2009-08-25 Echo & Narcissus 回声和那西塞斯

ENGLISH
（往下有中文版本哦！）
Really feel fortunate to have seen his work，John William Waterhouse，1849—1917 in presence in this lifetime & just wanted to share with you this beautiful myth，of one of his paintings `Echo & Narcissus' if you have not heard it already.

ECHO & NARCISSUS BY
THOMAS BULLFINCH

Echo was a beautiful nymph, fond of the woods and hills, where she devoted herself to woodland sports. She was a favourite of Diana, and attended her in the chase. But Echo had one failing; she was fond of talking, and whether in chat or argument, would have the last word. One day Juno was seeking her husband, who, she had reason to fear, was amusing himself among the nymphs. Echo by her talk contrived to detain the goddess till the nymphs made their escape. When Juno discovered it, she passed sentence upon Echo in these words: "You shall forfeit the use of that tongue with which you have cheated me, except for that one purpose you are so fond of- reply. You shall still have the last word, but no power to speak first."

This nymph saw Narcissus, a beautiful youth, as he pursued the chase upon the mountains. She loved him and followed his footsteps. O how she longed to address him in the softest accents, and win him to converse! but it was not in her power. She waited with impatience for him to speak first, and had her answer ready. One day the youth, being separated from his companions, shouted aloud, "Who's here?" Echo replied, "Here." Narcissus looked around, but seeing no one, called out, "Come." Echo answered, "Come." As no one came, Narcissus called again, "Why do you shun me?" Echo asked the same question. "Let us join one another," said the youth. The maid answered with all her heart in the same words, and hastened to the spot, ready to throw her arms about his neck. He started back, exclaiming, "Hands off! I would rather die than you should have me!" "Have me," said she; but it was all in vain. He left her, and she went to hide her blushes in the recesses of the woods. From that time forth she lived in caves and among mountain cliffs. Her form faded with grief, till at last all her flesh shrank away. Her bones were changed into rocks and there was nothing left of her but her voice. With that she is still ready to reply to any one who calls her, and keeps up her old habit of having the last word.

Narcissus's cruelty in this case was not the only instance. He shunned all the rest of the nymphs, as he had done poor Echo. One day a maiden who had in vain endeavored to attract him uttered a prayer that he might some time or other feel what it was to love and meet no return of affection. The avenging goddess heard and granted the prayer.

There was a clear fountain, with water like silver, to which the shepherds never drove their flocks, nor the mountain goats resorted, nor any of the beasts of the forests; neither was it defaced with fallen leaves or branches; but the grass grew fresh around it, and the rocks sheltered it from the sun. Hither came one day the youth, fatigued with hunting, heated and thirsty. He stooped down to drink, and saw his own image in the water; he thought it was some beautiful water-spirit living in the fountain. He stood gazing with admiration at those bright eyes, those locks curled like the locks of Bacchus or Apollo, the rounded cheeks, the ivory neck, the parted lips, and the glow of health and exercise over all. He fell in love with himself. He brought his lips near to take a kiss; he plunged his arms in to embrace the beloved object. It fled at the touch, but returned again after a moment and renewed the fascination. He could not tear himself away; he lost all thought of food or rest. while he hovered over the brink of the fountain gazing upon his own image. He talked with the supposed spirit: "Why, beautiful being, do you shun me? Surely my face is not one to repel you. The nymphs love me, and you yourself look not indifferent upon me. When I stretch forth my arms you do the same; and you smile upon me and answer my beckonings with the like." His tears fell into the water and disturbed the image. As he saw it depart, he exclaimed, "Stay, I entreat you! Let me at least gaze upon you, if I may not touch you." With this, and much more of the same kind, he cherished the flame that consumed him, so that by degrees be lost his colour, his vigour, and the beauty which formerly had so charmed the nymph Echo. He fades away to finally become the flower Narcissus growing by the streams.

There are times in life that I feel that I have been both Echo & Narcissus, to have loved too much in becoming totally silly & destroying myself worrying those that care for me & also to have been self-indulgent, selfish & self-consumed.
It is a beautiful story that reminds us that we must and should always find the middle ground - It's all about Balance :)



中文版
真的很开心在我这一生中有机会看到约翰·威廉·沃特豪斯 1849—1917的作品。而这幅`回声和那西塞斯‘背后有个很好听的故事，想和你分享!

回声和那西塞斯 作者：托马斯·布尔凡奇 翻译：Celest 张琪

回音是个美丽的精灵，最喜欢森林和大自然，天天陶醉在森林里的美妙活动中。可是回音有个坏本性那就是她非常爱说话而不管是在聊天或吵架都一定要插上最后一句话。有一天，希腊女神菊锘在寻找她的丈夫，她有理由相信他丈夫在和精灵们在做出对不起她的事。回音用她延续不断说话的方式，拦住了菊锘女神让其他精灵们有机会逃跑。菊锘女神知道了这件事就诅咒回音：`你已放弃了说话的权利因为你欺骗了我，除了你最爱的回话。你将一样的能够插上最后一句可是你将没有说出第一句话或说出自己想法的能力。’

回音看到了那西塞斯(白水仙)，一位英俊的青少年正在捕猎中，她就爱上了他，跟随着他的脚步。回音多希望自己能够和他说话，迎娶他的欢心，可是她也只好苦苦的等着他先说出话。有一天那西塞斯(白水仙)与打猎伙伴分散了就叫出口`是谁在这里？‘回音藏着回到`这里’那西塞斯(白水仙)再说`来`回音说`来`。回音没有走到他身旁，那西塞斯(白水仙)就问说`你为何避开我？‘而回音用同样的字语回答。那青少年再说到`让我们同在一起吧！’回音高兴的扑向他说出`在一起吧！‘可是那西塞斯(白水仙)却一时被吓着叫出了这些话`被碰我！我宁愿死也不原意让你拥有我！’回音回答`拥有我！‘可是一切努力也挽回不了这份爱的回应了。那西塞斯(白水仙）离开了她，回音从此沉默的躲到森林里，住在山洞和山崖中。她失去爱意的痛苦慢慢的让她的身体憔悴，直到只剩下她的骨头也变成了石头，只有她那会回复的声音存在了。

那西塞斯(白水仙）不只被回音爱而许许多多的精灵也因他的英俊年少深深的爱上他。可是他依然相对回音的拒绝一样的伤了许多可心。有这么一位被那西塞斯(白水仙）拒绝的女子祈祷，希望有一天那西塞斯(白水仙）也能够体会一厢情愿的痛苦。报复女神答应了她的请求。

有这么一个源泉，水清溪就像银河一般，没有牧羊人带羊群来喝水也没有任何森林里的动物会来喝水更没有落下的树枝或树叶倾翻它的美观，源泉胖只有新鲜的嫩草生长。有一天，那西塞斯(白水仙）从捕猎的疲惫决定喝口水，在这时候看到了他自己在源泉里的影子。他以为是住在森林里的水精灵。他欣赏的看着那双明亮的眼睛，那金色的卷发，那圆满的脸带，如象牙般无缺的脖子，轻轻分开的厚嘴唇，那年轻，从满尽力健康的感觉。在这时刻那西塞斯(白水仙）深深的爱上了自己。他想亲这美妙的精灵，想拥抱它，可是每次碰到，它就会离他而去。可是萨那间又会回来了。那西塞斯(白水仙）无法离开他的所爱，忘了饮食或休息。他对着他的最爱苦苦哀求：`为何你要避开我？我的脸不可能让你觉得反感吧？精灵们看到我都爱上我，而你看着我的眼神也充满了爱意。当我张开双手，你一样的跟随我张开双手而当我对你笑你也一样，但我对你说话，你也一样的相对我说话的样子啊！‘那西塞斯(白水仙）痛苦的落下了眼泪可是眼泪也只不过干扰了他所爱的影子。当影子再次回到，那西塞斯(白水仙）说：`我求你留下来，如果我不能碰你，那也让我可以一直向你看。’就这样，那西塞斯(白水仙）度过了他的一生，珍惜着他内心这份热烈的爱直到他失去了他的美观，英俊，年轻力壮的气质。直到他终于变成了在源泉生长的白水仙花。

在我个人的人生中，觉得很多时候自己是回音也是白水仙。 爱得太过火，爱得太傻，毁了自己的神经让身旁的情人担心也有太自恋，太自私，太自我的时候。觉得这是个美妙的故事因为它说出了爱情最重要的一点-那就是平衡！平衡点咯！！！