Legend of Narcissus

In Greek mythology, Narcissus was a handsome Greek lad who had never seen his mirror image. The nymph Echo had been sentenced by Hera for gossiping by being cursed to forever "have the last word". One day Echo saw Narcissus on foot through the forest and wanted to convey her love for him. Narcissus heard her but could not see her and when Narcissus asked, "Who's here?", all Echo could respond was "here" because of the curse. When Echo finally exposed herself, she was shocked when Narcissus disdainfully rejected her and she fled into the mountains. One day, Narcissus became thirsty and stopped by a lake to take a drink; he saw his mirror image in the water for the first time. Not eloquent any better, he fell in love with his image and started talking to it. Not yet understanding his reflections, Narcissus thought his mirror image was speaking to him and became more affianced. Unable to carry out his love, Narcissus drowned himself at the pool and changed into the flower that bears his name, the narcissus.

At the spot where he fell, a flower was born, which was called the narcissus. But this was not how the author of the book ended the story there had been more to that. He said that when Narcissus died, the Goddesses of the Forest made apparition and found the lake from which had been fresh water which was transformed into a lake of salty tears.

"Why do you weep?" the Goddesses asked the lake.

"I sob for Narcissus," the lake replied.

"Oh, it is no astonishment that you weep for Narcissus," they said, "for though we always pursued him in the forest, you alone could ponder his beauty close at hand."

"But..... Was Narcissus good-looking?" the lake asked.

"Who better than you to know that?" the Goddesses thought in wonder, "After all, it was by your banks that he knelt each day to contemplate himself!!"

The lake was silent for some time. Finally it said:

"I weep for Narcissus, but I never noticed that Narcissus was good-looking. I weep because, each time he knelt beside my banks, I could see, in the depths of his eyes, my own beauty reflected."