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 tribulation. But Thrasillus was very
importunate, and at length brought to passe, that at the intercession of
the Parents and friends of Charites, she somewhat refreshed her fallen
members with refection of meate and baine. Howbeit, she did it more at
the commandement of her Parents, then for any thing else: for she could
in no wise be merry, nor receive any comfort, but tormented her selfe
day and night before the Image of her husband which she made like unto
Bacchus, and rendred unto him divine honours and services. In the meane
season Thrasillus not able to refraine any longer, before Charites had
asswaged her dolor, before her troubled mind had pacified her fury, even
in the middle of all her griefes, while she tare her haire and rent her
garments, demanded her in marriage, and so without shame, he detected
the secrets and unspeakeable deceipts of his heart. But Charites
detested and abhorred his demand, and as she had beene stroken with some
clap of thunder, with some storme, or with the lightning of Jupiter, she
presently fell downe to the ground all amazed. Howbeit when her spirits
were revived and that she returned to her selfe, perceiving that
Thrasillus was so importunate, she demanded respite to deliberate and to
take advise on the matter. In the meane season, the shape of Lepolemus
that was slaine so miserably, appeared to Charites saying, O my sweet
wife (which no other person can say but I) I pray thee for the love