In a story told by Ovid, two lovers who were kept apart by their parents. They conversed through a crack in the wall between their houses, and agreed to meet at Ninus's tomb outside the city of Babylon. Finding Thisbe's blood-stained cloak, Pyramus thought she had been killed by a lion, and committed suicide. When she found him, Thisbe killed herself on his sword. The story is incorporated into Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream.
For the river of Asia Minor, see Pyramus (river). For the asteroid, see 88 Thisbe.The love story of Pyramus and Thisbe, not really a part of Roman mythology, is actually a sentimental romance.
The following is a paraphrase of Ovid by Thomas Bulfinch (The Age of Fable, 1855):
|
Pyramus was the handsomest youth, and Thisbe the fairest maiden, in all Babylonia, where Semiramis reigned. and neighborhood brought the young people together, and acquaintance ripened into
love. One thing, however, they could not forbid that love should glow with equal ardor in the bosoms of both. No one had remarked it before, but the lovers discovered it. What will love not
discover? As they stood, Pyramus on this side, Thisbe on that, their breaths would mingle. "Cruel wall," they said, "why do you keep two lovers apart? We owe you, we confess, the privilege
of transmitting loving words to willing ears." and when night came and they must say farewell, they pressed their lips upon the wall, she on her side, he on his, as they could come no
nearer.
One morning, when Aurora had put out the stars, and the sun had melted the frost from the grass, they met at the accustomed spot. Then cautiously Thisbe stole forth, unobserved by the family, her head covered with a veil, made her way to the monument and sat down under the tree. Pyramus, having been delayed, now approached the place of meeting. I am the guilty cause, in tempting thee forth to a place of such peril, and not being myself on the spot to guard thee. Come forth, ye lions, from the rocks, and tear this guilty body with your teeth!" He took up the veil, carried it with him to the appointed tree, and covered it with kisses and with tears. The blood spurted from the wound, and tinged the white mulberries of the tree all red; 
By this time, Thisbe, still trembling with fear, yet wishing not to disappoint her lover, stepped cautiously forth, looking anxiously for the youth, eager to tell him the danger she had escaped. When she came to the spot and saw the changed color of the mulberries she doubted whether it was the same place. At the name of Thisbe, Pyramus opened his eyes, then closed them again. She saw her veil stained with blood and the scabbard empty of its sword. "I too can be brave for once, and my love is as strong as thine. As love and death have joined us, let one tomb contain us. The two bodies were buried in one sepulchre, and according to Ovid, Metamorphoses 4, the tree ever after brought forth purple berries, as it does to this day. |
Adaptations
Geoffrey Chaucer was among the first to tell the story in English with his The Legend of Good Women. The "Pyramus and Thisbe" plot appears twice in Shakespeare's works. Edmond Rostand adapted the tale from Romeo and Juliet, making the fathers of the lovers conspire to bring their children together by pretending to forbid their love in Les Romanesques.
Allusions
|
O for that lamp's metallic gauze,
That curtain of protecting wire, Which Davy delicately draws Around illicit, dangerous fire! The wall he sets 'twixt Flame and Air, (Like that which barred young Thisbe's bliss), Through whose small holes this dangerous pair May see each other, but not kiss. |
In Mickle's translation of the Lusiad occurs the following allusion to the story of Pyramus and Thisbe, and the metamorphosis of the mulberries. The poet is describing the Island of Love.
|
here each gift Pomona's hand bestows
In cultured garden, free uncultured flows, The flavor sweeter and the hue more fair Than e'er was fostered by the hand of care. |
If any of our young readers can be so hard-hearted as to enjoy a laugh at the expense of poor Pyramus and Thisbe, they may find an opportunity by turning to Shakespeare's play of Midsummer Night's Dream, where it is most amusingly burlesqued.
Here is the description of the play and the characters by the Prologue.
|
But wonder on, till truth makes all things plain. This man with lime and roughcast, doth present Wall, that vile Wall, which did these lovers sunder; for, if you will know, By Moonshine did these lovers think no scorn To meet at Ninus' tomb, there, there to woo. And, as she fled, her mantle she did fall, Which Lion vile with bloody mouth did stain. Anon comes Pyramus, sweet youth and tall, And finds his trusty Thisby's mantle slain; |
Midsummer Night's Dream, v.1,128, et seq.
Thisbe is also a transliteration of Tishbe, a town mentioned in the Bible (Tanakh or Old Testament) .
User Comments Add a comment…