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All Site ContentMidsummer Night's DreamAct 5Scene 1
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"Lemander"
Mythological Reference
Act 5,
Scene 1
Lines 192-199

An explanation of Bottom’s mistaken reference to “Lemander” (Leander) in Act 5, Scene 2 of myShakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Bottom (as Pyramus)

I see a voice. Now will I to the chink
To spy an I can hear my Thisbe's face.
Thisbe?

Flute (as Thisbe)

               My love — thou art my love, I think.

Bottom (as Pyramus)

Think what thou wilt, I am thy lover's grace,
And like Lemander am I trusty still.

Flute (as Thisbe)

And I, like Helen, till the fates me kill.

Bottom (as Pyramus)

Not Shafalus to Procrus was so true.

Flute (as Thisbe)

As Shafalus to Procrus, I to you.

Bottom has gotten the name wrong. He meant to compare his faithfulness to that of the mythological character named Leander who swam every night across the body of water separating Turkey from Europe to be with his lover Hero. Sadly, one night he tragically drowned.

(Hero and Leander by Felix Jenewein, circa 1905)