NARCISSUS. 
m 
(Self-love.) 
HE white or poetical Narcissus is adopted as the 
emblem of egotism, because, according to the 
mythologists, it owes its origin to a beautiful 
youth of Bceotia, of whom it had been foretold that he 
should live happily until he beheld his own face. One 
day, when heated by the chase, Narcissus sought to 
quench his thirst in a stream; in so doing he beheld the 
reflection of his own features, of which he immediately 
became enamoured. He was spellbound to the spot 
where he pined to death, and was metamorphosed by the 
gods into the flower that now bears his name. When 
the Naiads had prepared the funeral pile for Narcissus, 
his body was missing : 
‘ ‘ Instead whereof a yellow flower was found, 
With tufts of white about the button crowned 
and ever since is seen 
“ Narcissus fair, 
As o’er the fabled fountain hanging still.” 
The poetic Narcissus has a snow-white flower, with a 
yellow cup in the centre, fringed on the border with a 
brilliant crimson circlet. It is sweet scented, and flowers 
in May. The cup in the centre is supposed to contain 
