(D) Story Assessment 4

Once upon a time, there lived in Babylon, a handsome youth named Pyramus and a lovely maiden called Thisbe. Because their houses adjoined, they played together as children but when their childhood friendship deepened in to love, their parents would not allow their marriage. Since they were forbidden to speak to each other, they could converse only by signs and glances then one day, they discovered a crack on the wall that separated their houses. Through this crack, they could whisper expressions of their devotions, but that wasn’t enough. With great fear and trepidation they managed to meet each other at twilight near a white mulberry tree outside the city walls. As Thisbe approached the meeting place at the appointed hour. She saw a fierce looking lioness attacking a small animal. Terrified, she fled, dropping her veil as she ran. The beast picked up the veil in its bloody mouth, but soon dropped it and ambled into the woods. Just then Pyramus appeared, filled with anguish, when he recognized the bloodstained veil, he plunged his sword into his side just as Thisbe, wishing to warn him of the danger, came forth from her hiding place. Distraught, she too killed herself. The mingled blood of the fortunate lovers stained the roots of the mulberry tree, whose fruit ever since has been deep purple.

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