Narcissus

from: Paul Denis, Le Narcissisme, Presses universitaires de France, 2012.

Doxa translation.

In its most interesting version, mythology makes of Narcissus the

son of the nymph Niriopé and of the river God Céphise who had seized

her in the swirls of his current and had «triumphed of her through violence».

The child who was born of this rape received the name of Narcissus : he

could make anyone fall in love with him still in the craddle. The fortune-teller

Tirésias, on being asked of the life perspectives for the child, said he could live

for a long time on the condition that «he never catch sight of himself». Those

men and women in love with Narcissus were quite numerous but to all he opposed 

a great haughtyness and would bring their downfall. Echo the nymph was one of his

victims. Already punished by Héra for the abuse of speaking, the ability to speak had 

been taken from her and all she could do was repeat the last few words she has heard.

Neglected by Narcissus, she roamed about, spread herself thinly, lost substance

to the point where all that was left of her was her voice...The too handsome adolescent

one day sent to Ameinias, his most ardent admirer, a sword with which the latter

committed suicide on Narcissus’ doorstep, but demanding yet vengeance from the Gods 

in his own name and in that of other victims : «May he fall in love with another,

and like us, find the object of his desire unattainable» Nimésis heard his cry and 

the prophecy of Tirésias was fulfilled. Narcisus saw his own image in the water

mirror and fell in love with his own image : «While drinking he loves a vain shadow 

and lends it a body »(Ovid). He tried to reach and kiss, without success, the splendid 

adolescent he could see, but soon he recognized himself and became fascinated

by the image : «Alas I am myself the young man that I see». In great

despair, he injured himself in the chest and lost all strength to the point where «his

languishing head touched the ground, and the night closed his eyes still fascinated

by his own beauty. Even yet having reached the gloomy netherworld, he looked for his

image in the Styx». His body was never found but in its place «was found a flower,

the colour of safron in the midst of white petals», the narcissus.