Pyramus and Thisbe Lines 55-80 Flashcards
Pyramus and Thisbē, iuvenum pulcherrimus alter, altera, quās oriēns habuit, praelāta puellīs, contiguās tenuēre domōs, ubi dīcitur altam coctilibus mūrīs cīnxisse Semīramis urbem.
Pyramus and Thisbe, one the most handsome of youths, the other preferred to girls whom the eastern world has, had connected houses, where Semiramis is said to have encircled the high city with walls made of fired bricks.
Nōtitiam prīmōsque gradūs vīcīna fēcit; tempore crēvit amor.
Nearness made the first steps of their acquaintance, in time their love increased.
Taedae quoque iūre coīssent, sed vetuēre patrēs; quod nōn potuēre vetāre, ex aequō captīs ardēbant mentibus ambō.
They would have come together by the law of the marriage torch, but their parents forbade; what they were not able to forbid, was that both were burning with minds captured equally.
Cōnscius omnis abest, nūtū signīsque loquuntur, quōque magis tegitur, tēctus magis aestuat ignis.
Every witness is absent, they speak with nods and signs, and the more the fire is concealed, the more the concealed fire blazes.
Fissus erat tenuī rīmā, quam dūxerat ōlim, cum fieret, pariēs domuī commūnis utrīque.
The wall common to each of the homes had been split apart by a thin crack, which had developed once, when it became.
Id vitium nūllī per saecula longa notātum—quid nōn sentit amor?—prīmī vīdistis amantēs, et vōcis fēcistis iter; tūtaeque per illud murmure blanditiae minimō trānsīre solēbant.
The fault was known to no one through the long ages—what does love not realise?—you lovers saw first, and made a way for a voice; and safe flattery was accustomed to cross through that with the least murmur.
Saepe, uni cōnstiterant hinc Thisbē, Pyramus illinc, inque vicēs fuerat captātus anhēlitus ōris, “Invide,” dīcēbant, “pariēs, quid amantibus obstās?
Often, when they had stood, Thisbe here, Pyramus there, and alternately the breath of their mouths had been seized, “envious wall,” they used to say, “why do you obstruct lovers?
Quantum erat, ut sinerēs tōtō nōs corpore iungī aut, hoc sī nimium est, vel ad ōscula danda patērēs?
How great a matter would it be, that you might allow us to be joined in entire body or, if this is too much, whether you might open for giving kisses?
Nec sumus ingrātī: tibi nōs dēbēre fatēmur, quod datus est verbīs ad amīcās trānsitus aurēs.”
We are not ingrateful; we admit to owe to you, because a passage has been given for words to friendly ears.”
Tālia dīversā nēquīquam sēde locūtī, sub noctem dīxēre, “Valē,” partīque dedēre ōscula quisque suae nōn pervenientia contrā.
Having spoken such things in vain from their different seat, just before night they said, “Farewell,” and each gave to their own side kisses not arriving on the opposite side.
