5.3

[1] Sēnsit Psȳchē dīvīnae Prōvidentiae beātitūdinem, monitūsque vōcis informis audiēns et prius somnō et mox lavācrō fatīgātiōnem suī dīluit, [2] vīsōque statim proximō sēmirotundō suggestū, propter īnstrūmentum cēnātōrium rata refectuī suō commodum libēns accumbit. [3] Et īlicō vīnī nectareī edūliumque variōrum fercula cōpiōsa nūllō servīente sed tantum spīritū quōdam impulsa subministrantur. [4] Nec quemquam tamen illa vidēre poterat, sed verba tantum audiēbat excidentia et sōlās vōcēs famulās habēbat. [5] Post opīmās dapēs quīdam introcēssit et cantāvit invīsus et alius citharam pulsāvit, quae vidēbātur nec ipsa. Tunc modulātae multitūdinis cōnserta vox aurēs eius affertur, ut, quamvīs hominum nēmō pārēret, chorus tamen esse patēret.

Psyche is served by invisible servants.

citharam: A cithara was a guitar or lute-like instrument with seven strings and a flat back and was often played by professional musicians (see example under Media). It was usually associated with Apollo, who was also credited with inventing it.

tantum (adv): only (L&S s.v. tantus II B)

beātitūdō, -inis f.: blessedness, good fortune

monītus, -ūs m.: an admonition

informis, -e: unformed, shapeless

fatīgātiō, -ōnis f.: fatigue

dīluō, -ere, -uī, -ūtus: to refresh, wash away

semirotundus, -a, -um: semicirculuar (a word attested only in Apuleius)

suggēstus, -us m.: raised platform, podium

cēnātōrius, -ā, -um: pertaining to dining

refēctus, –ūs m.:  refreshment

accumbō, -ere, -cubuī, -cubitus: to lie down, recline at table

edūlīs, -e: edible

ferculum, -ī n.: here, a tray

impellō, -ere, -pepulī, -pulsus: to drive forward (L&S sv. impello, IB)

subministrō, -āre: to supply, furnish

famulus, -a, -um: serving, (like a) servant

opīmus, -a, -um: fat, rich

daps, dapis f.: banquet, feast

intrōcēdō, -ere, -cessī, -cessus: to go into (invented by Apuleius)

īnvīsus, -ā, -um: here, “unseen”

modulor, -arī: to measure rhythmically

cōnserō, -sere, -sēruī, -sertus: to connect, join

Kithara Player. Attic Red Figure attributed to the Brygos Painter ca. 490 BC – 470 BC (Boston, Museum of Fine Arts)

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