Golden Asse

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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 he 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 than 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 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 [sic] 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 stricken with feare, and because wee never accustomed to chase with 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
ourselves 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 he might first assayle with his tuskes: Lepolemus strooke the beast first in the back with his hunting
staffe. Thrasillus faining to ayde and assist him, came behind, and cut off the hinder legs of Lepolemus Horse, in
such sort that hee fell downe to the ground with his master: and sodainly 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 [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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