—­ Two young men ask counsel of Solomon; the one, how he is to make himself beloved, the other, how he is to reduce an unruly wife to order.  The King bids the one to love, and the other to go to the Bridge of Geese. —­

None now remained to tell save the queen, unless she were minded to infringe Dioneo’s privilege.  Wherefore, when the ladies had laughed their fill over the misfortunes of Biondello, thus gaily the queen began:—­Observe we, lovesome ladies, the order of things with a sound mind, and we shall readily perceive that we women are one and all subjected by Nature and custom and law unto man, by him to be ruled and governed at his discretion; wherefore she, that would fain enjoy quietude and solace and comfort with the man to whom she belongs, ought not only to be chaste but lowly, patient and obedient:  the which is the discreet wife’s chief and most precious possession.  And if the laws, which in all matters have regard unto the common weal, and use and wont or custom (call it what you will), a power very great and to be had in awe, should not suffice to school us thereto; yet abundantly clear is the witness of Nature, which has fashioned our frames delicate and sensitive, and our spirits timorous and fearful, and has decreed that our bodily strength shall be slight, our voices tunable, and our movements graceful; which qualities do all avouch that we have need of others’ governance.  And whoso has need of succour and governance ought in all reason to be obedient and submissive and reverent towards his governor.  And whom have we to govern and succour us save men?  ’Tis then our bounden duty to give men all honour and submit ourselves unto them:  from which rule if any deviate, I deem her most deserving not only of grave censure but of severe chastisement.  Which reflections, albeit they are not new to me, I am now led to make by what but a little while ago Pampinea told us touching the perverse wife of Talano, on whom God bestowed that chastisement which the husband had omitted; and accordingly it jumps with my judgment that all such women as deviate from the graciousness, kindliness and compliancy, which Nature and custom and law prescribe, merit, as I said, stern and severe chastisement.  Wherefore, as a salutary medicine for the healing of those of us who may be afflicted with this disease, I am minded to relate to you that which was once delivered by Solomon by way of counsel in such a case.  Which let none that stands not in need of such physic deem to be meant for her, albeit a proverb is current among men; to wit:—­

  Good steed, bad steed, alike need the rowel’s prick,
  Good wife, bad wife, alike demand the stick.

Which whoso should construe as a merry conceit would find you all ready enough to acknowledge its truth.  But even in its moral significance I say that it ought to command assent.  For women are all by nature apt to be swayed and to fall; and therefore, for the correction of the wrong-doing of such as transgress the bounds assigned to them, there is need of the stick punitive; and also for the maintenance of virtue in others, that they transgress not these appointed bounds, there is need of the stick auxiliary and deterrent.  However, to cut short this preachment, and to come to that which I purpose to tell you, I say: