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All Site ContentMidsummer Night's DreamAct 5Scene 1
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"Ninus' tomb"
Historical Reference
Act 5,
Scene 1
Lines 127-151

An explanation of the reference to Ninus’ tomb in Act 5, Scene 1 of myShakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Quince (as Prologue)

Gentles, perchance you wonder at this show,
But wonder on till truth make all things plain.
This man is Pyramus, if you would know,
This beauteous lady Thisbe is, certain.
This man with lime and roughcast doth present
Wall, that vile wall which did these lovers sunder;
And through Wall's chink, poor souls, they are content
To whisper; at the which let no man wonder.
This man, with lantern, dog, and bush of thorn,
Presenteth Moonshine. For if you will know,
By moonshine did these lovers think no scorn
To meet at Ninus' tomb, there, there to woo.
This grizzly beast – which “Lion” hight by name –
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. For all the rest,
Let Lion, Moonshine, Wall, and lovers twain
At large discourse, while here they do remain.

The story of Pyramus and Thisbe takes place in the ancient city of Babylon, which is located in modern day Iraq. According to legend, Babylon was founded by King Ninus around 4,000 years ago.