NOVEL IX.
Two young men go to King Solomon for his advice; the one to know how he is to behave in order to be beloved; the other how to manage an untoward wife. To the first, he replies, Love; to the second, Go to Goosebridge.
Only the queen now remained to speak, saving his privilege to Dioneo. After they had laughed at the unfortunate Biondello, she began in this manner: - “Whoever rightly considers the order of things, may plainly see that the whole race of woman-kind is by nature, custom, and the laws, made subject to man, to be governed according to his discretion: therefore it is the duty of every one of us, that desires to have ease, comfort, and repose, with those men to whom we may belong, to be humble, patient, and obedient, as well as chaste; which is the great and principal treasure of every prudent woman. And though the laws, which regard the good of the community, may not teach this in every particular, any more than custom, the force of which is very great, and worthy to be esteemed, yet it is plainly showed by nature, who has formed us with delicate and sickly constitutions, our minds timorous and fearful, gentle and compassionate as to our tempers, of little bodily strength, our voices soft and pleasing, and the whole motion of our limbs sweetly pliant, as so many apparent proofs that we stand in need of another's guidance and protection. And whom should we have for our rulers and helpers but men? To them, therefore, let us submit ourselves with all due reverence and honour; and she that shall depart from this, I hold worthy not only of reproof, but severe chastisement. I am led to these reflections by what Pampinea has just now told us of the perverse wife of Talano, on whom Providence inflicted a heavier judgment than the husband ever could have thought of. Therefore, as I said before, such women as are not mild, gracious, and compassionate, as nature, custom, and the laws, require, are deserving of the greatest punishment; for which reason I shall give you some of Solomon's advice, as a salutary medicine, though I would not have it understood by such as stand in no need of it, as in any way designed for them. Men, indeed, have the following proverb, "A good horse, and a bad one, both require spurs: a good wife, and a bad one, both want a cudgel." These words we will admit to be true, if spoken only by way of mirth and pastime; and even in a moral sense, we will allow that women are naturally prone and unstable, and therefore a stick may be requisite to correct the evil dispositions of some, as well as to support the virtue of others, who behave with more discretion, and to be a terror to prevent them from offending. But to let preaching alone, and to proceed with my story: The fame of Solomon's most wonderful wisdom, and his affability to such as resorted to him for proofs of it, being carried throughout the whole world, people were daily flocking from all parts to beg his advice in their most urgent affairs. Amongst the rest was a young nobleman of great wealth, called Melisso, who came from the city of Laiazzo, where he was born and dwelt; and as he was riding in haste towards Jerusalem, he happened, going out of Antioch, to fall in with another young gentleman, named Gioseffo, travelling the same road. When they had journeyed for some time together, Melisso, having learned in the course of their conversation who Gioseffo was, and whence he came, inquired whither he was going, and upon what account. Gioseffo replied, "that he was going to King Solomon for advice, what method to take with a most perverse ill-conditioned woman he had married, and whom no entreaties or fair speeches had the least effect upon, to cure her of that temper." He then asked whither his companion was bound, and upon what occasion. Melisso made answer, "I am of Laiazzo, and have an affair that troubles me in like manner; I am rich, and keep a most noble table, entertaining all my fellow-citizens; and yet it is a most unaccountable thing, there is nobody that cares for or respects me: so I am going to the same place, to know what I must do to be beloved."
Thus they rode on together till they came to Jerusalem, where they were introduced to King Solomon by one of his barons. Melisso briefly set forth his misfortune, and Solomon replied, "Learn to love." Immediately he was showed out of doors, and Gioseffo related his grievance: when Solomon made no reply but this, "Go to Goosebridge."
Accordingly he was also dismissed, and coming to Melisso, who was waiting for him without, he told him what was the answer he had received. Thinking much upon the words, and being able to And out no sense or meaning in them, or to draw any use from them, they considered it as all a mockery, and were making the best of their way home again. After travelling some days, they came to a bridge, where they found a great caravan of mules, in process of being laden, and were obliged to stay till they had passed. The greater part was now on the other side; but there was one mule that took fright, and would by no means go over; upon which one of the drivers took a stick and began to beat her gently, in order to make her pass: but she leaped this way, and that way, and sometimes would turn back; therefore, when the driver found her so stubborn, he began to lay on as hard as ever he could strike, but all to no purpose. This our two gentlemen saw, and said to the man, "You sorry rascal! have you a mind to kill the mule?
You should lead her gently over; she will go better in that manner than by so much beating." The man replied, " Gentlemen, you know your horses and I know my mule, suffer me then to manage her as I will." And he beat her again, laying on her so thick, that at last he got the better of her, and made her pass. As they were going away, Gioseffo asked a man that was sitting at the end of the bridge, what the name of it was? "Sir," quoth the man, "this place is called Goosebridge." This made him call to mind the words of Solomon; and he said to Melisso, "Now trust me friend, Solomon's counsel may be very good and true; for I never yet beat my wife, but this man has just now shown me what I have to do."
On coming to Antioch, he kept Melisso at his house for some days. Being received by his wife with great joy, he ordered her to dress the supper according to Melisso's direction, who, seeing that it was his friend's will, gave his instructions for that purpose. But she, according to custom, did everything quite the reverse of what Melisso had told her; which Gioseffo saw with a good deal of vexation, and said, "Were not you told in what manner to dress this supper?" She replied, with great disdain, "What is that to you? If you have a mind to eat, do; if not, you may let it alone." Melisso was surprised at her reply and began to blame her for it. But Gioseffo said, "I find, madam, you are still the same person; but I will make you change your manners." Then, turning to Melisso, he added, "Well, we shall now make trial of Solomon's advice; however, I must beg of you to consider it all as a joke, and not to offer me any hinderance; but remember what the man said when we were pitying his mule." Quoth Melisso, " I am in your house, and shall conform to your pleasure." So Gioseffo took a good oaken stick, and following her into the chamber, whither she was gone in a pet, he began to give her some severe discipline. She cried out and threatened him very much; but finding that he still persisted, she threw herself upon her knees, at last, and begged for mercy, promising that for the future she would always be obedient to his will and pleasure. He continued, nevertheless, laying on till he was weary, so that in short she had not a sound spot about her; and when he had done he came to Melisso, and said, "tomorrow we shall see the effect of the advice to go to Goosebridge. Then he washed his hands, and they sat down to supper, and afterwards, when it was time, they went to repose themselves.
The poor lady, who had much trouble to get up from the ground, went and threw herself upon the bed, and betimes in the morning she rose and sent to her husband to know what he would have for dinner. He smiled at this with his friend, and told her. When the time came, therefore, they found everything prepared according to the directions given; upon which they highly commended the advice they had so ill understood.
Some time afterwards Melisso parted from Gioseffo, and went home, when he acquainted a certain wise man in the neighbourhood with what Solomon had told him; who said, "No better or truer advice could possibly be given you; you know that you have a regard for no one person, and that the entertainments you make are for no love you bear those people, but only mere pomp and show. Love, then, as Solomon advises, and you shall be beloved." Thus the unruly woman was managed, and the man by loving others came himself to be beloved.
[From all the Italian novelists we hear of the discipline of the stick being exercised by husbands, and it is always mentioned with approbation. In many of the Fabliaux, as "De la dame qui fut corrigée" (Le Grand, iii, 204), the cudgel chiefly is employed for procuring domestic felicity. It may, perhaps, appear singular, that an age of which the characteristic was veneration for the fair sex, should have given commencement to a long series of jests founded on the principle that manual discipline is necessary to correct the evil disposition of some wives, and to support the virtue of others.
"La mauvaise femme convient il battre, et bonne aussi, à fin qu'elle ne se change," is a maxim inculcated in the romance of "Milles et Amys," which was written in the brightest days of chivalry.]
