Metamorphoses (Books I-XIV)
The Story of Pyramus and Thisbe
4:85 In Babylon, where first her queen, for state
4:86 Rais'd walls of brick magnificently
great,
4:87 Liv'd Pyramus, and Thisbe, lovely
pair!
4:88 He found no eastern youth his equal
there,
4:89 And she beyond the fairest nymph
was fair.
4:90 A closer neighbourhood was never
known,
4:91 Tho' two the houses, yet the roof
was one.
4:92 Acquaintance grew, th' acquaintance
they improve
4:93 To friendship, friendship ripen'd
into love:
4:94 Love had been crown'd, but impotently
mad,
4:95 What parents could not hinder,
they forbad.
4:96 For with fierce flames young Pyramus
still burn'd,
4:97 And grateful Thisbe flames as fierce
return'd.
4:98 Aloud in words their thoughts they
dare not break,
4:99 But silent stand; and silent looks
can speak.
4:100 The fire of love the more it
is supprest,
4:101 The more it glows, and rages
in the breast.
4:102 When the division-wall was built, a chink
4:103 Was left, the cement unobserv'd
to shrink.
4:104 So slight the cranny, that it
still had been
4:105 For centuries unclos'd, because
unseen.
4:106 But oh! what thing so small,
so secret lies,
4:107 Which scapes, if form'd for love,
a lover's eyes?
4:108 Ev'n in this narrow chink they
quickly found
4:109 A friendly passage for a trackless
sound.
4:110 Safely they told their sorrows,
and their joys,
4:111 In whisper'd murmurs, and a dying
noise,
4:112 By turns to catch each other's
breath they strove,
4:113 And suck'd in all the balmy breeze
of love.
4:114 Oft as on diff'rent sides they
stood, they cry'd,
4:115 Malicious wall, thus lovers to
divide!
4:116 Suppose, thou should'st a-while
to us give place
4:117 To lock, and fasten in a close
embrace:
4:118 But if too much to grant so sweet
a bliss,
4:119 Indulge at least the pleasure
of a kiss.
4:120 We scorn ingratitude: to thee,
we know,
4:121 This safe conveyance of our minds
we owe.
4:122 Thus they their vain petition did renew
4:123 'Till night, and then they softly
sigh'd adieu.
4:124 But first they strove to kiss,
and that was all;
4:125 Their kisses dy'd untasted on
the wall.
4:126 Soon as the morn had o'er the
stars prevail'd,
4:127 And warm'd by Phoebus, flow'rs
their dews exhal'd,
4:128 The lovers to their well-known
place return,
4:129 Alike they suffer, and alike
they mourn.
4:130 At last their parents they resolve
to cheat
4:131 (If to deceive in love be call'd
deceit),
4:132 To steal by night from home,
and thence unknown
4:133 To seek the fields, and quit
th' unfaithful town.
4:134 But, to prevent their wand'ring
in the dark,
4:135 They both agree to fix upon a
mark;
4:136 A mark, that could not their
designs expose:
4:137 The tomb of Ninus was the mark
they chose.
4:138 There they might rest secure
beneath the shade,
4:139 Which boughs, with snowy fruit
encumber'd, made:
4:140 A wide-spread mulberry its rise
had took
4:141 Just on the margin of a gurgling
brook.
4:142 Impatient for the friendly dusk
they stay;
4:143 And chide the slowness of departing
day;
4:144 In western seas down sunk at
last the light,
4:145 From western seas up-rose the
shades of night.
4:146 The loving Thisbe ev'n prevents the hour,
4:147 With cautious silence she unlocks
the door,
4:148 And veils her face, and marching
thro' the gloom
4:149 Swiftly arrives at th' assignation-tomb.
4:150 For still the fearful sex can
fearless prove;
4:151 Boldly they act, if spirited
by love.
4:152 When lo! a lioness rush'd o'er
the plain,
4:153 Grimly besmear'd with blood of
oxen slain:
4:154 And what to the dire sight new
horrors brought,
4:155 To slake her thirst the neighb'ring
spring she sought.
4:156 Which, by the moon, when trembling
Thisbe spies,
4:157 Wing'd with her fear, swift,
as the wind, she flies;
4:158 And in a cave recovers from her
fright,
4:159 But drop'd her veil, confounded
in her flight.
4:160 When sated with repeated draughts,
again
4:161 The queen of beasts scour'd back
along the plain,
4:162 She found the veil, and mouthing
it all o'er,
4:163 With bloody jaws the lifeless
prey she tore.
4:164 The youth, who could not cheat his guards
so soon,
4:165 Late came, and noted by the glimm'ring
moon
4:166 Some savage feet, new printed
on the ground,
4:167 His cheeks turn'd pale, his limbs
no vigour found;
4:168 But when, advancing on, the veil
he spied
4:169 Distain'd with blood, and ghastly
torn, he cried,
4:170 One night shall death to two
young lovers give,
4:171 But she deserv'd unnumber'd years
to live!
4:172 'Tis I am guilty, I have thee
betray'd,
4:173 Who came not early, as my charming
maid.
4:174 Whatever slew thee, I the cause
remain,
4:175 I nam'd, and fix'd the place
where thou wast slain.
4:176 Ye lions from your neighb'ring
dens repair,
4:177 Pity the wretch, this impious
body tear!
4:178 But cowards thus for death can
idly cry;
4:179 The brave still have it in their
pow'r to die.
4:180 Then to th' appointed tree he
hastes away,
4:181 The veil first gather'd, tho'
all rent it lay:
4:182 The veil all rent yet still it
self endears,
4:183 He kist, and kissing, wash'd
it with his tears.
4:184 Tho' rich (he cry'd) with many
a precious stain,
4:185 Still from my blood a deeper
tincture gain.
4:186 Then in his breast his shining
sword he drown'd,
4:187 And fell supine, extended on
the ground.
4:188 As out again the blade lie dying
drew,
4:189 Out spun the blood, and streaming
upwards flew.
4:190 So if a conduit-pipe e'er burst
you saw,
4:191 Swift spring the gushing waters
thro' the flaw:
4:192 Then spouting in a bow, they
rise on high,
4:193 And a new fountain plays amid
the sky.
4:194 The berries, stain'd with blood,
began to show
4:195 A dark complexion, and forgot
their snow;
4:196 While fatten'd with the flowing
gore, the root
4:197 Was doom'd for ever to a purple
fruit.
4:198 Mean-time poor Thisbe fear'd, so long she
stay'd,
4:199 Her lover might suspect a perjur'd
maid.
4:200 Her fright scarce o'er, she strove
the youth to find
4:201 With ardent eyes, which spoke
an ardent mind.
4:202 Already in his arms, she hears
him sigh
4:203 At her destruction, which was
once so nigh.
4:204 The tomb, the tree, but not the
fruit she knew,
4:205 The fruit she doubted for its
alter'd hue.
4:206 Still as she doubts, her eyes
a body found
4:207 Quiv'ring in death, and gasping
on the ground.
4:208 She started back, the red her
cheeks forsook,
4:209 And ev'ry nerve with thrilling
horrors shook.
4:210 So trembles the smooth surface
of the seas,
4:211 If brush'd o'er gently with a
rising breeze.
4:212 But when her view her bleeding
love confest,
4:213 She shriek'd, she tore her hair,
she beat her breast.
4:214 She rais'd the body, and embrac'd
it round,
4:215 And bath'd with tears unfeign'd
the gaping wound.
4:216 Then her warm lips to the cold
face apply'd,
4:217 And is it thus, ah! thus we meet,
she cry'd!
4:218 My Pyramus! whence sprung thy
cruel fate?
4:219 My Pyramus!-ah! speak, ere 'tis
too late.
4:220 I, thy own Thisbe, but one word
implore,
4:221 One word thy Thisbe never ask'd
before.
4:222 At Thisbe's name, awak'd, he
open'd wide
4:223 His dying eyes; with dying eyes
he try'd
4:224 On her to dwell, but clos'd them
slow, and dy'd.
4:225 The fatal cause was now at last explor'd,
4:226 Her veil she knew, and saw his
sheathless sword:
4:227 From thy own hand thy ruin thou
hast found,
4:228 She said, but love first taught
that hand to wound,
4:229 Ev'n I for thee as bold a hand
can show,
4:230 And love, which shall as true
direct the blow.
4:231 I will against the woman's weakness
strive,
4:232 And never thee, lamented youth,
survive.
4:233 The world may say, I caus'd,
alas! thy death,
4:234 But saw thee breathless, and
resign'd my breath.
4:235 Fate, tho' it conquers, shall
no triumph gain,
4:236 Fate, that divides us, still
divides in vain.
4:237 Now, both our cruel parents, hear my pray'r;
4:238 My pray'r to offer for us both
I dare;
4:239 Oh! see our ashes in one urn
confin'd,
4:240 Whom love at first, and fate
at last has join'd.
4:241 The bliss, you envy'd, is not
our request;
4:242 Lovers, when dead, may sure together
rest.
4:243 Thou, tree, where now one lifeless
lump is laid,
4:244 Ere-long o'er two shalt cast
a friendly shade.
4:245 Still let our loves from thee
be understood,
4:246 Still witness in thy purple fruit
our blood.
4:247 She spoke, and in her bosom plung'd
the sword,
4:248 All warm and reeking from its
slaughter'd lord.
4:249 The pray'r, which dying Thisbe
had preferr'd,
4:250 Both Gods, and parents, with
compassion heard.
4:251 The whiteness of the mulberry
soon fled,
4:252 And rip'ning, sadden'd in a dusky
red:
4:253 While both their parents their
lost children mourn,
4:254 And mix their ashes in one golden
urn.
4:255 Thus did the melancholy tale conclude,
4:256 And a short, silent interval
ensu'd.
4:257 The next in birth unloos'd her
artful tongue,
4:258 And drew attentive all the sister-throng.
Metamorphoses (Books I-XIV)
The Story of Pyramus and Thisbe
4:85 In Babylon, where first her queen, for state
4:86 Rais'd walls of brick magnificently
great,
4:87 Liv'd Pyramus, and Thisbe, lovely
pair!
4:88 He found no eastern youth his equal
there,
4:89 And she beyond the fairest nymph
was fair.
4:90 A closer neighbourhood was never
known,
4:91 Tho' two the houses, yet the roof
was one.
4:92 Acquaintance grew, th' acquaintance
they improve
4:93 To friendship, friendship ripen'd
into love:
4:94 Love had been crown'd, but impotently
mad,
4:95 What parents could not hinder,
they forbad.
4:96 For with fierce flames young Pyramus
still burn'd,
4:97 And grateful Thisbe flames as fierce
return'd.
4:98 Aloud in words their thoughts they
dare not break,
4:99 But silent stand; and silent looks
can speak.
4:100 The fire of love the more it
is supprest,
4:101 The more it glows, and rages
in the breast.
4:102 When the division-wall was built, a chink
4:103 Was left, the cement unobserv'd
to shrink.
4:104 So slight the cranny, that it
still had been
4:105 For centuries unclos'd, because
unseen.
4:106 But oh! what thing so small,
so secret lies,
4:107 Which scapes, if form'd for love,
a lover's eyes?
4:108 Ev'n in this narrow chink they
quickly found
4:109 A friendly passage for a trackless
sound.
4:110 Safely they told their sorrows,
and their joys,
4:111 In whisper'd murmurs, and a dying
noise,
4:112 By turns to catch each other's
breath they strove,
4:113 And suck'd in all the balmy breeze
of love.
4:114 Oft as on diff'rent sides they
stood, they cry'd,
4:115 Malicious wall, thus lovers to
divide!
4:116 Suppose, thou should'st a-while
to us give place
4:117 To lock, and fasten in a close
embrace:
4:118 But if too much to grant so sweet
a bliss,
4:119 Indulge at least the pleasure
of a kiss.
4:120 We scorn ingratitude: to thee,
we know,
4:121 This safe conveyance of our minds
we owe.
4:122 Thus they their vain petition did renew
4:123 'Till night, and then they softly
sigh'd adieu.
4:124 But first they strove to kiss,
and that was all;
4:125 Their kisses dy'd untasted on
the wall.
4:126 Soon as the morn had o'er the
stars prevail'd,
4:127 And warm'd by Phoebus, flow'rs
their dews exhal'd,
4:128 The lovers to their well-known
place return,
4:129 Alike they suffer, and alike
they mourn.
4:130 At last their parents they resolve
to cheat
4:131 (If to deceive in love be call'd
deceit),
4:132 To steal by night from home,
and thence unknown
4:133 To seek the fields, and quit
th' unfaithful town.
4:134 But, to prevent their wand'ring
in the dark,
4:135 They both agree to fix upon a
mark;
4:136 A mark, that could not their
designs expose:
4:137 The tomb of Ninus was the mark
they chose.
4:138 There they might rest secure
beneath the shade,
4:139 Which boughs, with snowy fruit
encumber'd, made:
4:140 A wide-spread mulberry its rise
had took
4:141 Just on the margin of a gurgling
brook.
4:142 Impatient for the friendly dusk
they stay;
4:143 And chide the slowness of departing
day;
4:144 In western seas down sunk at
last the light,
4:145 From western seas up-rose the
shades of night.
4:146 The loving Thisbe ev'n prevents the hour,
4:147 With cautious silence she unlocks
the door,
4:148 And veils her face, and marching
thro' the gloom
4:149 Swiftly arrives at th' assignation-tomb.
4:150 For still the fearful sex can
fearless prove;
4:151 Boldly they act, if spirited
by love.
4:152 When lo! a lioness rush'd o'er
the plain,
4:153 Grimly besmear'd with blood of
oxen slain:
4:154 And what to the dire sight new
horrors brought,
4:155 To slake her thirst the neighb'ring
spring she sought.
4:156 Which, by the moon, when trembling
Thisbe spies,
4:157 Wing'd with her fear, swift,
as the wind, she flies;
4:158 And in a cave recovers from her
fright,
4:159 But drop'd her veil, confounded
in her flight.
4:160 When sated with repeated draughts,
again
4:161 The queen of beasts scour'd back
along the plain,
4:162 She found the veil, and mouthing
it all o'er,
4:163 With bloody jaws the lifeless
prey she tore.
4:164 The youth, who could not cheat his guards
so soon,
4:165 Late came, and noted by the glimm'ring
moon
4:166 Some savage feet, new printed
on the ground,
4:167 His cheeks turn'd pale, his limbs
no vigour found;
4:168 But when, advancing on, the veil
he spied
4:169 Distain'd with blood, and ghastly
torn, he cried,
4:170 One night shall death to two
young lovers give,
4:171 But she deserv'd unnumber'd years
to live!
4:172 'Tis I am guilty, I have thee
betray'd,
4:173 Who came not early, as my charming
maid.
4:174 Whatever slew thee, I the cause
remain,
4:175 I nam'd, and fix'd the place
where thou wast slain.
4:176 Ye lions from your neighb'ring
dens repair,
4:177 Pity the wretch, this impious
body tear!
4:178 But cowards thus for death can
idly cry;
4:179 The brave still have it in their
pow'r to die.
4:180 Then to th' appointed tree he
hastes away,
4:181 The veil first gather'd, tho'
all rent it lay:
4:182 The veil all rent yet still it
self endears,
4:183 He kist, and kissing, wash'd
it with his tears.
4:184 Tho' rich (he cry'd) with many
a precious stain,
4:185 Still from my blood a deeper
tincture gain.
4:186 Then in his breast his shining
sword he drown'd,
4:187 And fell supine, extended on
the ground.
4:188 As out again the blade lie dying
drew,
4:189 Out spun the blood, and streaming
upwards flew.
4:190 So if a conduit-pipe e'er burst
you saw,
4:191 Swift spring the gushing waters
thro' the flaw:
4:192 Then spouting in a bow, they
rise on high,
4:193 And a new fountain plays amid
the sky.
4:194 The berries, stain'd with blood,
began to show
4:195 A dark complexion, and forgot
their snow;
4:196 While fatten'd with the flowing
gore, the root
4:197 Was doom'd for ever to a purple
fruit.
4:198 Mean-time poor Thisbe fear'd, so long she
stay'd,
4:199 Her lover might suspect a perjur'd
maid.
4:200 Her fright scarce o'er, she strove
the youth to find
4:201 With ardent eyes, which spoke
an ardent mind.
4:202 Already in his arms, she hears
him sigh
4:203 At her destruction, which was
once so nigh.
4:204 The tomb, the tree, but not the
fruit she knew,
4:205 The fruit she doubted for its
alter'd hue.
4:206 Still as she doubts, her eyes
a body found
4:207 Quiv'ring in death, and gasping
on the ground.
4:208 She started back, the red her
cheeks forsook,
4:209 And ev'ry nerve with thrilling
horrors shook.
4:210 So trembles the smooth surface
of the seas,
4:211 If brush'd o'er gently with a
rising breeze.
4:212 But when her view her bleeding
love confest,
4:213 She shriek'd, she tore her hair,
she beat her breast.
4:214 She rais'd the body, and embrac'd
it round,
4:215 And bath'd with tears unfeign'd
the gaping wound.
4:216 Then her warm lips to the cold
face apply'd,
4:217 And is it thus, ah! thus we meet,
she cry'd!
4:218 My Pyramus! whence sprung thy
cruel fate?
4:219 My Pyramus!-ah! speak, ere 'tis
too late.
4:220 I, thy own Thisbe, but one word
implore,
4:221 One word thy Thisbe never ask'd
before.
4:222 At Thisbe's name, awak'd, he
open'd wide
4:223 His dying eyes; with dying eyes
he try'd
4:224 On her to dwell, but clos'd them
slow, and dy'd.
4:225 The fatal cause was now at last explor'd,
4:226 Her veil she knew, and saw his
sheathless sword:
4:227 From thy own hand thy ruin thou
hast found,
4:228 She said, but love first taught
that hand to wound,
4:229 Ev'n I for thee as bold a hand
can show,
4:230 And love, which shall as true
direct the blow.
4:231 I will against the woman's weakness
strive,
4:232 And never thee, lamented youth,
survive.
4:233 The world may say, I caus'd,
alas! thy death,
4:234 But saw thee breathless, and
resign'd my breath.
4:235 Fate, tho' it conquers, shall
no triumph gain,
4:236 Fate, that divides us, still
divides in vain.
4:237 Now, both our cruel parents, hear my pray'r;
4:238 My pray'r to offer for us both
I dare;
4:239 Oh! see our ashes in one urn
confin'd,
4:240 Whom love at first, and fate
at last has join'd.
4:241 The bliss, you envy'd, is not
our request;
4:242 Lovers, when dead, may sure together
rest.
4:243 Thou, tree, where now one lifeless
lump is laid,
4:244 Ere-long o'er two shalt cast
a friendly shade.
4:245 Still let our loves from thee
be understood,
4:246 Still witness in thy purple fruit
our blood.
4:247 She spoke, and in her bosom plung'd
the sword,
4:248 All warm and reeking from its
slaughter'd lord.
4:249 The pray'r, which dying Thisbe
had preferr'd,
4:250 Both Gods, and parents, with
compassion heard.
4:251 The whiteness of the mulberry
soon fled,
4:252 And rip'ning, sadden'd in a dusky
red:
4:253 While both their parents their
lost children mourn,
4:254 And mix their ashes in one golden
urn.
4:255 Thus did the melancholy tale conclude,
4:256 And a short, silent interval
ensu'd.
4:257 The next in birth unloos'd her
artful tongue,
4:258 And drew attentive all the sister-throng.