The evening world., 1920-11-22
The Worlds
Oldest
LOUe Stories
BIZ MaubeTt st. Georges
Co.yfi7ht, 1920. by The Press PubishinEc O.
The New York Evening World.
PYRAMUs AND THlssE.

Nit lSBE was the most DSauIlLul
girl and Pyramus the most
handsome youth in Babylonia,
the kingdom OF Semiramis. They had
lived next door to each other from
their youth and had learned to love
each other deeply. They desired to
marry, but their parents refused
their consent and forbade their
speaking to each other.
For a long while so strict was the
supervision over them they had 20 be
content with burning glances that
nevertheless told all that words could
utter. At length one day one OF them
discovered that in the wall that sep
arated their houses and their rooms
there was a crack which allowed
them the pleasure Of assuring each
other OF their everlasting love, OF mRlS-
ing fond vows and Of swearing faith
fulness in spite of their parents oppo-
siton. These stolen interviews, how
ever, made the restrictions that
bound them seem more irksomc than
ever, and one day finally they ds-
Cided to meet in spite OF all They
agreed to be at the tomb of Nimrod
at dawn the next morning. They
were to await each other at the foot
of white mulberry tree.
Early next morning Thisbe wrapped
herself in white veil and crept 81
lently out of the house. She stole 10
the trysting place and on reaching
the mulberry tree threw off her vel
hon
ramus. Now, a brook flowed close
by and lion who had just made a
klll found his way there to drink
Thisbe saw ii in time, however, and
running away succeeded in reaching
place inaccessible to the lion.
The beast, finding itself thwarted OF
its prey, vented its rage on the vei
which the girl had left behind in hhr
flight, tearing il to pieces with teeth
and claws. While doing this the blood
that remained on its jaws from It's
first Kill stained the veil dreadfuliy., =.
After that IL drank and then went
away. '3TN
After a while Pyramus arrived A.
the meeting place and spied the rent
and bloody veil. Immediately the
thought came 10 him that Thisbe had
been killed and carried away by some
wild beast.
Instantly a terrible anguish smotn
him. 1t was his fault that Thisbe was
dead. Had he not tempted her to dis
obey the command of her parents this
terrible fate would never have fallen
upon her 1t was he who had per
suaded her to meet him. overcoming
with his burning words the feeble OBJ
iecuons she raised 1t was for his
sake, unworthy that he was. that she
had run this risk and sacrificed her
life.
Finally, unable to Withstand the
sorrow and remorse, he drew his
sword and, with a last look of fare
well at the world, pressed the handle
against the ground and fell upon It,
transfxing his heart.
Had the unfortunate youth waited
but moment longer lifelong happi-
ness might have been his, for even as
he fell Thisbc, thinking that perhaps
Pyramus might be in danger, came
rushing down to warn him. The first
thing that struck her eyes was PyrB-
mus, pierced with a sword, his blood
gushing forth onto the roots Of the
mulberry tree.
Her cries, her tender calls. the
warm tears yelling from her eyes and
dropping continuously upon his face
at length brought Pyramus TO for a
saw Thisbe Wonder first, then joy
shone in them, and, disregarding her
questions as to what had happened,
he gaspsd: -
Il saw'the veil! thought you were
dead"
His eyes closed again; he drew a
few rasping breaths. Then they
ceased. He was dead.
Thisbe realized what had hap
,tnHnFGtnpd that he
cause OF his great love for her that
Pyramus was dead. For a while she
remained there stunned, wondering
what to do. Suddenly she decided
that without her lover life was not
worth living. and kneeling at the foot
OF the tree where his blood stained
the earth she began to pray. She
begged that they might be pardoned
for taking their own lives; that they
might be reunited in heaven and that
the mulberry tree might be forever
token OF their love. Then drawing
tLAe sword from the body OF Pyramus
she pointed ii at herself aud in a few
moments had been Joined to him N
death.
Since the last part OF her prayer
has been granted (the berries OF the
mulberry tree, which before had been
white, have ever since been red), vss
may hope that the rest OF It was also
granted and that the lovers are happy
in the hereafter.