"Prima fide vocisque ratæ tentamina sumsit
Cærula Liriope ...
... De quo consultus, an esset
Tempora maturæ visurus longa senectæ
Fatidicus vates—'Si se non viderit' inquit."
The introduction of Cephisus, the conversation between Narcissus and his parents, the telling of the youth's fate by the aid of chiromancy, and Liriope's scornful comment on the prophecy, are the materials used by the English writer to form an effective scene.
Scene II. is wholly an interpolation. Dorastus and Clinias also try their fate with Tiresias; he prophesies their early death, and they jest upon the subject.
Scene III., in which Dorastus and Clinias flatter Narcissus for his beauty, has no counterpart in Ovid. Probably, however, it was suggested by Met. iii. 353-355:
"Multi illum juvenes, multæ cupiere puellæ;
Sed fuit in tenera tam dira superbia forma;
Nulli illum juvenes, nullæ tetigere puellæ."
Scene IV. pursues a like theme; the nymphs Florida and Clois are in their turn repulsed by the scornful youth, and relate their woes to Dorastus and Clinias.
The hint for this is given in Met. iii. 402:
"Sic hanc, sic alias undis aut montibus ortas
Luserat hic Nymphas."
And likewise the suggestion of Florida's revengeful wish:
"Inde manus aliquis despectus ad æthera tollens
'Sic amet ipse licet, sic non potiatur amato!'
Dixerat."