Pyramus and Thisbe

(Eight Brief Tales of Lovers)

Once upon at time, the deep red berries of the mulberry tree where white as snow. The change in color came about strongly and sadly. The death of two lovers was the cause.

Pyramus and Thisbe, he, the most beautiful youth, and she, the loveliest maiden in the East. They lived in Babylon, the city of Queen Semiramis, where houses were so close together that one wall was common to both. They longed to marry, but their parents forbade.

In the wall both houses shared was a little chink. No one had noticed it, but there is nothing a lover does not notice. Our two young people discovered it and through it, they were able to whisper sweetly back and forth. The wall became their means of reaching each other.

Every morning, when the dawn had put out the stars, they would steal to the crack and utter words of burning love and lament their hard fate, but always in soft whispers.

Finally, a day came when they could endure no longer. They decided that, that very night, they would try to slip away and steal out through the city where they could be together in freedom.

They agreed to meet at a well known-place, the Tomb of Ninus, under a tree there, a tall mulberry full of snow-white berries.

At last the sun sank and night arose. In the darkness, Thisbe crept out and made her way to the tomb. Pyramus had not come; still she waited for him.

But of a sudden she was seen by a lioness through the light of the moon. The fierce beast made a kill; her jaws were bloody. Before him lay the blood-strained cloak. This is what Pyramus saw when he appeared a few minutes later.

Pyramus conclusion was inevitable. He never doubted. Thisbe was dead. He thought he had let his love, come alone to a place full of danger, and not been there first to protect her. It is I who killed you. Now, you shall drink my blood too.

He drew his sword and plunged it to his side. The blood spurted over the berries and dyed them dark red.

Thisbe, although terrified of the lioness, was still more afraid to fail her lover. She ventured to go back to the tree of mulberry with the shining white fruit and couldnt find it.

Something moved on the ground. It was Pyramus, bathed in blood and dying. She threw her arms around him and kissed his cold lips and begged him to look at her. To speak to her. She cried, It was I, your Thisbe, your dearest.

She saw his sword fallen from his hand. She understood all. Your own hand killed you, and your love for me. I, too, can be brave. I, too, can love. Only death would have the power to separate us. It shall not have that power now. She plunged the sword into her chest .

The deep red fruit of the mulberry is the everlasting memorial of these two true lovers, and one urn holds the ashes of the two, whom not even death, could part.

Quotes:
Love, however, cannot be forbidden. The more that flame is covered up, the hotter it burns.

Love can always find a way.

Only death would have the power to separate us. It shall not have that power now. - Thisbe

END

Seatwork

1. It is a crack or narrow opening, in a wall for example. 2. He was the most beautiful youth. 3. She was the most loveliest maiden in the East. 4. The two lovers lived in ________, the city of 5. _____________, where houses where so close together. 6. This is where the two lovers agreed to meet when they decided to escape. 7. This animal attacked Thisbe. 8. The fruit of this tree was the everlasting memorial of these two lovers. 9. Once, these fruits where ______ in color. 10. According to the quote, it cannot be forbidden and it can always find a way.