Then he answered, Verily masters you need not put yourselves to such
paines, for I have men that serve for nothing but that purpose. So wee
tooke leave of him and departed: and when we were come without the
gates of the town, we perceived before us a great sepulchre standing
out of the highway in a privy and secret place, and thither we went and
opened the mouth thereof, whereas we found the sides covered with the
corruption of man, and the ashes and dust of his long buried body,
wherein we got ourselves to bring our purpose to passe, and having
respect to the dark time of night, according to our custome, when we
thought that every one was asleepe, we went with our weapons and
besieged the house of Demochares round about. Then Thrasileon was ready
at hand, and leaped out of the caverne, and went to kill all such as he
found asleepe: but when he came to the Porter, he opened the gates and
let us in, and then he shewed us a large Counter, wherein we saw the
night before a great aboundance of treasure: which when by violence we
had broke open, I bid every one of my fellows take as much gold and
silver as they could carry away: and beare it to the sepulchre, and
still as they carried away I stood at the gate, watching diligently
when they would returne. The Beare running about the house, to make
such of the family afeared as fortuned to wake and come out. For who is
he that is so puissant and couragious, that at the ougly sight of so
great a monster will not quayle and keep his chamber especially in the
night? But when wee had brought this matter to so good a point, there
chanced a pittifull case, for as I looked for my companions that should
come from the sepulchre, behold there was a Boy of the house that
fortuned to looke out of a window, and espied the Bear running about,
and he went and told all the servants of the house. Whereupon
incontinently they came forth with Torches, Lanthornes, and other
lights, that they might see all the yard over: they came with clubs,
speares, naked swords, Greyhounds, and Mastifes to slay the poore
beast. Then I during this broyle thought to run away, but because I
would see Thrasileon fight with the Dogs, I lay behinde the gate to
behold him. And although I might perceive that he was well nigh dead,
yet remembred he his owne faithfulnes and ours, and valiantly resisted
the gaping and ravenous mouths of the hell hounds, so tooke hee in gree
the pagiant which willingly he tooke in hand himself, and with much
adoe tumbled at length out of the house: but when hee was at liberty
abroad yet could he not save himself, for all the dogs of the Streete
joyned themselves to the greyhounds and mastifes of the house, and came
upon him.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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