Introductory matter
-- v --
ARGUMENT
Pyramus
and Thisbe were two celebrated
Lovers, bred up in Babylon, whose
Parents living in neighbouring Houses, they
kept a nightly correspondence, thro' a Hole
in a Wall, that parted their Gardens: They
determined, one Evening, to steal from home,
and meet, by Moon-light, at an appointed
Time, at the Tomb of Ninus, one of the
Assyrian Monarchs.
-- vi --
Thisbe came first to the Place of Assignation,
where, being unhappily scar'd by a
Lion, she fled; leaving her Mantle behind
her, in her Fright.
The Lion coming towards the Tomb, and
finding the Mantle, in rage, tore it to pieces,
leaving it stain'd with Gore; his Mouth being
still bloody, with some Prey he had met
with before.
The Lion was no sooner gone off, but
Pyramus came to the Tomb; seeing his Mistress's
Mantle torn and bloody, he concluded
she had been devour'd by some wild
Beast; and, in Despair, drew his Sword,
and kill'd himself.
-- vii --
Thisbe, after being recover'd from her
Fear, return'd to the Tomb; where, meeting
this miserable Spectacle of Blood and Horror,
in her dead Lover, with the same
Sword she put an End to her unhappy Life.
-- viii --
John F. Lampe [1745], Pyramus and Thisbe: a mock-opera. Written by Shakespeare. Set to Musick by Mr. Lampe. Perform'd at the Theatre-Royal in Covent-Garden (Printed by H. Woodfall, jun. [etc.], London) [word count] [S40300].
