A shape within the watery gleam appeared

(click on image for bigger)

I was going to write something about a post of Julie's about Narcissism but, like Narcissus and Echo, the post has disappeared, leaving only this faint reprise.

The Gods fated beautiful Narcissus to become enraptured by his own image reflected in a pool, and fade away, like Echo, the wood nymph whose attentions Narcissus had spurned.

I was thinking what an act of violence and loss the legend represents; the eradication without trace of something beautiful feels monstrous.

So far from the bucolic reverie invoked by Milton...

On the green bank, to look into the clear

Smooth lake that to me seemed another sky.

As I bent down to look, just opposite

A shape within the watery gleam appeared,

Bending to look on me. I started back;

It started back; but pleased I soon returned,

Pleased it returned as soon with answering looks

Of sympathy and love. There had I fixed

Mine eyes till now, and pined with vain desire

-from Comus (1634)

...here instead is something elemental, and bloody.