_Wherein is declared, that mockers do sometimes meete with their matches in mockery, and to their owne shame._
When Madame _Pampinea_ had ended her Discourse, and (by the whole company) the answere and bounty of _Cistio_, had past with deserved commendation: it pleased the Queene, that Madame _Lauretta_ should next succeed: whereupon verie chearefully thus she beganne.
Faire assembly, Madame _Pampinea_ (not long time since) gave beginning, and Madam _Philomena_ hath also seconded the same argument, concerning the slender vertue remaining in our sexe, and likewise the beautie of wittie words, delivered on apt occasion, and in convenient meetings. Now, because it is needlesse to proceede any further, then what hath beene already spoken: let mee onely tell you (over and beside) and commit it to memorie, that the nature of meetings and speeches are such, as they ought to nippe or touch the hearer, like unto the Sheepes nibling on the tender grasse, and not as the sullen Dogge byteth. For, if their biting be answereable to the Dogges, they deserve not to be termed witty jests or quips, but foule and offensive language: as plainly appeareth by the words of Madame _Oretta_, and the merry, yet sensible answer of _Cistio_.
True it is, that if it be spoken by way of answer, and the answerer biteth doggedly, because himselfe was bitten in the same manner before: he is the lesse to bee blamed, because hee maketh payment but with coine of the same stampe. In which respect, an especiall care is to bee had, how, when, with whom, and where we jest or gibe, whereof very many proove too unmindfull, as appeared (not long since) by a Prelate of ours, who met with a byting, no lesse sharpe and bitter, then had first come from himselfe before, as verie briefely I intend to tell you how.
_Messer Antonio d'Orso_, being Byshoppe of _Florence_, a vertuous, wise, and reverend Prelate; it fortuned that a Gentleman of _Catalogna_, named _Messer Diego de la Ratta_, and Lord Marshall to King _Robert_ of _Naples_, came thither to visite him. Hee being a man of very comely personage, and a great observer of the choysest beauties in Court: among all the other _Florentine_ Dames, one proved to bee most pleasing in his eye, who was a verie faire Woman indeede, and Neece to the Brother of the saide _Messer Antonio_.