[希臘神話]桑斯比

Thisbe

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thisbe was a Babylonian maid．From her childhood sheloved Pyramus who lived in the nearby house．But as thetwo families were not on good terms they were not al

lowed to meet one another．All they could do was to stand oneach side of the wall and hear one another's loving voice． Movedby the young lovers， Aphrodite decided to give them help． Oneday to the joyful surprise of the pair， there appeared in the partywall a tiny crack
through which they could speak to each otherin a low voice and even exchange sweet kisses．As love's flameburnt ever hotter the lovers agreed to meet each other under awhite mulberry tree in the woods outside the city．Night came．Thisbe stole out and arrived first at the meeting-place．She was just looking around for her lover when a lioness appeared．The sight of the bloody jaws of the beast was enough to send the screaming girl running ， leaving her veil behind． The lioness did not care to chase， but cut the veil and made it dirt with its jaws and claws．Hearing the wild roaring and a sharp cry， Pyramus rushed on to the meeting place，sword in hand， only to find that both lioness and the girl had gone. His eyes fell on the dirty veil and he instantly guessed what had happened to his beloved．In despair he kissed the veil，drew his sword and plunged it into his breast . The pouring blood turned the white mulberry tree intoa dark purple．When This be returned to join her boy-friend，she found him rolling in his death pain．She showered tears and kisses on his cold pale face， hoping to get him back to life．Heopened his eyes and tried to speak， but Death had come to lead him away． with a cry of anger，This be fell on Pyramus' swordand went to keep him company in the lower world．

桑斯比是一位巴比倫少女。從兒時起，她就愛上了鄰家的皮瑞摩斯。然而兩家素不合睦，因而禁止兩位戀人相見。他們只能隔牆傾聽戀人動聽的聲音。爲他們的愛情所感，阿芙羅狄蒂決定幫助他們。一天，這對戀人驚奇地發現牆上出現了一道裂縫，通過它，他們能夠低聲細語，傾訴愛情，甚至甜蜜地互相親吻。由於愛情之火愈加熾烈，他們相約於城外林中一株白色桑樹下會面。夜暮降臨了，桑斯比偷偷溜出家門，先到了約會地點。在她環顧盼望戀人到來的時候，一隻母獅子出現了。看到它的血盆大口，這位少女尖叫着逃離此地，面紗落地。母獅並無追趕之意，它用嘴和爪子撕破並且弄髒了那方面紗。聽到野獸的嚎叫和少女的呼喊，皮瑞摩斯手持短劍直奔約會地點。但母獅和少女都已不見了，看見了被玷污的面紗，他立即猜到他的戀人出了什麼意外。絕望中，他吻別面紗，抽出劍來，刺入自己的胸膛，急涌而出的鮮血把白色的桑樹染成深紫色。當桑斯比返回和他會面的時候，她發現皮瑞摩斯在死亡的苦痛中掙扎着。桑斯比淚如泉涌，親吻戀人蒼白的臉龐，希望能用親吻使他重生。皮瑞摩斯睜開眼睛，竭力想張開嘴巴說話，然而死神降臨，帶走了他。桑斯比憤怒地叫了一聲，倒在皮瑞摩斯的劍上，伴他共赴黃泉。