"The Disciple", page 1

Download image: 
Oscar Wilde
1854–1900

"The Disciple," from Poems in Prose

Autograph manuscript, ca. 1894. 2 p.

Gift of Lucia Moreira Salles, 2008

MA 7258.5
Transcription: 

Page 1

(6)

Megit [typesetter's name]

The Disciple.

    When Narcissus died the pool of his pleasure changed from a cup of sweet waters into a cup of salt tears. And the Oreads went came weeping through the woodlands, that they might talk to the And the Oreads pool and give it comfort.
    And when they saw that the pool had changed from a cup of sweet waters into a cup of salt tears they called to it loosened the green tresses of their hair and wept again called to the pool and said "We do not wonder that you should grieve mourn in this manner for Narcissus, so beautiful was he."
    "But was Narcissus beautiful?" said the pool.
    "Who should know that better than you?" answered the Oreads. "Us did he ever pass by, but thee you he sought for, and would lie on thy your banks and look down at thee you, and in the mirror of thy your waters he would mirror his own beauty."
    And the river pool answered "But I loved Narcissus because as he