ances, and the love-sick maids.
A chattering nymph, resounding Echo, saw
The youth, when in his toils the trembling deer
He drove;--a nymph who ne'er her words retain'd,
Nor dialogue commenc'd. But then she bore
A body palpable; and not, as now,
Merely a voice:--yet garrulous, she then
That voice, nor other us'd; 'twas all she could,
The closing words of speakers to repeat.
Juno had this ordain'd: for oft the dame
The frailer nymphs upon the hills had caught,
In trespass with her Jove; but Echo sly
With lengthen'd speech the goddess kept amus'd,
Till all by flight were sav'd. Soon Juno saw
The trick:--"The power of that delusive tongue,"--
She cry'd, "I'll lessen, and make brief thy words;"
Nor stay'd, but straight her threaten'd vengeance took.
Now she redoubles (all she can) the words
Which end another's speech; reporting back,
But only what she hears.

Through pathless woods
As roves Narcissus, Echo sees, and burns;
Steals in his footsteps, following close, but flames
More fierce, more near approaching. Sudden thus,
The sulphurous daubing o'er the torches spread,
Snatches th' approaching flame. How oft she wish'd
With bland and soothing words to hail the youth;
But nature harsh forbids, nor grants to make
The first commencement; what she grants she takes,
And anxious waits to catch the wish'd-for sounds;
And speak responsive. Chance the youth had led
Far from his social troop, and loud he cry'd,--
"Who's he that hither comes?" Attentive she,--
Reply'd, "O hither come!" Amaz'd he stood,
Round searching whence the voice; and louder still,
"Here come!" exclaim'd,--and Echo answer'd,--"Come!"
To every part his eyes in vain are bent;
And, "why," laments he, "dost thou me avoid?"
Again he hears her,--"dost thou me avoid?"
Still he persists; th' alternate voice deceives,--
And,--"come, approach, together let us join,"
Impatient now he utters: ardent she
Exclaims, in joyful accents,--"let us join!"
Her wish in person urging, from the grove
She springs, and wide extends her arms to clasp
His neck:--Narcissus flies, and flying calls,--
"Desist!--hold off thy hands;--may sooner death
"Me seize, than thou enjoy me." Nought the maid
Re-echoes, but,--"enjoy me." Close conceal'd,
By him disdain'd, amid the groves she hides
Her blushing forehead, where the leaves bud thick;
And dwells in lonel