“I have forgotten.”
Then she continued, rising up in the midst of the flowing waters as she spake—
“Remain with us, young girl, stay. Why do you still think of him, who is absent? We have treasured up for you boundless present joys. There is no future happiness worth the trouble of pursuit.”
But Byblis did not think that the nymph had spoken the truth. Although she was unable to express the ideas of her little soul, she could not conceive any greater joy than to suffer in the pursuit of happiness. During the first day of her useless journey she had counted on the assistance and zeal of the unknown creatures. When she saw that they were careless about aiding her destiny she relied solely upon herself, and, leaving the winding path, penetrated haphazard into the labyrinth of the woods.
But the two immortals repeated their words of wisdom.
“Stay with us, young girl, stay. Why do you still think of the absent one? There is no future happiness worth the trouble of pursuit.”
Long, long afterwards the child as she crossed the mysterious mountain could hear in the distance two clear voices, calling together—
“Byblis!”