Observations placeholder
Ovid - Metamorphoses - The Story of Narcissus
Identifier
002570
Type of Spiritual Experience
Background
Ovid gained from friendship and companionship which is under the generic heading of reducing threats.
Nicolas Poussin - Narcissus and Echo
A description of the experience
Ovid Metamorphoses - From The Story of Narcissus
There stands a fountain in a darksome wood,
Nor stained with falling leaves nor rising mud;
Untroubled by the breath of winds it rests,
Unsullied by the touch of men or beasts;
High bowers of shady trees above it grow,
And rising grass and cheerful greens below.
Pleased with the form and coolness of the place,
And over-heated by the morning chase,
Narcissus on the grassy verdure lies:
But whilst within the crystal fount he tries
To quench his heat, he feels new heats arise.
For as his own bright image he surveyed,
He fell in love with the fantastic shade;
And o'er the fair resemblance hung unmoved,
Nor knew, fond youth! it was himself he loved.
The well-turned neck and shoulders he descries,
The spacious forehead, and the sparkling eyes;
The hands that Bacchus might not scorn to show,
And hair that round Apollo's head might flow;
With all the purple youthfulness of face,
That gently blushes in the watery glass.
By his own flames consumed the lover lies,
And gives himself the wound by which he dies.
To the cold water oft he joins his lips,
Oft catching at the beauteous shade he dips
His arms, as often from himself he slips.
Nor knows he who it is his arms pursue
With eager clasps, but loves he knows not who.
What could, fond youth, this helpless passion move?
What kindled in thee this unpitied love?
Thy own warm blush within the water glows,
With thee the coloured shadow comes and goes,
Its empty being on thy self relies;
Step thou aside, and the frail charmer dies.
The source of the experience
OvidConcepts, symbols and science items
Concepts
Science Items
Activities and commonsteps
Activities
Overloads
Unrequited loveSuppressions
Making loveReducing threats
Sex magick
Sexual stimulation