Thus having where they stood in vain complained of their woe,
  When night drew near they bade adieu, and each gave kisses sweet
  Unto the parget[3] on their side the which did never meet. 
  Next morning with her cheerful light had driven the stars aside,
  And Phoebus with his burning beams the dewy grass had dried,
  These lovers at their wonted place by fore-appointment met,
  Where after much complaint and moan they covenanted to get
  Away from such as watched them, and in the evening late
  To steal out of their fathers’ house and eke the city gate. 
  And to th’ intent that in the fields they strayed not up and down,
  They did agree at Ninus’ tomb to meet without the town,
  And tarry underneath a tree that by the same did grow;
  Which was a fair high mulberry with fruit as white as snow,
  Hard by a cool and trickling spring.  This bargain pleased them both,
  And so daylight (which to their thought away but slowly go’th)
  Did in the Ocean fall to rest, and night from thence doth rise. 
  As soon as darkness once was come, straight Thisbe did devise
  A shift to wind her out of doors, that none that were within
  Perceived her; and muffling her with clothes about her chin,
  That no man might discern her face, to Ninus’ tomb she came
  Unto the tree, and set her down there underneath the same. 
  Love made her bold.  But see the chance, there comes besmeared with blood
  About the chaps, a lioness all foaming from the wood,
  From slaughter lately made of kine to staunch her bloody thirst
  With water of the foresaid spring.  Whom Thisbe, spying first
  Afar by moonlight, thereupon with fearful steps gan fly
  And in a dark and irksome cave did hide herself thereby. 
  And as she fled away for haste she let her mantle fall,
  The which for fear she left behind not looking back at all. 
  Now when the cruel lioness her thirst had staunched well,
  In going to the wood she found the slender weed that fell
  From Thisbe, which with bloody teeth in pieces she did tear. 
  The night was somewhat further spent ere Pyramus came there. 
  Who seeing in this subtle sand the print of lion’s paw,
  Waxed pale for fear.  But when that he the bloody mantle saw
  All rent and torn; one night (he said) shall lovers two confound,
  Of which long life deserved she of all that live on ground. 
  My soul deserves of this mischance the peril for to bear. 
  I, wretch, have been the death of thee, which to this place of fear
  Did cause thee in the night to come, and came not here before. 
  My wicked limbs and wretched guts with cruel teeth therefore
  Devour ye, O ye lions all that in this rock do dwell. 
  But cowards use to wish for death.  The slender weed that fell
  From Thisbe up he takes, and straight doth bear it to the tree,
  Which was appointed erst the place of meeting for to be.