Tell her that Venus would have of her beauty so much at least as may suffice for but one day's use, that beauty she possessed erewhile being foreworn and spoiled, through her tendance upon the sick-bed of her son; and be not slow in returning." And Psyche perceived there the last ebbing of her fortune--that she was now thrust openly [87] upon death, who must go down, of her own motion, to Hades and the Shades.

And straightway she climbed to the top of an exceeding high tower, thinking within herself, "I will cast myself down thence: so shall I descend most quickly into the kingdom of the dead." And the tower again, broke forth into speech: "Wretched Maid! Wretched Maid! Wilt thou destroy thyself?
If the breath quit thy body, then wilt thou indeed go down into Hades, but by no means return hither.
Listen to me.

Among the pathless wilds not far from this place lies a certain mountain, and therein one of hell's vent-holes.

Through the breach a rough way lies open, following which thou wilt come, by straight course, to the castle of Orcus.

And thou must not go empty-handed.