3rd Century Roman mosaics in the House of Dionysos, Paphos: Pyramus and Thisbe - and the lion:
"This grisly beast, which by name Lion hight.
The trusty Thisbe, coming first by night,
Did scare away, or rather did affright;
And, as she fled, her mantle she did fall,
Which Lion vile with bloody mouth did stain.
Anon comes Pyramus, sweet youth and tall,
And finds his trusty Thisbe's mantle slain;
Whereat with blade, with bloody blameful blade,
He bravely broached his boiling bloody breast;
And, Thisbe, tarrying in mulberry shade,
His dagger drew and died."
A Midsummer Night's Dream, v.i
Saturday 19th February 2005
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