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Echo was a beautiful nymph, fond of the woods and hills, where
she devoted herself to woodland sports. She was the favorite
of Diana, and attended her in the chase. But Echo had one failing:
she was fond of talking and, whether in chat or argument, would
have the last word.
One day Juno was seeking her husband, who she had reason to
fear was amusing himself among the nymphs. Echo by her talk contrived
to detain the goddess until the nymphs made their escape.
When Juno discovered it, she passed sentence upon Echo with
these words: "You shall forfeit the use of that tongue with
which you have cheated me, except for that one purpose you are
so fond of -- talking back. You shall still have the last word
but no power to speak first."
 This
nymph saw Narcissus, a beautiful youth, as he pursued the chase
upon the mountains. She loved him and followed his footsteps.
Oh, how she longed to address him in the softest accents and
win him to converse, but it was not in her power. She waited
with impatience for him to speak first and had her answer ready.
One day the youth, being separated from his companions, shouted
aloud, "Who's here?"
Echo replied, "Here."
Narcissus looked around, but seeing no one, called out, "Come."
Echo answered, "Come."
As no one came, Narcissus called again, "Why do you shun
me?" Echo asked the same question in return.
"Let us join one another," said the youth. The maid
answered with all her heart in the same words, and hastened to
the spot, ready to throw her arms about his neck. He started
back, exclaiming, "Hands off! I would rather die than you
should have me!"
"Have me," said she, but it was all in vain. He
left her, and she went to hide her embarrassment in the recesses
of the woods.
From that time forth she lived in caves and among mountain
cliffs. Her form faded with grief, until at last all her flesh
shrank away. Her bones were changed into rocks, and there was
nothing left of her but her voice. With that she is still ready
to reply to anyone who calls to her and keeps up her old habit
of having the last word.
This was not the only instance of the cruelty of Narcissus
toward others. He shunned all the rest of the nymphs, as he had
done poor Echo.
One day a maiden, who had in vain endeavored to attract him,
uttered a prayer that he might some time or other feel what it
was like to love and meet no return of affection. The avenging
goddess heard and granted the prayer.
There was a clear fountain, with water like silver, to which
the shepherds never drove their flocks, nor did the mountain
goats drink of it, nor any of the beasts of the forests; neither
was it defaced with fallen leaves or branches, but the grass
grew fresh around it, and the rocks sheltered it from the sun.
One day the youth Narcissus came to this pool heated and thirsty,
fatigued from hunting. He stooped down to drink and saw his own
image in the water. He thought it was some beautiful water-spirit
living in the fountain. He stood, gazing with admiration at those
bright eyes, those locks curled like the locks of Bacchus or
Apollo, the rounded cheeks, the ivory neck, the parted lips,
and the glow of health and exercise over all.
He fell in love with himself. He brought his lips near to
take a kiss; he plunged his arms in to embrace the beloved object.
It fled at the touch, but returned again after a moment and renewed
the fascination. He could not tear himself away. He lost all
thought of food or rest while he hovered over the brink of the
fountain gazing upon his own image.
He talked to the supposed spirit: "Why, beautiful being,
do you shun me? Surely my face is not one to repel you. The nymphs
love me, and you yourself look not indifferent upon me. When
I stretch forth my arms you do the same, and you smile upon me
and answer my beckonings with the like."
His tears fell into the water and disturbed the image. As
he saw it depart, he exclaimed, "Stay, I entreat you! Let
me at least gaze upon you, if I may not touch you." With
this, and much more of the same kind, he cherished the flame
that consumed him, so that by degrees he lost his color, his
vigor, and the beauty which formerly had so charmed the nymph
Echo. She kept near him, however, and when he exclaimed, "Alas!
alas!" she answered him with the same words.
He pined away and died; and when his shade passed the Stygian
river, it leaned over the boat to catch a look at itself in the
waters.
The nymphs pined for him, especially the water-nymphs; and
when they smote their breasts Echo smote hers also. They prepared
a funeral pile and would have burned the body, but it was nowhere
to be found; but in its place a flower, purple within and surrounded
with white leaves, which bears the name and preserves the memory
of Narcissus.
Related products:
Bulfinch's Mythology by Thomas Bulfinch. Buy
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