entered, and presently ran out, exclaiming: "I've got
it! I've got it! I am to beat my wife!" He went home and gave his spouse
a sound thrashing, and she was ever afterwards a very obedient wife.[74]
The second man got up very early the next morning, and discovered a
number of his servants idling about, and others loading a cart with
goods from his warehouse, which they were stealing. He now understood
the meaning of Solomon's advice, and henceforward always rose early
every morning, looked after his servants, and ultimately became very
wealthy. The third man, on reaching home, told his wife to get him a
splendid robe, and to instruct all the servants to admit no one into his
presence without first obtaining his permission. Next day, as he sat in
his private chamber, arrayed in his magnificent gown, a lady sent her
servant to demand his attendance, and he was about to enter the
physician's chamber, as usual, without ceremony, when he was stopped,
and told that the doctor's permission must be first obtained. After some
delay the lady's servant was admitted, and found the great doctor seated
among his books. On being desired to visit the lady, the doctor told the
servant that he could not do so without first receiving his fee. In
short, by this professional pride, the physician's practice rapidly
increased, and in a few years he acquired a large fortune. And thus in
each case Solomon's advice proved successful.[75]

[74] At the "mill" the man who was plagued with a bad wife
doubtless saw some labourers threshing corn, since
_grinding_ corn would hardly suggest the idea of
_beating_ his provoking spouse.--By the way, this man
had evidently never heard the barbarous sentiment,
expressed in the equally barbarous English popular
rhyme--composed, probably, by some beer-sodden
bacon-chewer, and therefore, in those ancient times,
_non inventus_--

A woman, a dog, and a walnut tree,
The more you beat 'em, the better they be--

else, what need for him to consult King Solomon about
his paltry domestic troubles?

[75] A variant of this occurs in the _Decameron_ of
Boccaccio, Day ix, Nov. 9, of which Dunlop gives the
following outline: Two young men repair to Jerusalem to
consult Solomon. One asks how he may be well liked, the
other how he may best manage a froward wife. Solomon
advi