Pyramus and Thisbe

PYRAMVS AND THISBE . 1 NEere to the place where Nilus channels runne , There stood a town ▪ by loue long since vndone : For by a chance that hapned in the same , The town 's forgot , & with the towne the name . Within which towne ( for then it was a towne ) Dwelt two commanders of no small renowne , Daughter to one , was Thisbe smooth as glasse : Fairer then Thisbe neuer woman was . Sonne to the other , Pyramus the bright : Yong Thisbes play-feare , Thisbe his delight : Both firme in loue , as constant and were any , Both crost in loue , as proud Loue crosseth many . 2 For in the pride of sommers parching heat , When children play and dally in the street , Yong Thisbe seuerd from the common sort , As gentle nurture lothes each rusticke sport , Went to an arbour , arbours then were greene , Where all alone , for feare she should be seene , She gatherd violets and the Damaske rose , And made sweet nosegaies , from the which she chose , One of the sweetest . Sweet were all the rest , But that which pleasd her wanton eye the best . And this ( quoth she ) shall be my true loues fauor : Her tender nonage did of true loue fauor . 3 No sooner spake , but at her speech she blusht : For on the sudden Pyramus in rusht , Hauing but newly cropt the spredding pine , And other branches that were greene and fine , Of which to passe his idle time away , The boy made wreaths and garlands that were gay , And spying Thisbe , Thisbe made him start , And he her blush , so tender was her heart : She blusht , because another was so neere , He started , for to finde another there ; Yet looking long , at last they knew each other , For why , they lov'd like sister and like brother . 4 When they left looking , for they lookt awhile , First Pyramus , last Thisbe gan to smile , I was afraide , thus Thisbe straight began : Faint ( he replied ) a maid and feare a man ? I feard ( quoth she ) but now my feare is past . Then welcome me ( quoth Pyramus ) at last . Welcome ( quoth she ) and then she kist his lips , And he from her , sweet Nectar drops out sips : She pats his lips , he pals her milke white skin . Thus children sport , and thus true loue begins : But they as children , not as louers gamed , For loue ( alas ) twixt them was neuer named . 5 Oft would he take her by the lillie hand , Cirkling her middle , straight as any wand , And cast her downe , but let her lye alone , For other pastime Pyramus knew none . Then vp she starts and takes him by the necke , And for that fall giues Pyramus a checke : Yet at the length she chanst to cast him downe , Though on the green she neuer gaind a gowne , But rose againe , and hid her in the grasse , That he might tract the place where Thisbe was , And finding her ( as children vse ) imbrace her , For being children nothing could disgrace her . 6 But marke the issue , of their sportiue play , As this sweet couple in the coole shade lay , Faire Venus posting whom to Paphos I le , Spied their sports , nor could she chuse but smile , Wherefore she straight vnyok't her siluer teame , And walkt on foot along the Chrystall streame , And enuying that these louers were so bold , With iealous eyes she did them both behold . And as she lookt , casting her eye awry , It was her chance ( vnhappy chance ) to spy , Where squint-eyd Cupid sate vpon his quiuer , Viewing his none-eyd body in the riuer . 7 Him straight she cald , being cald he made no stay , But to his mother tooke the neerest way . Yet ere he came , she markt the tother two , Playing as oft tofore th'er wont to do : And then she sware , yong Pyramus was faire , Thisbe but browne , as common women are : Anon she wisht yong Pyramus was neere , That she might bind loue in his golden haire , And loue him too , but that she cald to mind , That yong Adonis proued so vnkinde . But Cupid came , his comming causd her hate them , And in a heat , proud Venus gan to rate them . 8 Seest thou my sonne ( quoth she ) and then she fround , Those brattish elues , that dally on the ground ? They scorne my kingdome , and neglect my minde , Contemne me as inconstant as the winde . Then shoot ( quoth she ) and strike them so in loue , As nought but death , their loue-dart may remoue . At this he lookt , the boy was loth to shoot , Yet strucke them both so neere the hearts sweet root , As that he made them both at once to cry ( Quoth he ) I loue , for loue ( quoth she ) I die . Of this both Venus , and her blind boy bosted , And thence to Paphos Isle in triumph posted . 9 Now was the time , when shepheards told their sheep , And weary plow-men ease themselues with sleepe , When loue-prickt Thisbe no where could be found , Nor Pyramus , though seruants sought them round . But newes came straight , that Pyramus was seene , Sporting with Thisbe lately in the euen : Like newes to both their Parents soone was brought ; Which newes ( alas ) the louers downfals wrought . For though they lov'd , as you haue heard of yore , Their angry parents hate was ten times more , And hearing that their children were together , Both were afraide least each had murthered other . 10 When they came home , as long they staid not forth , Their storming parents fround vpon them both , And charg'd them neuer so to meet againe , Which charge to them , God knows was endles paine : For yeres came on , and true loue tooke such strength , That they were welnigh slaine for loue at length : For though their parents houses ioynd in one , Yet they poore peats , were ioynd to liue alone . So great and deadly was the daring hate , Which kept their moody parents at debate , And yet their hearts as houses ioynd together , Though hard constraint , their bodies did disseuer . 11 At length they found , as searching louers find , A shift ( though hard ) which somwhat easd their mind : For lo a time-worne creuis in the wall , Through this the louers did each other call , And often talke , but softly did they talke , Least busie spy-faults should find out their walke : For it was plast in such a secret roome , As thither did their parents seldome come . Through this they kist , but with their breath they kist , For why the hindring wall was them betwixt , Somtimes poor souls , they talkt till they were windles And all their talke was of their friends vnkindnes . 12 When they had long time vsd this late found shift , Fearing least some should vndermine their drift , They did agree , but through the wall agreed , That both should hast vnto the groue with speed , And in that arbour where they first did meet , With semblant loue each should the other greet . The match concluded , and the time set downe , Thisbe prepar'd to get her forth the towne , For well she wot , her loue would keepe his houre , And be the first should come vnto the bowre : For Pyramus had sworne there for to meete her , And like to Venus champion there to greet her . 13 Thisbe and he , for both did sit on bryers , Till they enioyd the height of their desires : Sought out all meanes they could to keep their vow , And steale away , and yet they knew not how . Thisbe at last ( yet of the two the first ) Got out , she went to coole loues burning thirst , Yet ere she went ( yet as she went ) she hide , She had a care to decke her vp in pride , Respecting more his loue to whom she went , Then parents feare , though knowing to be shent , And trickt her selfe so like a willing louer , As purblind Cupid tooke her for his mother . 14 Her vpper garment was a robe of lawne , On which bright Venus siluer doues were drawne : The like wore Venus , Venus robe was white , And so was Thisbes , not so faire to sight , Nor yet so fine , yet was it full as good , Because it was not stain'd with true loues bloud . About her waste , she wore a scarfe of blew , In which by cunning needle-worke she drew Loue-wounded Venus in the bushie groue , Where she inheated , Adon scornd her loue . This scarfe she wore , ( Venus wore such another ) And that made Cupid take her for his mother . 15 Nymph-like attyr'd ( for so she was attyr'd ) She went to purchase what true loue desyr'd , And as she trode vpon the tender grasse , The grasse did kisse her feet as she did passe : And when her feet against a floure did strike , The bending floures did stoope to doe the like : And when her feet did from the ground arise , The ground she trod on , kist her heele likewise . Tread where she would , faire Thisbe could not misse , For euery grasse would rob her of a kisse . And more the boughs wold bend , for ioy to meet her And chanting birds , with madrigals would greet her . 16 Thus goes this maidlike Nimph , or Nimphlike maid , Vnto the place afore appointed laid , And as she past the groues and fountaines cleere , Where Nymphs vsd hunting , for Nymphs hunted there , They sware she was Diana , or more bright . For through the leauie boughs they tooke delight , To view her daintie footing as she tript : And once they smil'd , for once faire Thisbe slipt , Yet though she slipt , she had so swift a pace , As that her slipping wrought her no disgrace : For of the Nymphs ( whose coy eyes did attend her ) Of all was none , of all that could amend her . 17 When she had past Dianes curious traine , The crooked way did bending turne againe , Vpon the left hand by a forrest side , Where ( out alas ) a woe chance did betide : For loue-adoring Thisbe was so faire , That bruitish beasts at her delighted are : And from the rest as many beasts did rome , A lamb deuouring Lion forth did come , And hauing lately torne a sillie Lambe , The full gorg'd Lion sported as it came , To him a sport , his sport made Thisbe hie her , For why , she durst not let the beast come nie her . 18 Yet still it came , to welcome her it came , And not to hurt , yet fearefull is the name , The name more then the Lion , her dismayd , For in her lap the Lion would haue playd . Nor meant the beast to spill her guiltlesse bloud , Yet doubtfull Thisbe in a fearefull moode , Let fall her mantle , made of purest white , And tender heart , be tooke her straight to flight , And neere the place where she should meet her loue , Shee slipt , but quickely slipt into a groue , And lo a friendly Caue did entertaine her , For feare the bloudy Lion should haue slaine her 19 Thisbe thus scap't , for thus she scap't his force , Although ( God wot ) it fell out farther worse : The Lion came yet meant no harme at all , And comming found the mantle she let fall , Which now he kist , he would haue kist her too , But that her nimble footmanship said no. He found the robe , which quickly he might find , For being light , it houered in the winde : With which the game-some Lion long did play , Till hunger cald him thence to seeke his prey : And hauing playd , for play was all his pleasure , He left the mantle , Thisbes chiefest treasure . 20 Yet ere he left it , being in a mood , He tore it much , and stain'd it ore with bloud , Which done , with rage he hasted to his prey , For they in murther passe their time away . And now time-telling , Pyramus at last , ( For yet the houre of meeting was not past ) Got forth ( he would haue got away before ) But fate and fortune sought to wrong him more : For euen that day , more fatall then the rest , He needs must giue attendance at a feast , Ere which was done ( swift time was shrewdly wasted ) But being done , the louely stripling hasted . 21 In hast he ran , but ran in vaine God wot , Thisbe he sought , faire Thisbe found he not , And yet at last her long loue robe he found All rent and torne vpon the bloody ground . At which suspicion told him she was dead , And onely that remained in her stead : Which made him weepe , like mothers , so wept he , That with their eyes their murthered children see ; And gathering vp the limbes in peecemeale torne , Of their deare burthen murtherously forlorne : So Pyramus sicke thoughted like a mother , For Thisbes losse , more deare then any other . 22 Or who hath seene a mournefull Doe lament For her young Kid , in peecemeale torne and rent , And by the poore remainders sit and mourne , For loue of that which ( out alas ) is gone ? Let him behold sad Pyramus , and say , Her losse , his loue , doth equall euery way . For as a man that late hath lost his wits , Breakes into fury and disaster fits , So Pyramus in griefe without compare , Doth rend his flesh , and teare his golden haire , Making the trees to tremble at his mourning , And speechlesse beasts to sorrow with his groaning . 23 Alas ( quoth he ) and then he tore his flesh , Gone is the sunne that did my Zone refresh , Gone is the life , by which I wretch did liue , Gone is my heauen , which hopefull blisse did giue , To giue me heat , her selfe lyes nak't and cold , To giue me life , to death her selfe she sold , To giue me ioy , she bale alas did gaine , My heat , life , ioy , procur'd her death , bale , paine : Had I beene here , my loue had not beene dead , At least the beasts had torne me in her stead , Or would they yet teare me for company , Their loue to me would slacke their tyranny . 24 And then he cast his eyes vpon the ground , And here and there where bloudie grasse he found ; Sweet bloud ( quoth he ) and then he kist the bloud , And yet that kisse God wot did little good , Couldst thou being powr'd into my halfe slaine brest , Reuiue againe , or purchase Thisbes rest , This hand should teare a passage through the same , And yet that bloud from Thisbe neuer came . And then he gatherd vp the bloudie grasse , And looking grieu'd , and grieuing cryde alas , Where shall I hide this bloud of my deare louer , That neither man nor beast may it discouer ? 25 Then in the mantle he the grasse vp tide , And laid it close vnto his naked side : Lie there ( quoth he ) deare to me as my hart , Of which thy mistresse had the greater part . Tut she is dead , and then he vow'd and swore , He would not liue to murther loue no more : Which spoke , he drew his Rapier from his side , Of which the loue-slaine youth would then haue dy'd , But that he thought , that pennance too too small , To pacifie faire Thisbes Ghost withall : Wherefore he rag'd , and ragingly exclaimed , That he true loue , and true loue him had maimed . 26 And then his Rapier vp againe he tooke , Then on the mantle cast a grieuous looke , For me ( quoth he ) faire Thisbe lost this bloud , She dead , my life would doe me little good , And well he thought he could endure the smart Of death , and yet he could not harme his heart : For why his hand being guiltlesse of the deed , Deny'd to make his harmelesse heart to bleed , And like a trembling executioner , Constrain'd to slay a guiltlesse prisoner , His hand retired still , further backe and further , As lothing to enact so vile a murther . 27 But Pyramus like to a raging Iudge , Seeing his executioner flinch , and grudge To do the duty he enioyn'd him do , Reply'd , dispatch , or I le cut thee off too : At which the trembling hand tooke vp the blade , But when the second profer it had made , It threw it downe , and boldly thus replyed , He was not cause that louely Thisbe dyed , Nor would I slay thee , knew I she were dead : Then be the bloud vpon thy guiltie head . Of these last words young Pyramus dispences , And cald a synodie of all his seuer'd sences . 28 His conscience told him , he deserv'd not death , For he deprav'd not Thisbe of her breath : But then suspicion thought , he causd her dye , But conscience swore , suspition told a lye . At this suspicion prompted loue in th' eare , And bad him shew his verdict , and come neare , Which soone he did , and sate among the rest , As one whom Pyramus esteemed best : For when proud Loue gaue in his faultie plea , He askt if he were guiltie , Loue said yea , And with the youth , fond youth by loue entangled , Agreed his guiltlesse body should be mangled . 29 Resolv'd to die he sought the pointed blade , Which erst his hand had cast into the shade , And see , proud Chance , fell Murthers chiefest frend , Had pitcht the blade right vpwards on the end , Which being loth from murther to depart , Stood on the hilt , point-blanke against his hart : At which he smil'd , and checkt his fearefull hand , That stubbornely resisted his command . And though ( quoth he ) thou scorn'd to doe my will , What lets me now my minde for to fulfill ? Both Fate and Fortune to my death are willing , And be thou witnesse of my minds fulfilling . 30 With that he cast himselfe vpon the sword , And with the fall his tender brest through gor'd : The angry bloud , for so his bloud was sheed , Gusht out , to finde the author of the deed , But when it none but Pyramus had found , Key cold with feare it stood vpon the ground , And all the bloud , I meane that thus was spilt , Ran downe the blade , and circled in the hilt , And presently congeald about the same , And would haue cald it by some murtherous name , Could it haue spoke , nere sought it any further , But did arrest the Rapier of the murther . 31 And as the child that seeth his father slaine , Will runne ( alas ) although he runne in vaine , And hug about the shedder of his bloud , Although God wot , his hugging do small good , Euen so his bloud , the ofspring of his heart , Ran out amaine , to take his fathers part , And hung vpon the rapier and the hilt , As who should say , the sword his bloud had spilt : Nor would depart , but cleaue about the same , So deare it lov'd the place from whence it came : For sure it was poore Pyramus was murthered , Nor by pursute , could his poore bloud be furthred . 32 When this was done , as thus the deed was done , Begun , alas , and ended too too soone , Faire Thisbe strucken pale with cold despaire , Came forth the Caue into the wholsome aire : And as she came , the boughs would giue her way , Thinking her Venus in her best array . But she ( alas ) full of suspicious feare , Least that the late feard Lion should be there , Came quaking forth , and then start backe againe , Fearing the beast , and yet she fear'd in vaine . She fear'd the Lion , Lions then were feeding , And in this feare , her nose gusht out a bleeding . 33 Her sudden bleeding argued some mischance , Which cast her doubtfull senses in a trance , But of the Lion troubled Thisbe thought , And then of him , whom fearefully she sought : Yet sorth she went , replete with iealous feare , Still fearing , of the Lion was her feare : And if a bird but flew from forth a bush , She straightwaies thought , she heard the Lion rush . Her nose left bleeding , that amaz'd her more Then all the troublous feare she felt before : For sudden bleeding argues ill ensuing , But sudden leauing , is fell feares renewing . 34 By this she came into the open wood , Where Pyramus had lost his dearest bloud , And round about she rolles her sun-bright eyes For Pyramus , whom no where she espies : Then sorth she tript , and nearly too she tript , And ouer hedges oft this virgin skipt . Then did she crosse the fields , and new mown grasse , To find the place whereas this arbour was : For it was seated in a pleasant shade , And by the shepheards first this bowre was made . Faire Thisbe made more haste into the bower , Because that now was iust the meeting hower . 35 But comming thither , as she soone was there , She found him not , which did augment her feare : But straight she thought ( as true loue think , the best ) He had beene laid downe in the shade to rest , Or of set purpose hidden in the reeds , To make her seeke him in the sedgie weeds , For so of children they had done before , Which made her thoughts seeme true so much the more : But hauing sought whereas she thought he was , Shee could not finde her Pyramus ( alas ) Wherefore she back return'd vnto the arbor , And there reposd her after all her labor . 36 To one that 's weary drowsie sleepe will creepe , Weary was Thisbe , Thisbe fell asleepe , And in her sleepe she dreamt she did lament , Thinking her heart from forth her brest was rent , By her owne censure damn'd to cruell death , And in her sight be rest of vitall breath . When she awak't , as long she had not slept , She wept amaine , yet knew not why she wept : For as before her heart was whole and sound , And no defect about her could be found , She dreamt she hurt , no hurt could she discouer , Wherefore she went to seeke her late lost louer . 37 Suspicious eyes , quick messengers of wo , Brought home sad newes ere Thisbe farre could go : For lo , vpon the margent of the wood , They spy'd her loue , lye weltring in his bloud , Hauing her late lost mantle at his side , Stained with bloud , his hart bloud was not dry'd . Wisty she lookt , and as she lookt did cry , See , see , my hart , which I did iudge to dye : Poore hart ( quoth she ) and then she kist his brest , Wert thou inclosd in mine , there shouldst thou rest : I causd thee die poor heart , yet rue thy dying , And saw thy death , as I asleepe was lying . 38 Thou art my hart , more deare then is mine owne , And thee sad death in my false sleepe was showne . And then she pluckt away the murtherous blade , And curst the hands by whom it first was made , And yet she kist his hand that held the same , And double kist the wound from whence it came . Himselfe was author of his death she knew , For yet the wound was fresh , and bleeding new , And some bloud yet the ill-made wound did keepe , Which when she saw , she freshly gan to weepe , And wash the wound with fresh tears down distilling , And view'd the same ( God wot ) with eyes vnwilling . 39 She would haue spoke , but griefe stopt vp her breath , For me ( quoth she ) my Loue is done to death , And shall I liue , sighes stopt her hind most word , When speechlesse vp she tooke the bloudy sword , And then she cast a looke vpon her Loue , Then to the blade her eye she did remoue , And sobbing cride , since loue hath murthred thee , He shall not chuse but likewise murther me : That men may say , and then she sigh'd againe , I him , he me , loue him and me hath slaine . Then with resolue , loue her resolue did further : With that same blade , her selfe , her selfe did murther . 40 Then with a sigh , she fell vpon the blade , And from the bleeding wound the sword had made , Her fearefull bloud ran trickling to the ground , And sought about , till Pyramus it found : And hauing found him , circled in his corse , As who should say , I le gard thee by my force . And when it found his bloud , as forth it came , Then would it stay , and touch , and kisse the same , As who should say , my mistresse loue to thee , Though dead in her , doth still remaine in me . And for a signe of mutuall loue in either , Their ill shed bloud congealed both together . FINIS .