Chárites, The graces, which wer snpposed to be the daughters of Inpiter, three in number, whose names were Aglaia. Thalia, and Euphrosyne. And wher in speaking or writing appeared to be a warueylous delectation or sweeetenesse, it was said, that therin was a grace, in Greeke, Charis. Some men suppose that there were three Graccs, veuised to signisie that men ought to be both bountifull and gractous to other, and secondly to take benefits at other mens hands, and thirdly, thankefullie to requite benesits receiued: which are three sundrie actes in the vse of liberalitie. Other saye they imagined three graces to signisye liberal thankefulnesse, and that we should plentifullie require beneÛres with vantage more than we receiued. Wherefore they paint the Graces in this maner, that the ones backe should be toward vs, and hir face fromwarde, as proceeding from vs, the other two toward vs: noting double thankes to be due for the benefite we haue done. They were also paynted naked, to doe men to wit, that pleasures should be done vnfeynedly without cloke or dissimulation: they were made rong, to nore % the memorie of a benefite should in no time weare awaye and decaye: they were discoibed laughing, because plcasnres oughte to be done with a cheerefull and glad minde: finallie their armes were painted as it were linked one with an other, to teach that kindenesse shoulde be vndissoluble, and one benefite so to prouoke another, as it may make the league of loue and friendship suce and perpetual.Charmione.The handmaide of Cleopatra, that willingly vieù with hir maystresse.
Lewis and Short: Latin dictionary
Chărĭtes, um, f., = *xa/rites, the Charites or Graces (pure Lat. Gratiae), usu. three, Aglaia, Euphrosyne, and Thalia (cf., however, Lidd. and Scott under the word), Ov. F. 5, 219; Sen. Ben. 1, 4, 4; Plin. 36, 5, 4, 32.—In sing. acc. Gr. Charita, one of the Graces, Plin. 35, 10, 36, 79.