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,