“Echo and Narcissus,” Ovid

The nymph Echo saw Narcissus, a beautiful youth in the mountains.
She loved him and longed to be with him. But Juno had sentenced her to
reply only. She waited with impatience for him to speak first, and had her
answer ready. One day the youth shouted aloud, “Who’s here?”
Echo replied, “Here.” Narcissus looked around, but seeing no one, called out.
“Come.”

Echo answered, “Come.” No one came, Narcissus called again, “Why do
you shun me?” Echo answers with the same question. “Let us join one
another,” said the youth. The maid answered with all her heart in the same
words, and hastened to the spot, ready to throw her arms about his neck. He
started back, exclaiming “Hands off! I would rather die than you should
have me!” “Have me,” said she; but in vain he left her and she went away to
hide her shame. From that time forth she lived in caves. Her form faded with
grief, till at last 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 keeps up her old habit of having the last word.

This was not the only instance of Narcissus’s cruelty. He shunned the
rest of the nymphs, as he had done poor Echo. One day a maiden, who had
in vain endeavored to attract him, uttered a prayer that he might some time
feel what it was to love and receive no affection in return. The avenging
goddess Diana heard and granted the prayer.

There was a clear fountain, with water like silver; the grass grew fresh
around it and rocks sheltered it from the sun. One day the youth came
fatigued and thirsty. He stooped to drink, and saw his own image in the
water; he thought it was some beautiful water-spirit living in the fountain. He
stood gazing with admiration at those bright eyes, the ivory neck, the parted
lips, and the glow of health and exercise over all. He fell in love with himself.

He brought his lips near to take a kiss; he plunged his arms in to embrace
the beloved object. It fled at the touch, but returned again after a moment.
He could not tear himself away; he lost all thought of food or rest. While he
hovered over the brink of the fountain gazing upon his own image. He talked
with the supposed spirit: “Why beautiful being, do you shun me?

When I stretch forth my arms you do the same;
and you smile at me and reply to my beckonings.”
His tears fell into the water and disturbed the image.
As he saw it depart, he exclaimed,
“Stay, I entreat you! Let me gaze upon you, if I may not touch you.”

He cherished the flame that consumed him so that by
degrees he lost his color, his vigor, and the beauty which formerly had
charmed Echo. She kept near him, however, and when he exclaimed, “Alas!
Alas!” she answered him with the same words. He pined away and died; and
when his shade passed the Stygian river, it leaned over the boat to catch a
look at itself in the waters. Echo and the water nymphs mourned for him.
They prepared a funeral pyre, and would have burned the body, but it was
nowhere to be found. In its place was a purple flower surrounded with white
leaves, which bears the name and preserves the memory of Narcissus.