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 Just so you know, this version of the tale is actually Roman (although I substituted the Roman names to the Greek names). The Greek
version isn't as interesting in my own opinion. Basically, Pan and his satyrs killed Echo and Gaea
allowed for her voice to live on forever. That's the ultra short version. Anyway, here's the Roman
version:
Echo was a beautiful nymph. She had a love for the woods and hills and especially of woodland
sports. Despite her beauty and playful nature, Echo had one little flaw...she was quite the talkaholic
if you catch my meaning. Whether she was just chatting or staging an argument, she always made
certain to have the last word. One day, Hera was seeking her husband (Zeus), who she suspected
was amusing himself so to speak, among the nymphs. Echo with her fast tongue kept the goddess
occupied until the nymphs made their escape. When Hera saw what was going on, she passed
sentence upon Echo by taking away her ability to speak first. Echo could now only speak the same
words spoken to her.
Then the day came when Echo saw Narcissus, a beautiful Greek youth, as he pursued the chase
upon the mountains. She loved him and followed close wherever he went. Echo wished she could
speak to him and get him to talk to her, but it was not in her power. She waited with impatience for
him to speak first. Of course Echo was more than ready to reply. One day the youth, being
separated from his companions heard something nearby. He asked who was there and Echo replied
by asking the same question. Narcissus looked around, but saw no one. He then asked the voice to
come out. Echo answered back with the same words. Still no figure behind this voice. Narcissus
then asked why the voice was ignoring him. Echo asked the same question. Narcissus then asked
the voice to join him. Echo answered with all her heart in the same words, and ran to him, ready to
throw her arms around his neck. Narcissus then backed away, yelling at Echo to stay away from
him and completely insulting poor Echo. Echo was
completely devistated. Narcissus left her, and Echo went to hide her blushes in the recesses of the
woods. From that time on, she lived in caves and among mountain cliffs. Her form faded with
sadness until the point where all her flesh melted 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
her, and she keeps up her old habit of having the last word. So when you call out on a mountain
range, Echo will always call back.
Now back to Narcissus. His cruelty in this case was not the first time he shunned away a nymph.
He shunned all the rest of the nymphs in just the same way as he had done to sweet Echo. One day
a maiden who had attempted to attract him only to fail, uttered a prayer that he might some day feel
what it was like to love someone and receive no return of affection. The avenging goddess heard her
and granted her prayer.
There was once a sacred fountain, with the clearest most majestic water, where the shepherds never
drove their flocks, where the mountain goats dared not sleep, and where no beast of the forests ever
approached. Not even a single leaf or branch fell on to it; but the grass grew beautifully all around
it,
and the rocks sheltered it from the sun. One day, Narcissus, fatigued from his day of hunting,
stooped down to drink and saw his own image in the water. He thought it was some beautiful spirit
living in the fountain.
He stood gazing with admiration at those bright eyes, that hair curled like the hair of a great god,
those rounded cheeks, that ivory neck, those parted lips, and the glow of health and great shape
overall. He fell in love with himself. He brought his lips near to give this image a kiss; he plunged
his
arms in to embrace his newly beloved vision. It fled at the touch, but returned again after the water
settled and renewed his fascination. He could not tear himself away; he couldn’t think of food
or rest,
only of the vision. He spoke to the supposed spirit asking why this beautiful image shunned him
continuously. He began to cry, his tears fell into the water and disturbed the image. As he saw it
depart, he screamed out for the image to stop leaving him. This went on and on for quite a long time,
he cherished this image that consumed him. By standing there so long, Narcissus lost his color,
vigor, and the beauty that had once so charmed the nymph Echo. She kept near him, however, and
continued to repeat his screams of sadness. Eventually, Narcissus pined away and died.
The nymphs mourned for him, especially the water nymphs. The nymphs prepared a funeral pile and
would have burned the body, but it was nowhere to be found. All that was left in the place where
Narcissus stood, was a flower, purple within, and surrounded with white leaves, which now holds the
name and preserves the memory of Narcissus. This tale of course is where we derived the word
Narcissist which basically means someone that is full of themselves.
Sources: Ovid's Metamorphosis and Bulfinch's Mythology.
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