The decameron containing an hundred pleasant nouels. Wittily discoursed, betweene seauen honourable ladies, and three noble gentlemen.

The King of Cyprus was wittily reprehended, by the words of a Gentlewoman of Gascoignie, and became vertuously altered from his vicious disposition.

The ninth Nouell.

Giuing all men to vnderstand, that Iustice is necessary in a King, aboue all things else whatsoeuer.

THe last command of the Queene, remained vpon Madam Elissa, or Eliza, who without any delaying, thus beganne. Young Ladies, it hath often beene seene, that much paine hath beene bestowed, and many reprehensions spent in vaine, till a word happening at aduenture, and per∣haps not purposely determined, hath effectually done the deede: as ap∣peareth by the Tale of Madam Lauretta, and another of mine owne,

wherewith I intend briefly to acquaint you, approuing, that when good words are discreetly obserued, they are of soueraigne power and vertue.

[illustration]

In the dayes of the first King of Cyprus, after the Conquest made in the holy Land by Godfrey of Bullen, it fortuned, that a Gentlewoman of Gas∣coignie, trauelling in pilgrimage, to visit the sacred Sepulcher in Ierusa∣lem, returning home againe, arriued at Cyprus, where shee was villanou∣sly abused by certaine base wretches. Complaining thereof, without any comfort or redresse, shee intended to make her moane to the King of the Countrey. Whereupon it was tolde her, that therein shee should but loose her labour, because hee was so womanish, and faint-hearted; that not onely he refused to punish with iustice the offences of others, but also suffered shamefull iniuries done to himselfe. And therefore, such as were displeased by his negligence, might easily discharge their spleene against him, and doe him what dishonour they would.

When the Gentlewoman heard this, despairing of any consolation, or reuenge for her wrongs, shee resolued to checke the Kings deniall of iustice, and comming before him weeping, spake in this manner. Sir, I presume not into your presence, as hoping to haue redresse by you, for diuers dishonourable iniuries done vnto me; but, as a full satisfaction for them, doe but teach me how you suffer such vile abuses, as daily are offe∣red to your selfe. To the ende, that being therein instructed by you, I may the more patiently beare mine owne; which (as God knoweth) I would bestow on you very gladly, because you know so well how to endure them.

The King, who (till then) had beene very bad, dull, and slothfull, euen as sleeping out his time of gouernement; beganne to reuenge the

wrongs done to this Gentlewoman very seuerely, and (thence forward) became a most sharpe Iusticer, for the least offence offered against the honour of his Crowne, or to any of his subiects beside.