『詩』では、アモールの矢に刺されたダーネが、ナルキッソスと激しい恋に落ちる。ダーネは父に相談するのが先だと思いつつも、ナルキッソスに自分の気持ちを打ち明けた。ナルキッソスは、彼女が王家の血筋であることを強調したにもかかわらず、すべての女性を拒絶し、逃げ出すように、彼女を拒絶したのである<ref name="Harrison">Harrison Ann Turkey, 1982, Echo and her Medieval Sister, The Continental Review, volume26, issue4, page326, jstor:23739427</ref>。
屈辱を受けたダーネがアモールに呼びかけると、アモールはナルキッソスを呪った。詩的な正義の典型例で、ナルキッソスは自分が他人に与えたのと同じ痛み、すなわち報われない愛の痛みに苦しむことを余儀なくされるのである<ref name="Dwyer"/>。その正義の手段が水槽であり、そこに映る自分の姿に恋をしたナルキッソスが、最初は自分を女性と間違えてしまうのである<ref name="Harrison"/>。欲望にかられたダーネは、マントを羽織っただけの裸のナルキッソスを探し、死の間際の彼を見つけた。打ちひしがれて、ダーネはアモールに呼びかけたことを悔やんだ<ref name="Dwyer"/>。ダーネは最後に愛を示し、最愛の人に寄り添い、ナルキッソスは彼女の腕の中で息を引き取った。。ダーネは最後に愛を示し、最愛の人に寄り添い、ナルキッソスは彼女の腕の中で息を引き取った。詩人は、男女を問わず、求婚者を軽んじてはいけない、自分も同じような運命をたどらないようにと警告している<ref name="Harrison 2">Harrison, ''Echo and her Medieval Sister'', 327</ref>。
Humiliated, Dané calls out to [[Cupid|Amor]], and, in response, the god curses Narcissus. In a classic example of [[poetic justice]], Narcissus is forced to suffer the same pain he inflicted on others, namely the pain of unrequited love. The vehicle of this justice is a pool of water in which Narcissus falls in love with his own reflection, which he at first mistakes for a woman. Deranged by lust, Dané searches for Narcissus, naked but for a cloak, and finds him at the point of death. Devastated, Dané repents ever calling to Amor. Dané expresses her love for the last time, pulls close to her beloved and dies in his arms. The poet warns men and women alike not to disdain suitors lest they suffer a similar fate.<ref name="Harrison 2">Harrison, ''Echo and her Medieval Sister'', 327</ref>
While Ovid's story is still recognisable, many of the details have changed considerably. Almost all references to pagan deities are gone, save Amor who is little more than a personification of love. Narcissus is demoted to the status of a commoner while Echo is elevated to the status of princess. Allusions to Narcissus’ homosexuality are expunged. While Ovid talks of Narcissus' disdain for both male and female suitors, the ''Lay'' only mentions his hatred of women. Similarly, in the ''Lay'', Narcissus mistakes his reflection for that of a woman, whereas no mention is made of this in Ovid's account. Finally, the tale is overtly moralized with messages about [[courtly love]]. Such exhortations were entirely absent from the ''Metamorphoses'' rendition.<ref name="Harrison 2"/>