Editing Echo (mythology) (section)

===''The Lay of Narcissus''===
[[File:Nicolas Poussin, Eco e Narciso (ca. 1629-1630), Museo del Louvre, Parigi..jpg|thumb|left|''[[Echo and Narcissus (Poussin)|Echo and Narcissus]]'', a depiction of Echo and Narcissus featuring [[Cupid]] and his arrows. ([[Nicolas Poussin]], 1630, [[Louvre|Louvre Museum]], [[Paris]])]]

''The Lay of Narcissus'', one of many titles by which the work is known, is a Norman-French verse narrative written towards the end of the 12th century. In the four manuscripts that remain, an unknown author borrows from the Echo and Narcissus of Ovid to create a story better suited to the needs of his time.<ref name="Dwyer">Dwyer, Richard (1978), ''Review: Narcisse: Conte ovidien français du XIIe siècle by Martine Thiry-Stassin, Madeline Tyssens.'' Speculum Vol. 53, No. 2, p.417</ref>

This medieval account alters the characters of both Echo and Narcissus. In Ovid's account Echo is a beautiful nymph residing with the Muses, and Narcissus is a haughty prince. In ''The Lay of Narcissus'', Echo is replaced by the princess Dané. Conversely, Narcissus loses the royal status he bore in Ovid's account: in this rendition he is no more than a commoner, a vassal of Dané's father, the King.<ref name="Dwyer"/>

In the ''Lay'', [[Dané]] is pierced by [[Cupid#Cupid's arrows|the arrows of Amor]] and falls madly in love with Narcissus. Though aware that she should first consult her father, she nonetheless shares her feelings with Narcissus. Despite her emphasising her royal lineage, Narcissus spurns her just as he spurns and flees from all women.<ref name="Harrison">{{cite journal|last=Harrison|first=Ann Turkey|year=1982|title=Echo and her Medieval Sister|journal=The Continental Review|volume=26|issue=4|page=326|jstor=23739427}}</ref>

Humiliated, Dané calls out to [[Cupid|Amor]], and, in response, the god curses Narcissus. In a classic example of [[poetic justice]], Narcissus is forced to suffer the same pain he inflicted on others, namely the pain of unrequited love.<ref name="Dwyer"/> The vehicle of this justice is a pool of water in which Narcissus falls in love with his own reflection, which he at first mistakes for a woman.<ref name="Harrison"/>  Deranged by lust, Dané searches for Narcissus, naked but for a cloak, and finds him at the point of death. Devastated, Dané repents ever calling to Amor.<ref name="Dwyer"/> Dané expresses her love for the last time, pulls close to her beloved and dies in his arms. The poet warns men and women alike not to disdain suitors lest they suffer a similar fate.<ref name="Harrison 2">Harrison, ''Echo and her Medieval Sister'', 327</ref>

While Ovid's story is still recognisable, many of the details have changed considerably. Almost all references to pagan deities are gone, save Amor who is little more than a personification of love. Narcissus is demoted to the status of a commoner while Echo is elevated to the status of princess. Allusions to Narcissus’ homosexuality are expunged. While Ovid talks of Narcissus' disdain for both male and female suitors, the ''Lay'' only mentions his hatred of women. Similarly, in the ''Lay'', Narcissus mistakes his reflection for that of a woman, whereas no mention is made of this in Ovid's account. Finally, the tale is overtly moralized with messages about [[courtly love]]. Such exhortations were entirely absent from the ''Metamorphoses'' rendition.<ref name="Harrison 2"/>