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,
a