So, always being mindful of their
condition, they ought not to set themselves up in opposition to
their lords. And, knowing what a furious, bad-tempered husband
she endured, they marveled that it had never been rumored, nor was
there any mark to show, that Patricius had ever beaten his wife,
or that there had been any domestic strife between them, even for
a day. And when they asked her confidentially the reason for
this, she taught them the rule I have mentioned. Those who
observed it confirmed the wisdom of it and rejoiced; those who did
not observe it were bullied and vexed.
20. Even her mother-in-law, who was at first prejudiced
against her by the whisperings of malicious servants, she
conquered by submission, persevering in it with patience and
meekness; with the result that the mother-in-law told her son of
the tales of the meddling servants which had disturbed the
domestic peace between herself and her daughter-in-law and begged
him to punish them for it. In conformity with his mother's wish,
and in the interest of family discipline to insure the future
harmony of its members, he had those servants beaten who were
pointed out by her who had discovered them; and she promised a
similar reward to anyone else who, thinking to please her, should
say anything evil of her daughter-in-law.
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