The Decameron (Day 1 to Day 5)

  _The King of Cyprus was wittily reprehended, by the words of aGentlewoman of Gascoignie, and became vertuously altered from hisvicious disposition._

  The ninth Novell.

  _Giving all men to understand, that Justice is necessary in a King,above all things else whatsoever._

  The last command of the Queene, remained upon Madam _Elissa_, or_Eliza_, who without any delaying, thus beganne. Young Ladies, ithath often beene seene, that much paine hath beene bestowed, and manyreprehensions spent in vaine, till a word happening at adventure, andperhaps not purposely determined, hath effectually done the deede: asappeareth by the Tale of Madam _Lauretta_, and another of mine owne,wherewith I intend briefly to acquaint you, approving, that when goodwords are discreetly observed, they are of soveraigne power and vertue.

  In the dayes of the first King of _Cyprus_, after the Conquest madein the holy Land by _Godfrey_ of _Bullen_, it fortuned, that aGentlewoman of _Gascoignie_, travelling in pilgrimage, to visit thesacred Sepulcher in _Jerusalem_, returning home againe, arrived at_Cyprus_, where shee was villanously abused by certaine base wretches.Complaining thereof, without any comfort or redresse, shee intendedto make her moane to the King of the Countrey. Whereupon it was toldeher, that therein shee should but loose her labour, because hee was sowomanish, and faint-hearted; that not onely he refused to punish withjustice the offences of others, but also suffered shamefull injuriesdone to himselfe. And therefore, such as were displeased by hisnegligence, might easily discharge their spleene against him, and doehim what dishonour they would.

  When the Gentlewoman heard this, despairing of any consolation, orrevenge for her wrongs, shee resolved to checke the Kings deniall ofjustice, and comming before him weeping, spake in this manner. Sir, Ipresume not into your presence, as hoping to have redresse by you, fordivers dishonourable injuries done unto me; but, as a full satisfactionfor them, doe but teach me how you suffer such vile abuses, as dailyare offered to your selfe. To the ende, that being therein instructedby you, I may the more patiently beare mine owne; which (as Godknoweth) I would bestow on you very gladly, because you know so wellhow to endure them.

  The King, who (till then) had beene very bad, dull, and slothfull, evenas sleeping out his time of governement; beganne to revenge the wrongsdone to this Gentlewoman very severely, and (thenceforward) became amost sharpe Justicer, for the least offence offered against the honourof his Crowne, or to any of his subjects beside.