Resumo de The Story Of The Narcissus

Greek legend explains the origins of the word ''echo'' and the narcissus flower.Echo was a beautiful nymph ,who lived i the woods and hills ,devoting her time to woodland sports .Yet for all her virtues,Echo had one failing .She was fond of talking ,and loved to have the last word on everything.
It so happened that Juno the Queen of the gods.was once seeking her husband ,whom she believed was amusing himself among the nymphs.It was Echo''s job to detain the angry goddess until the nymphs had escaped .When Juno discovered this ,she was furious and punished Echo.She said ,"You shall forfeit the use of that tongue with which you have cheated me ,except for that one purpose you are so fond of -replying .You shall have the last word ,but no power to speak first."And so it happened that Echo came across a beautiful youth called Narcissus that Echo came across a beautiful youth called Narcissus whom she fell in love with almost instantly .Echo longed to talk to him but she had been cursed and could not .All she could do was hide from him and repeat the puzzled question he asked her as to who she was and why she was following him .
Finally ,Narcissus said ,"Let us join one another ."Echo had never meant any words more .She hastened to meet him ,only to be completely rebuffed.Heartbroken ,Echo hid herself in caves and among mountain cliffs,fading away with grief,until only her voice was left .It is said that this is the reason behind the voice that mountain tops -still replying to any one who calls to her and still keeping her old habit of having the last word.
One day,a girl who was rejected by Narcissus ,uttered a prayer that he might some time or another feel what it was to love and meet with no reciprocation .
This prayer was soon to be answered .Wandering through the woods on a hunt ,Narcissus came upon a clear pool .Thirsty ,he stooped down to drink and saw his own beautiful reflection .He stood gazing down at the image reflected in the clear waters and the longer he gazed ,the deeper in love he fell -with himself .
Yet no matter how hard he tried ,the image would always flee if he tried to touch it ,or come closer to it .Fascinated ,unable to tear himself away ,losing all thought of food or rest ,Narcissus spent all his time gazing at his own reflection .Gradually he lost all his colour ,his bigour and the beauty that had so charmed all the nymphs -including Echo.Gradually ,he pined away and died there by the clear water of the pool .The nymphs ,especially poor Echo ,were heartbroken upon his death .They prepared a funeral pile and would have burned his body ,but it was nowhere to be found .
In its place ,was a flower ,which bears the name and preserves the memory of Narcissus .His story is what lies behind the word ''narcissistic ''that is so commomly used in the English language today.

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