the golden asse-第30节
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im） defend him now at the point of death by the like meane？ Yet at least； thou shouldest have taken him upon thy backe； and so brought him from the cruell hands of the theeves ： where contrary thou runnest away alone； forsaking thy good Master； thy pastor and conductor。 Knowest thou not； that such as denie their wholsome help and aid to them which lie in danger of death； ought to be punished； because they have offended against good manners； and the law naturall？ But I promise thee； thou shalt not long rejoyce at my harmes； thou shalt feele the smart of thy homicide and offence； I will see what I can doe。 And therewithall she unclosed her apron； and bound all my feete together； to the end I might not help my selfe； then she tooke a great barre； which accustomed to bar the stable doore； and never ceased beating me till she was so weary that the bar fell out of her hands； whereupon she （complaining of the soone faintnesse of her armes） ran to her fire and brought a firebrand and thrust it under my taile； burning me continually； till such time as （having but one remedy） I arayed her face and eies with my durty dunge； whereby （what with the stinke thereof； and what with the filthinesse that fell in her eies） she was welnigh blinded ： so I enforced the queane to leave off； otherwise I had died as Meleager did by the sticke； which his mad mother Althea cast into the fire。
THE EIGHTH BOOKE
THE THIRTY…SECOND CHAPTER
How a young man came and declared the miserable death of Lepolemus and his wife Charites。
About midnight came a young man； which seemed to be one of the family of the good woman Charites； who sometimes endured so much misery and calamity with mee amongst the theeves； who after that hee had taken a stoole； and sate downe before the fireside； in the company of the servants； began to declare many terrible things that had happened unto the house of Charites； saying： O yee house…keepers； shepheards and cowheards； you shall understand that wee have lost our good mistris Charites miserably and by evill adventure： and to the end you may learne and know all the whole matter； I purpose to tell you the circumstances of every point； whereby such as are more learned then I （to whom fortune hath ministred more copious stile） may painte it out in paper in forme of an History。 There was a young Gentleman dwelling in the next City； borne of good parentage； valiant in prowesse； and riche in substance； but very much given and adicted to whorehunting； and continuall revelling。 Whereby he fell in company with Theeves； and had his hand ready to the effusion of humane blood； his name was Thrasillus。 The matter was this according to the report of every man。 Hee demanded Charites in marriage； who although he were a man more comely then the residue that wooed her； and also had riches abundantly； yet because he was of evill fame； and a man of wicked manners and conversation； he had the repulse and was put off by Charites； and so she married with Lepolemus。 Howbeit this young man secretly loved her； yet moved somewhat at her refusall； hee busily searched some meanes to worke his damnable intent。 And （having found occasion and opportunity to accomplish his purpose； which he had long time concealed） brought to passe； that the same day that Charites was delivered by the subtill meane and valiant audacity of her husband； from the puissance of the Theeves； he mingled himselfe among the assembly； faining that he was glad of the new marriage； and comming home againe of the maiden； Whereby （by reason that he came of so noble parents） he was received and entertained into the house as one of their chiefe and principall friends ： Howbeit under cloake of a faithfull welwiller； hee dissimuled his mischievous mind and intent ： in continuance of time by much familiarity and often conversation and banketting together； he fell more and more in favour； like as we see it fortuneth to Lovers； who first doe little delight themselves in love ： till as by continuall acquaintance they kisse and imbrace each other。 Thrasillus perceiving that it was a hard matter to breake his minde secretly to Charites； whereby he was wholly barred from the accomplishment of his luxurious appetite； and on the other side perceiving that the love of her and her husband was so strongly lincked together； that the bond betweene them might in no wise be dissevered； moreover； it was a thing impossible to ravish her； although he had consented thereto； yet was hee still provoked forward by vehement lust； when as hee saw himselfe unable to bring his purpose to passe。 Howbeit at length the thing which seemed so hard and difficill； thorough hope of his fortified love； did now appeare easie and facill ： but marke I pray you diligently to what end the furious force of his inordinate desire came。 On a day Lepolemus went to the chase with Thrasillus； to hunt for Goates； for his wife Charites desired him earnestly to meddle with no other beasts； which were of more fierce and wilde nature。 When they were come within the chase to a great thicket fortressed about with bryers and thornes； they compassed round with their Dogs and beset every place with nets ： by and by warning was given to let loose。 The Dogs rushed in with such a cry； that all the Forrest rang againe with the noyse； but behold there leaped out no Goat； nor Deere； nor gentle Hinde； but an horrible and dangerous wild Boare； hard and thicke skinned； bristeled terribly with thornes； foming at the mouth； grinding his teeth； and looking direfully with fiery eyes。 The Dogs that first set upon him； he tare and rent with his tuskes； and then he ranne quite through the nets； and escaped away。 When wee saw the fury of this beast； wee were greatly striken with feare； and because wee never accustomed to chase such dreadfull Boares； and further because we were unarmed and without weapons； we got and hid our selves under bushes and trees。 Then Thrasillus having found opportunity to worke his treason； said to Lepolemus ： What stand we here amazed？ Why show we our selves like dastards？ Why leese we so worthy a prey with our feminine hearts？ Let us mount upon our Horses； and pursue him incontinently ： take you a hunting staffe； and I will take a chasing speare。 By and by they leaped upon their Horses； and followed the beast。 But hee returning against them with furious force； pryed with his eyes； on whom hee might first assayle with his tuskes ： Lepolemus strooke the beast first on the backe with his hunting staffe。 Thrasillus faining to ayde and assist him； came behind； and cut off the hinder legges of Lepolemus Horse； in such sort that hee fell downe to the ground with his master ： and sodainely the Boare came upon Lepolemus and furiously tare and rent him with his teeth。 Howbeit； Thrasillus was not sufficed to see him thus wounded； but when he desired his friendly help； he thrust Lepolemus through the right thigh with his speare； the more because he thought the wound of the speare would be taken for a wound of the Boars teeth； then he killed the beast likewise； And when he was thus miserably slaine； every one of us came out of our holes； and went towards our slaine master。 But although that Thrasillus was joyfull of the death of Lepolemus； whom he did greatly hate； yet he cloked the matter with a sorrowfull countenance； he fained a dolorous face； he often imbraced the body which himselfe slew； he played all the parts of a mourning person； saving there fell no teares from his eyes。 Thus hee resembled us in each point； who verily and not without occasion had cause to lament for our master； laying all the blame of this homicide unto the Boare。 Incontinently after the sorrowfull newes of the death of Lepolemus； came to the eares of all the family； but especially to Charites； who after she had heard such pitifull tydings； as a mad and raging woman； ran up and down the streets； crying and howling lamentably。 All the Citizens gathered together； and such as they met bare them company running towards the chasse。 When they came to the slaine body of Lepolemus； Charites threw her selfe upon him weeping and lamenting grievously for his death； in such sort； that she would have presently ended her life； upon the corps of her slaine husband； whom shee so entirely loved； had it not beene that her parents and friends did comfort her； and pulled her away。 The body was taken up； and in funerall pompe brought to the City and buried。 In the meane season； Thrasillus fained much sorrow for the death of Lepolemus； but in his heart he was well pleased and joyfull。 And to counterfeit the matter； he would come to Charites and say ： O what a losse have I had of my friend； my fellow； my companion Lepolemus？ O Charites comfort your selfe； pacifie your dolour； refraine your weeping； beat not your breasts ： and with such other and like words and divers examples he endeavoured to suppresse her great sorrow； but he spake not this for any other intent but to win the heart of the woman； and to nourish his odious love with filthy delight。 Howbeit Charites after the buriall of her husband sought the meanes to follow him； and （not sustaining the sorrows wherein she was Wrapped） got her secretly into a chamber and purposed to finish her life there with dolour and
