Echo and Narcissus
Once upon a time there lived a beautiful nymph called Echo. She was a great chatterbox, and was very fond of having the last word. One day she spoke rudely to Juno, the Queen of Heaven, and a curious punishment fell up her.
“In future you shall never speak except to repeat the last words of other people, and unless someone bids you show your self, you are not to come forth from your hiding place. Now go to the mountains, and let me see you no more”
“No more,” repeated Echo sadly, and went away to the lonely mountains.
One day as she sat sorrowfully by herself, she saw a beautiful youth coming up the mountainside. He was called Narcissus. Echo fell in love with him at once.
The nymph ran to Narcissus, and would have flung her arms round his neck, but he pushed her roughly away. He cared for no one but himself. And was annoyed by the fact she could only repeat what he said. He thought she was teasing him.
Narcissus thought no more of the sad nymph. He lay down by the crystal-clear pool to drink water, for he was thirsty. And then, in the shadowy depths, he saw a beautiful face looking up at him. He didn't know that it was simply his own reflection, and thought it was some lovely nymph, and he fell in love with her face at once.
All day long Narcissus lay by the side of the pool, begging the nymph to come out of the water and sit beside him. He forgot to eat, and very soon he grew pale and weak.
Echo kept near him all the time, sighing when narcissus sighed and echoing his sad words.
Soon Narcissus died, for he had not left the pool once since he had first seen the lovely face.
When the gods saw Narcissus lying dead by the water, they were sorry for him, and changed his beautiful white body into flower -- it is the lovely white narcissus.
Echo was full of sadness when Narcissus died. She slipped away among the hills. All day long she was alone, sorrowing for Narcissus. She ate nothing, and soon faded away to a shadow, and a day came when their was nothing left of the nymph but her voice.
