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Updated: June 20, 2025
And doubtless it would have had an effect as altogether satisfactory, excellent, beneficial, salutary, and universal as the wisdom of Duke Deodonato had anticipated from it, had it not fallen out that, on the promulgation of the decree, all the aforesaid ladies of the Duchy, of whatsoever station, calling, age, appearance, wit, or character, straightway, and so swiftly that no man had time wherein to pay his court to them, fled to and shut and bottled and barricaded themselves in houses, castles, cupboards, cellars, stables, lofts, churches, chapels, chests, and every other kind of receptacle whatsoever, and there remained beyond reach of any man, be he whom he would, lest haply one, coming, should ask their hand in marriage, and thus they should lose all prospect of wedding the Duke.
And Deodonato shot to his feet, and before them all he kissed her, and, turning, spoke: "As I have wooed, let every man in this Duchy woo. As I have won, let every man that is worthy win. For, unless he so woo, and unless he so win, vain is his wooing and vain is his winning, and a fig for his wedding, say I, Deodonato! I, that was Deodonato, and now am Deodonato and Dulcissima."
I'm sure it happened before I came to the throne." "We did not foresee that your Highness, in your Highness's wisdom, would issue this decree," he said humbly. "True," said Duke Deodonato, who was a just man. "Would your Highness vouchsafe any explanation ?" "What are the Judges for?" asked Duke Deodonato. "There is the law let them interpret it."
"Yet," remarked the President, "inspired by a natural, if ill-disciplined, admiration for his Highness' person." "The decree is now a fortnight old," observed Duke Deodonato. "Leave me. I will consider further of this matter." "Bring hither that damsel," said Deodonato. Presently the damsel, still held by the soldiers, entered the room.
"Well named!" said Deodonato softly, and he went to the damsel, and he laid his hand, full gently, on her robe, and he said, "Dulcissima, you have the prettiest face in all the Duchy, and I will have no wife but you;" and Duke Deodonato kissed the damsel. The damsel forbore to strike Duke Deodonato, as she had struck Dr. Fusbius.
Duke Deodonato sat awhile in thought, and there was silence in the hall. Then he spoke: "Let all withdraw, saving the damsel only." And they one and all withdrew, and Duke Deodonato was left alone with the damsel. Then he arose and gazed long on the damsel; but the damsel would not look on Duke Deodonato. "How are you called, lady?" asked Duke Deodonato. "I am called Dulcissima," said she.
Did the word "man" as used in the decree, include "woman"? The President shook his head, and referred the question to his Highness. "It seems immaterial," observed the Duke. "If a man marries, a woman marries." "Ex vi terminorum," assented the Doctor. "But, sir," said the President, "there are more women than men in the Duchy." Duke Deodonato threw down his pen. "This is very provoking," said he.
Again her cheek went red, and again pale, and she said: "I wed no man on compulsion." "Madam, I am your Sovereign," said Duke Deodonato; and his eyes were on the damsel. "If you were an Archangel " cried the damsel. "Our house is not wont to be scorned of ladies," said Deodonato. "Am I crooked, or baseborn, or a fool?"
The President shook his head, and referred the question to his Highness. "It seems immaterial," observed the Duke. "If a man marries, a woman marries." "Ex vi terminorum," assented the Doctor. "But, sir," said the President, "there are more women than men in the Duchy." Duke Deodonato threw down his pen. "This is very provoking," said he. "Why was it allowed?
And Deodonato shot to his feet, and before them all he kissed her, and, turning, spoke: "As I have wooed, let every man in this Duchy woo. As I have won, let every man that is worthy win. For, unless he so woo, and unless he so win, vain is his wooing, and vain is his winning, and a fig for his wedding, say I, Deodonato! I, that was Deodonato, and now am Deodonato and Dulcissima."
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