“One day, as he was driving timid deer into his nets, he was seen by that talkative nymph who cannot stay silent when another speaks, but yet has not learned to speak first herself. Her name is Echo, and she always answers back.

Echo still had a body then, she was not just a voice: but although she was always chattering, her power of speech was no different from what it is now. All she could do was to repeat the last words of the many phrases that she heard. Juno had brought this about because often, when she could have caught the nymphs lying with her Jupiter on the mountainside, Echo, knowing well what she did, used to detain the goddess with an endless flow of talk, until the nymphs could flee. When Juno realised what was happening, she said: ‘I shall curtail the powers of that tongue which has tricked me: you will have only the briefest possible use of your voice.’ And in fact she carried out her threats. Echo still repeats the last words spoken, and gives back the sounds she has heard.

So, when she saw Narcissus wandering through the lonely countryside, Echo fell in love with him, and followed secretly in his steps. The more closely she followed, the nearer was the fire which scorched her: just as sulphur, smeared around the tops of torches, is quickly kindled when a flame is brought near it. How often she wished to make flattering overtures to him, to approach him with tender pleas! But her handicap prevented this, and would not allow her to speak first; she was ready to do what it would allow, to wait for sounds which she might re-echo with her own voice.

The boy, by chance, had wandered away from his faithful band of comrades, and he called out: ‘is there anybody here?’ Echo answered: ‘Here!’ Narcissus stood still in astonishment, looking round in every direction, and cried at the pitch of his voice: ‘Come!’ As he called, she called in reply. He looked behind him, and when no one appeared, cried again: ‘Why are you avoiding me?’ But all he heard were his own words echoed back…”

Ovid, Metamorphoses
Translated by Mary M. Innes 1955