Narcissus and Echo
In Greek Mythology, Echo was one of the best beloved mountain nymphs. She was beautiful, and kind and had a musical voice which made the creatures of the woods beg her to sing. Although Echo was very lovely, there was no man who could please her. No one who could match her secret dream. It happened one day that Echo was given a speech impediment by the jelaous goddess Hera. She was the queen of gods. She suspected her husband Zeus of amorous attentions to the mountain nymphs. On one occasion Hera was detained by Echo's lengthy conversation until she realized that Echo's purpose was to help Zeus continue his dalliances undisturbed. So she decreed that Echo's speech would henceforth be limited to repeating what others said.
One day the most beautiful boy in the whole world was lost in the woods where Echo has been. His name was Narcissus. He was so handsome that he had never been able to speak to any woman but his mother. Any girl who saw Narcissus fainted, which gave him a very high opinion about himself. When Echo saw Narcissus, who asked for help to find a way home, she realized that he was as beautiful as her secret dream. Ech tried to kiss him. She fell on her knees and hugged his legs, but he pushed her aside. Narcissus told her that he will not love her and disappeared from Echo's sight.
The beautiful nymph felt so much sadness, grief and pain that it seemed she was being torn apart. Because her love disappeared, Echo also prayed for her own disappearance. It was Aphrodite, the goddess of love, who heard Echo's prayer and made her disappear in the air, so that only her voice was heard. And because the nymph was so sweet and kind, Aphrodite decided to punish Narcissus for hurting Echo. She made him fall in love with someone who could not return his love.
Narcissus was sitting on the bank of a river he saw the most beautiful face he had ever seen. It was his own reflection. He knew that he could look upon that face forever. But he was never satisfied. The face was only his reflection, which could not love and care for him. Narcissus stayed at the river's stream to watch the face in the water. He was pleading for it to come out. Unfortunately, he would forever desire and never achieve.
Day after day Narcissus stayed at the stream. He never looked away from the face. Until his legs grew into the bank of the river and became roots. His hair grew long and leafy. And so he was changed into the flower Narcissus, leaning over and watching its reflection in the water. And in the woods, the sound of Echo's voice remained till this day.
by Agnieszka Knapik
Source Book: Academic American
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