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 all adventure, Charites (being called for) came in, and with
manly courage and bold force stood over the sleeping murderer, saying:
Behold the faithfull companion of my husband, behold this valiant
hunter; behold me deere spouse, this is the hand which shed my bloud,
this is the heart which hath devised so many subtill meanes to worke my
destruction, these be the eies whom I have ill pleased, behold now they
foreshew their owne destinie: sleepe carelesse, dreame that thou art in
the hands of the mercifull, for I will not hurt thee with thy sword or
any other weapon: God forbid that I should slay thee as thou slewest my
husband, but thy eies shall faile thee, and thou shalt see no more, then
that whereof thou dreamest: Thou shalt thinke the death of thine enemie
more sweet then thy life: Thou shalt see no light, thou shalt lacke the
aide of a leader, thou shalt not have me as thou hopest, thou shalt have
no delight of my marriage, thou shalt not die, and yet living thou shalt