No one can resist the will of the beautiful goddess Aphrodite. She can generously give happiness, or maybe even punish cruelly. Until now, people remember and pass on to each other a sad story that happened to the young Narcissus, the son of the river god Kefiss and the nymph Liriopa. Since childhood, Narcissus admired everyone for his amazing beauty. His parents knew that beauty does not always bring happiness to people, and appealed to the visionary Tiresias to tell them what is expected of their child in the future and how long he will live in the world.
The wise Tiresias looked at the beautiful baby and said:
- Your son can live to a deep age, but only if he never sees his face.
The parents of the little Narcissus were surprised by this strange answer, they did not understand anything, so they laughed at the prophecy of the old Tiresias for a long time and decided not to pay attention to his empty words.
Years later, Narcissus grew up and turned into a slender and beautiful young man. The young nymphs were chasing him, trying to attract his attention. But no one loved Narcissus, he was already accustomed to the fact that everyone admires only him, and he himself remained cold and indifferent.
One day, when he was hunting in a network of trembling deer, saw his young nymph Echo. She hid in the woods more often and looked at Narcissus with delight. How beautiful this young man was! How she wanted to talk to him! But that was her problem, that she couldn't do it. Once the great goddess Hera punished her for telling Zeus that Hera was coming while he was having fun with nymphs. The great goddess was angry with Echo and cursed her:
- Let your tongue lose its power and your voice become short," she said to the guilty nymph. Since then, the young Echo has forgotten how to talk, and now she can only repeat what she hears, and then only the last words.
Narcissus
In pursuit of the deer, Narcissus wandered into the depths of the forest, he fell behind his companions and looked at the sides in confusion. Suddenly it seemed to him that a shadow flashed more often in the woods and someone's cautious steps rustled.
- Hey, is there anyone here? - the young man shouted.
- Yes, I do!" she said, answering, ringing Echo.
- Why are you hiding, where are you? - The surprised Narcissus shouted again.
- You? - The invisible Echo also asked. Narcissus thought it was one of his comrades who had decided to joke with him.
- Come here, we'll meet here," the young man called.
- We'll meet," Echo happily agreed. The happy nymph ran out of her hiding place and rushed towards Narcissus, reaching out to him. But Narcissus, as soon as he saw the girl, frowned and shouted contemptuously at her:
- Get your hands off me, I'd rather die than stay with you!
The young nymph did not know where to go from shame, she covered her face with her hands and rushed into the thicket of the forest. Poor Echo fled to the mountains and lived there alone in caves. Sometimes she came downstairs and wandered through the woods.
A lot of time had passed since then, but she couldn't forget the beautiful Narcissus, she loved the cruel young man more and more, and the resentment grew in her. Echo dried up from love and grief, her body was completely exhausted, her only voice was left, still clean and sounding. No one now shows up miserable Echo, only sadly responds to any shouting.
And Narcissus continued to live proud and indifferent to everything in the world. Many beautiful nymphs suffered from love for him. One day they all came together and prayed to Aphrodite:
- Make it so, great goddess, that he may fall in love without answer.
In response, Aphrodite sent them a gentle breeze. He flew over the meadow, where the young nymphs had gathered, touching their flaming bodies with a gentle wing, and shaking the golden curls.
Spring came. Bright, sunny. Narcissus disappeared all day in the woods on a hunting trip. Once he wandered through the woods for a long time, and did not get caught in the game this time, but he was very tired and wanted to drink. Soon he found a stream and leaned over its mirror surface. He wanted to scoop up clean, cold water, but suddenly he froze in amazement. Someone's beautiful face looked at him from the clear depths of the creek. He did not even think that he had seen his reflection in the water. Narcissus kept looking at him, and the longer he stared, the more he liked it.
- Who are you, pretty stranger? - He asked, leaning over the creek, "Why did you hide in the creek?
A beautiful face moved his lips, too, but Narcissus didn't hear what he said.
- Come out of the water, my dear," he begged for his reflection and lured him with his hand, "can't you see how I suffer?
A beautiful stranger also lured him, reaching out and laughing when he laughed. Narcissus leaned toward the water itself and wanted to kiss his beloved one, but only the cold water touched his lip. The water in the creek shuddered, wrinkled, and spilled out a beautiful image.
Narcissus sat down on the bank of the creek and thoughtfully looked into its depth. From the bottom, just as thoughtfully, looked at him a wonderful face. And suddenly a terrible thought came to him. He even shuddered with surprise. Didn't he?