192 
THE NARCISSUS. 
side a pellucid fountain, which reflected back 
his image; with this image he fell distract¬ 
edly in love, and threw himself into the 
fountain, in search of the phantom which 
Love had commissioned to punish, by betray¬ 
ing him. But on the spot from which he had 
taken the fatal plunge arose a beautiful little 
flower, with its head drooping over the foun¬ 
tain, as if in search still of the lost Narcissus. 
This, the poets tell us, was the metamorphosed 
shepherd; and, till this day, the solitary 
spring is the favourite haunt of the beautiful 
Narcissus. Thus is the flower a most apt 
emblem of self-love. 
ILLUSTRATION OF THE SENTIMENT. 
Natuke’s laws must be obey’d. 
And this is one slie strictly laid 
On every soul which she has made, 
Down from our earliest mother— 
Be self your first and greatest care, 
Fi om all reproach the darling spare, 
And, any blame that she should hear 
Put off upon another. 
