po for
wine, and as soon as he was somewhat recovered, he returned home, sick
and sorry, divining that this must have been Ciacco's doing. When,
after many days, the bruises being gone, he began to go abroad again,
it chanced that Ciacco encountered him and asked him, laughing,
'Harkye, Biondello, how deemest thou of Messer Filippo's wine?' 'Even
as thou of Messer Corso's lampreys,' replied the other; and Ciacco
said, 'The thing resteth with thee henceforth. Whenever thou goest
about to give me to eat as thou didst, I will give thee in return to
drink after t'other day's fashion.' Biondello, knowing full well that
it was easier to wish Ciacco ill than to put it in practise, besought
God of his peace[437] and thenceforth was careful to affront him no
more."

[Footnote 437: _i.e._ conjured him by God to make peace with him.]

THE NINTH STORY

[Day the Ninth]

TWO YOUNG MEN SEEK COUNSEL OF SOLOMON, ONE HOW HE MAY BE
LOVED AND THE OTHER HOW HE MAY AMEND HIS FROWARD WIFE, AND
IN ANSWER HE BIDDETH THE ONE LOVE AND THE OTHER GET HIM TO
GOOSEBRIDGE

None other than the queen remaining to tell, so she would maintain
Dioneo his privilege, she, after the ladies had laughed at the unlucky
Biondello, began blithely to speak thus: "Lovesome ladies, if the
ordinance of created things be considered with a whole mind, it will
lightly enough be seen that the general multitude of women are by
nature, by custom and by law subjected unto men and that it behoveth
them order and govern themselves according to the discretion of these
latter; wherefore each woman, who would have quiet and ease and solace
with those men to whom she pertaineth, should be humble, patient and
obedient, besides being virtuous, which latter is the supreme and
especial treasure of every wise woman. Nay, though the laws, which in
all things regard the general weal, and usance or (let us say) custom,
whose puissance is both great and worship-worth, taught us not this,
nature very manifestly showeth it unto us, inasmuch as she hath made
us women tender and delicate of body and timid and fearful of spirit
and hath given us little bodily strength, sweet voices and soft and
graceful movements, all things testifying that we have need of the
governance of others. Now, those who have need to be helped and
governed, all reason requireth that they be obedient and submissive
and reverent to their governors; and whom have we to governors and
hel