When the skin was a drying we made merry with the flesh, and then we
devised with our selves, that one of us being more valiant than the
rest both in body and courage (so that he would consent thereto) should
put on the skin, and feigning that he were a Beare, should be led to
Demochares house in the night, by which means we thought to be received
and let in. Many were desirous to play the Beare, but especially one
Thrasileon of a couragious minde would take this enterprise in hand.
Then wee put in into the Beares skin, which him finely in every point,
wee buckled it fast under his belly, and covered the seam with the
haire, that it might not be seen. After this we made little holes
through the bears head, and through his nosthrils and eyes, for
Thrasileon to see out and take wind at, in such sort that he seemed a
very lively and natural beast: when this was don we went into a cave
which we hired for the purpose, and he crept in after like a bear with
a good courage. Thus we began our subtility, and then wee imagined
thus, wee feigned letters as though they came from one Nicanor which
dwelt in the Country of Thracia, which was of great acquaintance with
this Demochares, wherein we wrote, that hee had sent him being his
friend, the first fruits of his coursing and hunting. When night was
come, which was a meet time for our purpose, we brought Thrasileon and
our forged letters and presented them to Demochares. When Demochares
beheld this mighty Beare, and saw the liberality of Nicanor his friend,
hee commanded his servants to deliver unto us x. crowns, having great
store in his coffers. Then (as the novelty of a thing doth accustom to
stir mens minds to behold the same) many persons came on every side to
see this bear: but Thrasileon, lest they should by curious viewing and
prying perceive the truth, ran upon them to put them in feare that they
durst not come nigh. The people said, Verily Demochares is right happy,
in that after the death of so many beasts, hee hath gotten maugre
fortunes head, so goodly a bear. Then Demochares commanded him with all
care to be put in the park with all the other beasts: but immediately I
spake unto him and said, Sir I pray you take heed how you put a beast
tired with the heat of the sun and with long travell, among others
which as I hear say have divers maladies and diseases, let him rather
lie in some open place in your house nie some water, where he may take
air and ease himself, for doe you not know that such kind of beasts do
greatly delight to couch under the shadow of trees and hillocks neer
pleasant wells and waters? Hereby Demochares admonished, and remembring
how many he had before that perished, was contented that we should put
the bear where we would. Moreover we said unto him, that we ourselves
were determined to lie all night neer the Bear, to look unto him, and
to give him meat and drink at his due houre.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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