The Legend of Echo
Echo was a beautiful nymph who, like many of her kind, caught the eye of Zeus. Hera, who was looking for her wayward husband, was detained so long by Echo's idle chatter that Zeus could sneak away. To punish Echo, Hera took from her the gift of forming her own words. Thence, Echo could only repeat words that were spoken by others.
One day, a very handsome man, named Narcissus, walked by. Echo fell in love with him and silently followed him into the forest hoping to hear some words of endearment from him that she could repeat. Sadly, he never noticed her.
Narcissus came upon a pool of water and while bending down for a drink caught sight of his reflection. He was spellbound by the handsome stranger in the water and not knowing that it was himself, spoke to the reflection, "I love you." Echo joyfully responded the same, but Narcissus did not hear her.
His obsession was so great that he forgot to eat and drink until he wasted away and died. Hermes came by and led him to the underworld and where he had been sitting, the lovely Narcissus flower blossomed. Echo kneeled beside the flowers and grieved and pined for her lost love until she turned to stone, or in our case, bronze.
In the spring you will see the Narcissus blossoming at her feet, while she patiently sits and pines for her lost love.
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