Narcissus

  Classical mythology relates the story of a shepherd boy, named Narcissus, who was adored by all the wood nymphs.  One in particular was especially enamored with him.  Her name was Echo.  She was unable to express her love for him for she could only repeat his last words.  He was consequently unaware of her admiration, which he did not reciprocate anyway.  Eventually Echo became sick from unrequited love, and wandered off to the mountains where she became nothing but a voice.
   Venus, the goddess of love, was determined to punish Narcissus for his cruelty.  She arranged for Cupid to set a spell on him whereby he fell in love with his own reflection in a pool of water.  Day after day, he returned to the pool, and tried to speak to the image, but  his only response was the faint sad echo from the distant mountains.  Eventually, he wasted away just as Echo had done.  The immortals finally took pity on him and transformed him into a delicate white papery flower, which grows close to water, in memory of the egotistical youth.