Echo, a Nymph known for her endless chatter, was cursed by Juno to only repeat the last words spoken by others due to her incessant storytelling that hindered the goddess from capturing other Nymphs. As a result, she lost her original ability to speak independently.
Echo and Narcissus
Ovid, translated by Brookes More 1 A.D.
Once a noisy Nymph, (who never held her tongue when others spoke, who never spoke till others had begun) mocking Echo, spied him as he drove, in his delusive nets, some timid stags. For Echo was a Nymph, in olden time, and, more than vapid sound, possessed a form: and she was then deprived the use of speech, except to babble and repeat the words, once spoken, over and over. Juno confused her silly tongue, because she often held that glorious goddess with her endless tales, till many a hapless Nymph, from Jove's embrace, had made escape adown a mountain. But for this, the goddess might have caught them. Thus the glorious Juno, when she knew her guile; “Your tongue, so freely wagged at my expense, shall be of little use; your endless voice, much shorter than your tongue.” At once the Nymph was stricken as the goddess had decreed; and, ever since, she only mocks the sounds of others' voices, or, perchance, returns their final words.
In 1- 2 sentences summarize what happened to Echo.
1 answer