NARCISSUS. 95 



Narcissus on the grassy verdure lies : 

 But whilst within the crystal font he tries 

 To quench his heat, he feels now heats arise. 

 For, as his own bright image he surveyM, 

 He fell in love with the fantastic shade ; 

 And o'er the fair resemblance hung unmoved, 

 Ncr knew, fond youth ! it was himself he loved. 



The concluding lines of this pathetic poem are so 

 sweetly translated by Addison, that, although known 

 to every admirer of the Narcissus flower, we cannot 

 forbear repeating the moan of the languishing 

 youth, and the responses of his slighted Echo — 



She saw him in his present misery, 



Whom spite of all her wrongs she grieved to see, 



She answer'd sadly to the lover's moan, 



Sigh'd back his sighs, and groan'd to every groan ; 



M Ah youth ! beloved in vain," Narcissus cries — 



" Ah youth ! beloved in vain," the Nymph replies. 



" Farewell," says he ; the parting sound scarce fell 

 From his faint lips, but she replied " Farewell." 

 Then on the wholesome earth he gasping lies, 

 Till death shuts up those self-admiring eyes. 

 To the cold shades his flitting ghost retires, 

 And in the Stygian waves itself admires. 



For him the Naiads and Dryads mourn, 

 Whom the sad Echo answers in her turn : 

 And now the sister-nymphs prepare his urn ; 

 When, looking for his corpse, they only found 

 A rising stalk, with yellow blossoms crown'd. 



On this account the flower retains the name of 

 Narcissus in all the enlightened countries of Eu- 

 rope, although some etymologists derive the word 

 Na§>a^os-, Narcissus, from N^§jcwo/r, on account 

 of its narcotic quality. 



