o manner
of person, but dissimuling that she knew no part of the mischiefe,
devised with her selfe how she might be revenged on the traitor, and
finish her owne life to end and knit up all sorrow. Incontinently came
Thrasillus, the detestable demander of sodaine pleasure, and wearied the
closed eares of Charites with talke of marriage, but she gently refused
his communication, and coloring the matter, with passing craft in the
middest of his earnest desires gan say, Thrasillus you shall understand
that yet the face of your brother and my husband, is alwayes before mine
eies, I smell yet the Cinamon sent of his pretious body, I yet feele
Lepolemus alive in my heart: wherefore you shall do well if you grant to
me miserable woman, necessarie time to bewaile his death, that after the
residue of a few months, the whole yeare may be expired, which thing
toucheth as well my shame as your wholsome profit, lest peradventure by
your speed and quicke marriage we should justly raise and provoke the
spirit of my husband to worke our destruction. Howbeit, Thrasillus
was not contented with this promise, but more and more came upon her:
Insomuch, that she was enforced to speake to him in this manner: My
friend Thrasillus, if thou be so contented untill the whole yeare be
compleate and finished, behold here is my bodie, take thy pleasure, but
in such sort and so secret that no servant of the house may perceive
it. Then Thrasillus trusting to the false promises of the woman, and
preferring his inordinate pleasure above all things in the world, was
joyfull in his heart and looked for night, when as he might have his
purpose. But come thou about midnight (quoth Charites) disguised without
companie, and doe but hisse at my chamber doore, and my nourse shall
attend and let thee in. This counsell pleased Thrasillus marveilously,
who (suspecting no harme) did alwaies looke for night, and the houre
assigned by Charites. The time was scarce come, when as (according
to her commandement) he disguised himselfe, and went straight to the
chamber, where he found the nourse attending for him, who (by the
appointment of her Mistresse) fed him with flattering talke, and gave
him mingled and doled drinke in a cup, excusing the absence of her
Mistresse Charites, by reason that she attended on her Father being
sick, untill such time, that with sweet talke and operation of the
wine, he fell in a sound sleepe: Now when he lay prostrate on the ground
readie to