, she lit a candle and was shocked to see that her husband was really Cupid. Unfortunately, a drop of hot wax from the candle landed on Cupid, and he woke suddenly. Seeing the situation, he bid farewell to Psyche and flew off while the palace disappeared. Zephyr no longer carried Psyche, and she searched endlessly for her husband. Realizing that Cupid would not be on earth, Psyche went to Venus’ temple where Cupid’s mother was waiting. Venus gave many perilous tasks to Psyche, which she received help in from other gods. Before she finished her last task, she was curious and peeked into the box which carried some beauty. Not being a goddess, the beauty made Psyche fall into a deep sleep. Cupid, who was watching Psyche the whole time, woke Psyche and forgot all about his anger. They embraced while Cupid gave directions to Psyche to finish her task while he sought out the king of gods. Jupiter granted Cupid’s wish, and told Psyche to drink a cup of nectar which would make her immortal. At the wedding feast, Venus realized she had to give in, because she was beaten by the greatest force in the universe, love.