1 Sire clerk of Oxenford, oure Hooste sayde,
2 Ye ryde as coy and stille as dooth a mayde,
3 Were newe spoused, sittynge at the bord.
4 This day ne herde I of youre tonge a word.
5 I trowe ye studie about som sophyme;
6 But Salomon seith, `every thyng hath tyme.'
7 For Goddes sake, as beth of bettre cheere;
8 It is no tyme for to studien heere,
9 Telle us som myrie tale, by youre fey.
10 For what man that is entred in a pley,
11 He nedes moot unto the pley assente;
12 But precheth nat as freres doon in Lente,
13 To make us for oure olde synnes wepe,
14 Ne that thy tale make us nat to slepe.
15 Telle us som murie thyng of aventures;
16 Youre termes, youre colours, and youre figures,
17 Keep hem in stoor, til so be that ye endite
18 Heigh style, as whan that men to kynges write.
19 Speketh so pleyn at this tyme, we yow preye,
20 That we may understonde what ye seye.
21 This worthy clerk benignely answerde,
22 Hooste, quod he, I am under youre yerde.
23 Ye han of us as now the governance;
24 And therfore wol I do yow obeisance
25 As fer as resoun axeth, hardily.
26 I wol yow telle a tale, which that I
27 Lerned at Padwe of a worthy clerk,
28 As preved by his wordes and his werk.
29 He is now deed, and nayled in his cheste;
30 I prey to God so yeve his soule reste.
31 Fraunceys Petrark, the lauriat poete,
32 Highte this clerk, whos rethorike sweete
33 Enlumyned al Ytaille of poetrie,
34 As Lynyan dide of philosophie,
35 Or lawe, or oother art particuler.
36 But deeth, that wol nat suffre us dwellen heer
37 But as it were a twynklyng of an eye,
38 Hem bothe hath slayn, and alle shul we dye.
39 But forth to tellen of this worthy man,
40 That taughte me this tale as I bigan,
41 I seye, that first with heigh stile he enditeth
42 Er he the body of his tale writeth,
43 A prohemye in the which discryveth he
44 Pemond, and of Saluces the contree,
45 And speketh of Apennyn, the hilles hye,
46 That been the boundes of Westlumbardye;
47 And of Mount Vesulus in special,
48 Where as the Poo out of a welle smal
49 Taketh his firste spryngyng and his sours,
50 That estward ay encresseth in his cours
51 To Emeleward, to Ferrare, and Venyse;
52 The which a long thyng were to devyse.
53 And trewely, as to my juggement,
54 Me thynketh it a thyng impertinent,
55 Save that he wole convoyen his mateere;
56 But this his tale, which that ye may heere.
1 Ther is, at the west syde of Ytaille,
2 Doun at the roote of Vesulus the colde,
3 A lusty playne, habundant of vitaille,
4 Where many a tour and toun thou mayst biholde
5 That founded were in tyme of fadres olde,
6 And many another delitable sighte,
7 And Saluces this noble contree highte.
8 A markys whilom lord was of that lond,
9 As were hise worthy eldres hym bifore,
10 And obeisant and redy to his hond
11 Were alle hise liges, bothe lasse and moore.
12 Thus in delit he lyveth, and hath doon yoore,
13 Biloved and drad thurgh favour of Fortune,
14 Bothe of hise lordes and of his commune.
15 Therwith he was, to speke as of lynage,
16 The gentilleste yborn of Lumbardye;
17 A fair persone, and strong, and yong of age,
18 And ful of honour and of curteisye,
19 Discreet ynogh his contree for to gye,
20 Save that in somme thynges that he was to blame,
21 And Walter was this yonge lordes name.
22 I blame hym thus, that he considereth noght
23 In tyme comynge what hym myghte bityde,
24 But in his lust present was al his thoght,
25 As for to hauke and hunte on every syde.
26 Wel ny alle othere cures leet he slyde;
27 And eek he nolde,-and that was worst of alle-
28 Wedde no wyf, for noght that may bifalle.
29 Oonly that point his peple bar so soore,
30 That flokmeele on a day they to hym wente,
31 And oon of hem, that wisest was of loore,
32 Or elles that the lord best wolde assente,
33 That he sholde telle hym what his peple mente,
34 Or elles koude he shewe wel swich mateere,
35 He to the markys seyde as ye shul heere:
36 O noble Markys, youre humanitee
37 Asseureth us, and yeveth us hardinesse,
38 As ofte as tyme is of necessitee
39 That we to yow mowe telle oure hevynesse.
40 Accepteth, lord, now for youre gentillesse
41 That we with pitous herte unto yow pleyne,
42 And lat youre eres nat my voys desdeyne,
43 Al have I noght to doone in this mateere
44 Moore than another man hath in this place;
45 Yet for as muche as ye, my lord so deere,
46 Han alwey shewed me favour and grace,
47 I dar the bettre aske of yow a space
48 Of audience to shewen oure requeste,
49 And ye, my lord, to doon right as yow leste.
50 For certes, lord, so wel us liketh yow
51 And al youre werk, and evere han doon that we
52 Ne koude nat us-self devysen how
53 We myghte lyven in moore felicitee,
54 Save o thyng, lord, if it youre wille be,
55 That for to been a wedded man yow leste,
56 Thanne were youre peple in sovereyn hertes reste.
57 Boweth youre nekke under that blisful yok
58 Of soveraynetee, noght of servyse,
59 Which that men clepeth spousaille or wedlock;
60 And thenketh, lord, among youre thoghtes wyse
61 How that oure dayes passe in sondry wyse,
62 For thogh we slepe, or wake, or rome, or ryde,
63 Ay fleeth the tyme, it nyl no man abyde.
64 And thogh youre grene youthe floure as yit,
65 In crepeth age alwey, as stille as stoon,
66 And deeth manaceth every age, and smyt
67 In ech estaat, for ther escapeth noon;
68 And al so certein as we knowe echoon
69 That we shul deye, as uncerteyn we alle
70 Been of that day, whan deeth shal on us falle.
71 Accepteth thanne of us the trewe entente
72 That nevere yet refuseden thyn heeste;
73 And we wol, lord, if that ye wole assente,
74 Chese yow a wyf in short tyme atte leeste,
75 Born of the gentilleste and of the meeste
76 Of al this land, so that it oghte seme
77 Honour to God, and yow, as we kan deeme.
78 Delivere us out of al this bisy drede,
79 And taak a wyf for hye Goddes sake,
80 For if it so bifelle, as God forbede,
81 That thurgh your deeth your lyne sholde slake,
82 And that a straunge successour sholde take
83 Youre heritage, o wo were us alyve!
84 Wherfore we pray you hastily to wyve.
85 Hir meeke preyere and hir pitous cheere
86 Made the markys herte han pitee.
87 Ye wol, quod he, myn owene peple deere,
88 To that I nevere erst thoughte, streyne me.
89 I me rejoysed of my liberte,
90 That seelde tyme is founde in mariage.
91 Ther I was free, I moot been in servage.
92 But nathelees I se youre trewe entente,
93 And truste upon youre wit, and have doon at;
94 Wherfore of my free wyl I wole assente
95 To wedde me, as soone as evere I may.
96 But ther as ye han profred me this day
97 To chese me a wyf, I yow relesse
98 That choys, and prey yow of that profre cesse.
99 For God it woot, that children ofte been
100 Unlyk hir worthy eldres hem bifore.
101 Bountee comth al of God, nat of the streen,
102 Of which they been engendred and ybore.
103 I truste in Goddes bontee; and therfore
104 My mariage, and myn estaat and reste,
105 I hym bitake, he may doon as hym leste.
106 Lat me allone in chesynge of my wyf,
107 That charge upon my bak I wole endure;
108 But I yow preye, and charge upon youre lyf
109 That what wyf that I take, ye me assure
110 To worshipe hir, whil that hir lyf may dure,
111 In word and werk, bothe heere and everywheere,
112 As she an emperoures doghter weere.
113 And forthermoore, this shal ye swere, that ye
114 Agayn my choys shul neither grucche ne stryve,
115 For sith I shal forgoon my libertee
116 At youre requeste, as evere moot I thryve,
117 Ther as myn herte is set, ther wol I wyve!
118 And but ye wole assente in this manere,
119 I prey yow, speketh namoore of this matere.
120 With hertely wyl they sworen and assenten
121 To al this thyng, ther seyde no wight nay,
122 Bisekynge hym of grace er that they wenten,
123 That he wolde graunten hem a certein day
124 Of his spousaille, as soone as evere he may,
125 For yet alwey the peple somwhat dredde
126 Lest that this markys no wyf wolde wedde.
127 He graunted hem a day, swich as hym leste,
128 On which he wolde be wedded sikerly,
129 And seyde he dide al this at hir requeste;
130 And they with humble entente, buxomly,
131 Knelynge upon hir knees ful reverently
132 Hym thonken alle, and thus they han an ende
133 Of hir entente, and hoom agayn they wende.
134 And heerupon he to hise officeres
135 Comaundeth for the feste to purveye,
136 And to hise privee knyghtes and squieres
137 Swich charge yaf, as hym liste on hem leye.
138 And they to his comandement obeye,
139 And ech of hem dooth al his diligence
140 To doon unto the feeste reverence:
Part 2
143 Noght fer fro thilke paleys honurable
144 Ther as this markys shoop his mariage,
145 Ther stood a throop, of site delitable,
146 In which that povre folk of that village
147 Hadden hir beestes and hir herbergage,
148 And of hir lobour tooke hir sustenance,
149 After that the erthe yaf hem habundance.
150 Amonges thise povre folk ther dwelte a man
151 Which that was holden povrest of hem alle;
152 (But hye God somtyme senden kan
153 His grace into a litel oxes stalle;
154 Janicula men of that throop hym calle.
155 A doghter hadde he, fair ynogh to sighte,
156 And Grisildis this yonge mayden highte.
157 But for to speke of vertuous beautee,
158 Thanne was she oon the faireste under sonne,
159 For povreliche yfostred up was she,
160 No likerous lust was thurgh hir herte yronne.
161 Wel ofter of the welle than of the tonne
162 She drank, and for she wolde vertu plese
163 She knew wel labour but noon ydel ese.
164 But thogh this mayde tendre were of age,
165 Yet in the brest of hire virginitee
166 Ther was enclosed rype and sad corage;
167 And in greet reverence and charitee
168 Hir olde povre fader fostred shee.
169 A fewe sheepe, spynnynge on feeld she kepte,
170 She wolde noght been ydel, til she slepte.
171 And whan she homward cam, she wolde brynge
172 Wortes, or othere herbes tymes ofte,
173 The whiche she shredde and seeth for hir lyvynge,
174 And made hir bed ful harde and no thyng softe;
175 And ay she kepte hir fadres lyf on lofte
176 With everich obeisaunce and diligence
177 That child may doon to fadres reverence.
178 Upon Grisilde, this povre creature,
179 Ful ofte sithe this markys caste his eye,
180 As he on huntyng rood paraventure.
181 And whan it fil that he myghte hire espye,
182 He noght with wantowne lookyng of folye
183 Hise eyen caste on hir, but in sad wyse,
184 Upon hir chiere he wolde hym ofte avyse,
185 Commendynge in his herte hir wommanhede
186 And eek hir vertu, passynge any wight
187 Of so yong age, as wel in chiere as dede.
188 For thogh the peple hadde no greet insight
189 In vertu, he considered ful right
190 Hir bountee, and disposed that he wolde
191 Wedde hir oonly, if evere he wedde sholde.
192 The day of weddyng cam, but no wight kan
193 Telle what womman that it sholde be,
194 For which merveille wondred many a man,
195 And seyden, whan that they were in privetee,
196 Wol nat oure lord yet leve his vanytee?
197 Wol he nat wedde? allas, allas, the while!
198 Why wole he thus hymself and us bigile?
199 But nathelees this markys hath doon make
200 Of gemmes set in gold and in asure
201 Brooches and rynges, for Grisildis sake,
202 And of hir clothyng took he the mesure,
203 By a mayde lyk to hir stature,
204 And eek of othere ornementes alle
205 That unto swich a weddyng sholde falle.
206 The time of undren of the same day
207 Approcheth, that this weddyng sholde be;
208 And al the paleys put was in array,
209 Bothe halle and chambres, ech in his degree;
210 Houses of office stuffed with plentee
211 Ther maystow seen, of deyntevous vitaille,
212 That may be founde as fer as last Ytaille.
213 This roial markys, richely arrayed,
214 Lordes and ladyes in his compaignye,
215 The whiche that to the feeste weren yprayed,
216 And of his retenue the bachelrye,
217 With many a soun of sondry melodye
218 Unto the village, of the which I tolde,
219 In this array the righte wey han holde.
220 Grisilde (of this, God woot, ful innocent,
221 That for hir shapen was al this array)
222 To fecchen water at a welle is went,
223 And cometh hoom as soone as ever she may;
224 For wel she hadde herd seyd, that thilke day
225 The markys sholde wedde, and if she myghte,
226 She wolde fayn han seyn som of that sighte.
227 She thoghte, I wole with othere maydens stonde,
228 That been my felawes, in oure dore, and se
229 The markysesse, and therfore wol I fonde
230 To doon at hoom as soone as it may be
231 The labour, which that longeth unto me,
232 And thanne I may at leyser hir biholde,
233 If she this wey unto the castel holde.
234 And as she wolde over hir thresshfold gon
235 The markys cam and gan hire for to calle,
236 And she set doun hir water pot anon
237 Biside the thresshfold in an oxes stalle,
238 And doun up-on hir knes she gan to falle,
239 And with sad contenance kneleth stille,
240 Til she had herd what was the lordes will.
241 This thoghtful markys spak unto this mayde
242 Ful sobrely, and seyde in this manere,
243 Where is youre fader, O Grisildis? he sayde,
244 And she with reverence in humble cheere
245 Answerde, Lord, he is al redy heere.
246 And in she gooth, withouten lenger lette,
247 And to the markys she hir fader fette.
248 He by the hand thanne took this olde man,
249 And seyde thus, whan he hym hadde asyde,
250 Janicula, I neither may ne kan
251 Lenger the plesance of myn herte hyde;
252 If that thou vouchsauf, what so bityde,
253 Thy doghter wol I take, er that I wende,
254 As for my wyf unto hir lyves ende.
255 Thou lovest me, I woot it wel certeyn,
256 And art my feithful lige man ybore,
257 And all that liketh me, I dar wel seyn,
258 It liketh thee; and specially therfore
259 Tel me that poynt that I have seyd bifore,
260 If that thou wolt unto that purpos drawe,
261 To take me as for thy sone-in-lawe.
262 This sodeyn cas this man astonyed so,
263 That reed he wax abayst and al quakyng
264 He stood, unnethes seyde he wordes mo,
265 But oonly thus, Lord, quod he, my willynge
266 Is as ye wole, ne ayeyns youre likynge
267 I wol no thyng, ye be my lord so deere;
268 Right as yow lust governeth this mateere.
269 Yet wol I, quod this markys softely,
270 That in thy chambre I and thou and she
271 Have a collacioun, and wostow why?
272 For I wol axe, if it hir wille be
273 To be my wyf, and reule hir after me;
274 And al this shal be doon in thy presence,
275 I wol noght speke out of thyn audience.
276 And in the chambre whil they were aboute
277 Hir tretys which as ye shal after heere,
278 The peple cam unto the hous withoute,
279 And wondred hem in how honeste manere
280 And tentifly she kepte hir fader deere.
281 But outrely Grisildis wondre myghte
282 For nevere erst ne saugh she swich a sighte.
283 No wonder is thogh that she were astoned
284 To seen so greet a grest come in that place;
285 She nevere was to swiche gestes woned,
286 For which she looked with ful pale face-
287 But shortly forth this tale for to chace,
288 Thise arn the wordes that the markys sayde
289 To this benigne verray feithful mayde.
290 Grisilde, he seyde, ye shal wel understonde
291 It liketh to youre fader and to me
292 That I yow wedde, and eek it may so stonde,
293 As, I suppose, ye wol that it so be.
294 But thise demandes axe I first, quod he,
295 That sith it shal be doon in hastif wyse,
296 Wol ye assente, or elles yow avyse?
297 I seye this, be ye redy with good herte
298 To al my lust, and that I frely may,
299 As me best thynketh, do yow laughe or smerte,
300 And nevere ye to grucche it nyght ne day,
301 And eek whan I sey ye, ne sey nat nay,
302 Neither by word, ne frownyng contenance?
303 Swere this, and heere I swere yow alliance.
304 Wondrynge upon this word, quakynge for drede,
305 She seyde, Lord, undigne and unworthy
306 Am I to thilke honour, that ye me beede,
307 But as ye wole yourself, right so wol I.
308 And heere I swere, that nevere willyngly
309 In werk ne thoght I nyl yow disobeye,
310 For to be deed, though me were looth to deye.
311 This is ynogh, Grisilde myn, quod he,
312 And forth he gooth with a ful sobre cheere
313 Out at the dore, and after that cam she;
314 And to the peple he seyde in this manere,
315 This is my wyf, quod he, that standeth heere;
316 Honoureth hir, and loveth hir, I preye,
317 Whoso me loveth; ther is namoore to seye.
318 And for that nothyng of hir olde geere
319 She sholde brynge into his hous, he bad
320 That wommen sholde dispoillen hir right theere;-
321 Of which thise ladyes were nat right glad
322 To handle hir clothes, wherinne she was clad-
323 But nathelees, this mayde bright of hewe
324 Fro foot to heed they clothed han al newe.
325 Hir heris han they kembd, that lay untressed
326 Ful rudely, and with hir fyngres smale
327 A corone on hir heed they han ydressed,
328 And sette hir ful of nowches grete and smale.
329 Of hir array what sholde I make a tale?
330 Unnethe the peple hire knew for hir fairnesse
331 Whan she translated was in swich richesse.
332 This markys hath hir spoused with a ryng
333 Broght for the same cause, and thanne hir sette
334 Upon an hors, snow-whit and wel amblyng,
335 And to his paleys, er he lenger lette,
336 With joyful peple that hir ladde and mette
337 Convoyed hir; and thus the day they spende
338 In revel, til the sonne gan descende.
339 And shortly forth this tale for to chace,
340 I seye, that to this newe markysesse
341 God hath swich favour sent hir of his grace,
342 That it ne semed nat by liklynesse
343 That she was born and fed in rudenesse
344 As in a cote or in an oxe-stalle,
345 But norissed in an emperoures halle.
346 To every wight she woxen is so deere
347 And worshipful, that folk ther she was bore
348 And from hir birthe knewe hir yeer by yeere,
349 Unnethe trowed they, but dorste han swore
350 That she to Janicle, of which I spak bifore,
351 She doghter nere, for as by conjecture,
352 Hem thoughte she was another creature.
353 For though that evere vertuous was she,
354 She was encressed in swich excellence,
355 Of thewes goode, yset in heigh bountee,
356 And so discreet and fair of eloquence,
357 So benigne, and so digne of reverence,
358 And koude so the peples herte embrace,
359 That ech hir lovede, that looked on hir face.
360 Noght oonly of Saluces in the toun
361 Publiced was the bountee of hir name,
362 But eek biside in many a regioun,
363 If oon seide wel, another seyde the same;
364 So spradde of hir heighe bountee the fame
365 That men and wommen, as wel yonge as olde,
366 Goon to Saluce upon hir to biholde.
367 Thus Walter lowely, nay! but roially
368 Wedded with fortunat honestetee,
369 In Goddes pees lyveth ful esily
370 At hoom, and outward grace ynogh had he,
371 And for he saugh that under low degree
372 Was ofte vertu hid, the peple hym heelde
373 A prudent man, and that is seyn ful seelde.
374 Nat oonly this Grisildis thurgh hir wit
375 Koude al the feet of wyfly humblenesse,
376 But eek, whan that the cas required it,
377 The commune profit koude she redresse.
378 Ther nas discord, rancour, ne hevynesse
379 In al that land, that she ne koude apese,
380 And wisely brynge hem alle in reste and ese.
381 Though that hir housbonde absent were anon
382 If gentil men, or othere of hir contree
383 Were wrothe, she wolde bryngen hem aton.
384 So wise and rype wordes hadde she,
385 And juggementz of so greet equitee,
386 That she from hevene sent was, as men wende,
387 Peple to save and every wrong t'amende.
388 Nat longe tyme after that this Grisild
389 Was wedded, she a doghter hath ybore-
390 Al had hir levere have born a man child;
391 Glad was this markys and the folk therfore,
392 For though a mayde child coome al bifore,
393 She may unto a knave child atteyne
394 By liklihede, syn she nys nat bareyne.
Part 3
397 Ther fil, as it bifalleth tymes mo,
398 Whan that this child had souked but a throwe,
399 This markys in his herte longeth so
400 To tempte his wyf, hir sadnesse for to knowe,
401 That he ne myghte out of his herte throwe
402 This merveillous desir his wyf t'assaye.
403 Nedelees, God woot, he thoghte hir for t'affraye.
404 He hadde assayed hir ynogh bifore,
405 And foond hir evere good; what neded it
406 Hir for to tempte and alwey moore and moore?
407 Though som men preise it for a subtil wit,
408 But as for me, I seye that yvele it sit
409 To assaye a wyf, whan that it is no nede,
410 And putten hir in angwyssh and in drede.
411 For which this markys wroghte in this manere;
412 He cam allone a nyght, ther as she lay,
413 With stierne face and with ful trouble cheere,
414 And seyde thus, Grisilde, quod he, that day
415 That I yow took out of your povere array,
416 And putte yow in estaat of heigh noblesse,
417 Ye have nat that forgeten, as I gesse.
418 I seye, Grisilde, this present dignitee
419 In which that I have put yow, as I trowe
420 Maketh yow nat foryetful for to be
421 That I yow took in povre estaat ful lowe
422 For any wele ye moot youreselven knowe.
423 Taak heede of every word that y yow seye,
424 Ther is no wight that hereth it but we tweye.
425 Ye woot yourself wel how that ye cam heere
426 Into this hous, it is nat longe ago.
427 And though to me that ye be lief and deere,
428 Unto my gentils ye be no thyng so.
429 They seyn, to hem it is greet shame and wo
430 For to be subgetz, and to been in servage,
431 To thee that born art of a smal village.
432 And namely, sith thy doghter was ybore,
433 Thise wordes han they spoken, doutelees;
434 But I desire, as I have doon bifore,
435 To lyve my lyf with hem in reste and pees.
436 I may nat in this caas be recchelees,
437 I moot doon with thy doghter for the beste,
438 Nat as I wolde, but as my peple leste.
439 And yet God woot, this is ful looth to me!
440 But nathelees, withoute youre wityng
441 I wol nat doon, but this wol I, quod he,
442 That ye to me assente as in this thyng.
443 Shewe now youre pacience in youre werkyng,
444 That ye me highte and swore in youre village,
445 That day that maked was oure mariage.
446 Whan she had herd al this, she noght ameved
447 Neither in word, or chiere, or countenaunce;
448 For as it semed she was nat agreved.
449 She seyde, Lord, al lyth in youre plesaunce,
450 My child, and I, with hertely obeisaunce
451 Been youres al, and ye mowe save or spille
452 Your owene thyng, werketh after youre wille.
453 Ther may no thyng, God so my soule save,
454 Liken to yow, that may displese me,
455 Ne I ne desire no thyng for to have,
456 Ne drede for to leese save oonly yee;
457 This wyl is in myn herte, and ay shal be;
458 No lengthe of tyme or deeth may this deface,
459 Ne chaunge my corage to another place.
460 Glad was this markys of hir answeryng,
461 But yet he feyned as he were nat so.
462 Al drery was his cheere and his lookyng,
463 Whan that he sholde out of the chambre go.
464 Soone after this, a furlong wey or two,
465 He prively hath toold al his entente
466 Unto a man, and to his wyf hym sente.
467 A maner sergeant was this privee man,
468 The which that feithful ofte he founden hadde
469 In thynges grete, and eek swich folk wel kan
470 Doon execucioun on thynges badde.
471 The lord knew wel that he hym loved and dradde;-
472 And whan this sergeant wiste the lordes wille,
473 Into the chambre he stalked hym ful stille.
474 Madame, he seyde, ye moote foryeve it me
475 Though I do thyng to which I am constreyned,
476 Ye been so wys, that ful wel knowe ye
477 That lordes heestes mowe nat been yfeyned,
478 They mowe wel been biwailled and compleyned,
479 But men moote nede unto hir lust obeye;
480 And so wol I, ther is namoore to seye.
481 This child I am comanded for to take.
482 And spak namoore, but out the child he hente
483 Despitously, and gan a cheere make
484 As though he wolde han slayn it er he wente.
485 Grisildis moot al suffren and consente,
486 And as a lamb she sitteth meke and stille,
487 And leet this crueel sergeant doon his wille.
488 Suspecious was the diffame of this man,
489 Suspect his face, suspect his word also,
490 Suspect the tyme in which he this bigan.
491 Allas, hir doghter that she loved so!
492 She wende he wolde han slawen it right tho;
493 But nathelees she neither weep ne syked,
494 Consentynge hir to that the markys lyked.
495 But atte laste speken she bigan,
496 And mekely she to the sergeant preyde,
497 So as he was a worthy gentil man,
498 That she moste kisse hire child, er that it deyde,
499 And in hir barm this litel child she leyde,
500 With ful sad face, and gan the child to kisse,
501 And lulled it, and after gan it blisse.
502 And thus she seyde in hir benigne voys,
503 Fareweel, my child, I shal thee nevere see,
504 But sith I thee have marked with the croys
505 Of thilke fader blessed moote thou be,
506 That for us deyde upon a croys of tree.
507 Thy soule, litel child, I hym bitake,
508 For this nyght shaltow dyen for my sake.
509 I trowe, that to a norice in this cas
510 It had been hard this reuthe for to se;
511 Wel myghte a mooder thanne han cryd `allas!'
512 But nathelees so sad and stidefast was she,
513 That she endured al adversitee,
514 And to the sergeant mekely she sayde,
515 Have heer agayn your litel yonge mayde.
516 Gooth now, quod she, and dooth my lordes heeste;
517 But o thyng wol I prey yow of youre grace,
518 That, but my lord forbad yow atte leeste,
519 Burieth this litel body in son place
520 That beestes ne no briddes it torace.
521 But he no word wol to that purpos seye,
522 But took the child, and wente upon his weye.
523 This sergeant cam unto his lord ageyn,
524 And of Grisildis wordes and hir cheere
525 He tolde hym point for point, in short and pleyn,
526 And hym presenteth with his doghter deere.
527 Somwhat this lord hath routhe in his manere,
528 But nathelees his purpos heeld he stille,
529 As lordes doon whan they wol han hir wille;
530 And bad his sergeant, that he pryvely
531 Sholde this child ful softe wynde and wrappe,
532 With alle circumstances tendrely,
533 And carie it in a cofre or in a lappe,
534 But upon peyne his heed of for to swappe
535 That no man sholde knowe of his entente,
536 Ne whenne he cam, ne whider that he wente.
537 But at Boloigne to his suster deere,
538 That thilke tyme of Panik was Countesse,
539 He sholde it take, and shewe hir this mateere,
540 Bisekynge hir to doon hir bisynesse
541 This child to fostre in alle gentillesse,
542 And whos child that it was, he bad hire hyde
543 From every wight, for oght that may bityde.
544 The sergeant gooth, and hath fulfild this thyng,
545 But to this markys now retourne we,
546 For now gooth he ful faste ymaginyng,
547 If by his wyves cheere he myghte se
548 Or by hir word aperceyve that she
549 Were chaunged, but he nevere hir koude fynde,
550 But evere in oon ylike sad and kynde.
551 As glad, as humble, as bisy in servyse,
552 And eek in love, as she was wont to be,
553 Was she to hym in every maner wyse,
554 Ne of hir doghter noght a word spak she.
555 Noon accident for noon adversitee
556 Was seyn in hir, ne nevere hir doghter name
557 Ne nempned she, in ernest nor in game.
Part 4
560 In this estaat ther passed been foure yeer
561 Er she with childe was; but as God wolde,
562 A knave child she bar by this Walter,
563 Ful gracious and fair for to biholde.
564 And whan that folk it to his fader tolde,
565 Nat oonly he, but al his contree, merye
566 Was for this child, and God they thanke and herye.
567 Whan it was two yeer old, and fro the brest
568 Departed of his norice, on a day
569 This markys caughte yet another lest
570 To tempte his wyf yet ofter if he may.
571 O, nedelees was she tempted in assay!
572 But wedded men ne knowe no mesure,
573 Whan that they fynde a pacient creature.
574 Wyf, quod this markys, ye han herd er this
575 My peple sikly berth oure mariage;
576 And namely sith my sone yboren is,
577 Now is it worse than evere in al oure age.
578 The murmure sleeth myn herte and my corage,
579 For to myne eres comth the voys so smeerte,
580 That it wel ny destroyed hath myn herte.
581 Now sey they thus, `whan Walter is agon,
582 Thanne shal the blood of Janicle succede,
583 And been oure lord, for oother have we noon.'
584 Swiche wordes seith my peple, out of drede,
585 Wel oughte I of swich murmur taken heede,
586 For certeinly I drede swich sentence,
587 Though they nat pleyn speke in myn audience.
588 I wolde lyve in pees, if that I myghte;
589 Wherfore I am disposed outrely
590 As I his suster servede by nyghte,
591 Right so thenke I to serve hym pryvely.
592 This warne I yow, that ye nat sodeynly
593 Out of yourself for no wo sholde outreye.
594 Beth pacient, and therof I yow preye.
595 I have, quod she, seyd thus, and evere shal,
596 I wol no thyng, ne nyl no thyng, certayn,
597 But as yow list, naught greveth me at al
598 Though that my doughter and my sone be slayn-
599 At youre comandement, this is to sayn-
600 I have noght had no part of children tweyne
601 But first siknesse, and after wo and peyne.
602 Ye been oure lord, dooth with your owene thyng
603 Right as yow list, axeth no reed at me;
604 For as I lefte at hoom al my clothyng,
605 Whan I first cam to yow, right so, quod she,
606 Lefte I my wyl and al my libertee,
607 And took youre clothyng, wherfore I yow preye,
608 Dooth youre plesaunce; I wol youre lust obeye.
609 And certes, if I hadde prescience
610 Youre wyl to knowe, er ye youre lust me tolde,
611 I wolde it doon withouten necligence.
612 But now I woot your lust and what ye wolde,
613 Al your plesance ferme and stable I holde,
614 For wiste I that my deeth wolde do yow ese,
615 Right gladly wolde I dyen yow to plese.
616 Deth may noght make no comparisoun
617 Unto youre love! and whan this markys say
618 The constance of his wyf, he caste adoun
619 Hise eyen two, and wondreth that she may
620 In pacience suffre al this array;
621 And forth he goth with drery contenance,
622 But ot his herte it was ful greet plesance.
623 This ugly sergeant, in the same wyse
624 That he hir doghter caughte, right so he
625 Or worse, if men worse kan devyse,
626 Hath hent hir sone, that ful was of beautee,
627 And evere in oon so pacient was she,
628 That she no chiere maade of hevynesse,
629 But kiste hir sone, and after gan it blesse.
630 Save this, she preyde hym, that if he myghte,
631 Hir litel sone he wolde in erthe grave
632 His tendre lymes, delicaat to sighte,
633 Fro foweles and fro beestes for to save.
634 But she noon answere of hym myghte have,
635 He wente his wey, as hym nothyng ne roghte,
636 But to Boloigne he tendrely it broghte.
637 This markys wondred evere lenger the moore
638 Upon hir pacience, and if that he
639 Ne hadde soothly knowen therbifoore
640 That parfitly hir children loved she,
641 He wolde have wend that of som subtiltee,
642 And of malice, or for crueel corage,
643 That she hadde suffred this with sad visage.
644 But wel he knew that next hymself, certayn,
645 She loved hir children best in every wyse;
646 But now of wommen wolde I axen fayn,
647 If thise assayes myghte nat suffise,
648 What koude a sturdy housbonde moore devyse
649 To preeve hire wyfhod or hir stedefastnesse,
650 And he continuynge evere in sturdinesse?
651 But ther been folk of swich condicioun,
652 That whan they have a certein purpos take
653 They kan nat stynte of hir entencioun,
654 But right as they were bounden to that stake
655 They wol nat of that firste purpos slake.
656 Right so this markys fulliche hath purposed
657 To tempte his wyf, as he was first disposed.
658 He waiteth, if by word or contenance
659 That she to hym was changed of corage;
660 But nevere koude he fynde variance,
661 She was ay oon in herte and in visage.
662 And ay the forther that she was in age,
663 The moore trewe-if that it were possible-
664 She was to hym in love, and moore penyble.
665 For which it semed thus, that of hem two
666 Ther nas but o wyl; for, as Walter leste,
667 The same lust was hir plesance also,
668 And, God be thanked, al fil for the beste.
669 She shewed wel, for no worldly unreste
670 A wyf as of hirself no thing ne sholde
671 Wille in effect, but as hir housbonde wolde.
672 The sclaundre of Walter ofte and wyde spradde,
673 That of a crueel herte he wikkedly,
674 For he a povre womman wedded hadde,
675 Hath mordred bothe his children prively.-
676 Swich murmure was among hem comunly;
677 No wonder is, for to the peples ere
678 Ther cam no word, but that they mordred were.
679 For which, wher as his peple therbifore
680 Hadde loved hym wel, the sclaundre of his diffame
681 Made hem, that they hym hatede therfore.
682 To been a mordrere is an hateful name;
683 But nathelees, for ernest ne for game
684 He of his crueel purpos nolde stente:
685 To tempte his wyf was set al his entente.
686 Whan that his doghter twelf yeer was of age,
687 He to the court of Rome in subtil wyse
688 Enformed of his wyl sente his message,
689 Comaundynge hem swiche bulles to devyse
690 As to his crueel purpos may suffyse,
691 How that the pope as for his peples reste
692 Bad hym to wedde another, if hym leste.
693 I seye, he bad they sholde countrefete
694 The popes bulles, makynge mencioun
695 That he hath leve his firste wyf to lete
696 As by the popes dispensacioun,
697 To stynte rancour and dissencioun
698 Bitwixe his peple and hym, thus seyde the bulle,
699 The which they han publiced atte fulle.
700 The rude peple, as it no wonder is,
701 Wenden ful wel that it hadde be right so;
702 But whan thise tidynges cam to Grisildis,
703 I deeme that hir herte was ful wo.
704 But she, ylike sad for everemo,
705 Disposed was, this humble creature,
706 The adversitee of Fortune al tendure,
707 Abidynge evere his lust and his plesance
708 To whom that she was yeven, herte and al,
709 As to hir verray worldly suffisance.
710 But shortly, if this storie I tellen shal,
711 This markys writen hath in special
712 A lettre, in which he sheweth his entente,
713 And secreely he to Boloigne it sente;
714 To the Erl of Panyk, which that hadde tho
715 Wedded his suster, preyde he specially
716 To bryngen hoom agayn hise children two,
717 In honurable estaat al openly;
718 But o thyng he hym preyede outrely,
719 That he to no wight, though men wolde enquere,
720 Sholde nat telle whos children that they were,
721 But seye, the mayden sholde ywedded be
722 Unto the Markys of Saluce anon.
723 And as this Erl was preyed, so dide he;
724 For at day set he on his wey is goon
725 Toward Saluce, and lordes many oon,
726 In riche array this mayden for to gyde,
727 Hir yonge brother ridynge hir bisyde.
728 Arrayed was toward hir mariage
729 This fresshe mayde, ful of gemmes cleere;
730 Hir brother, which that seven yeer was of age,
731 Arrayed eek ful fressh in his manere.
732 And thus in greet noblesse, and with glad cheere,
733 Toward Saluces shapynge hir journey,
734 Fro day to day they ryden in hir wey.
Part 5
737 Among al this, after his wikke usage,
738 This markys yet his wyf to tempte moore
739 To the outtreste preeve of hir corage,
740 Fully to han experience and loore,
741 If that she were as stidefast as bifoore,
742 He on a day in open audience
743 Ful boistously hath seyd hir this sentence.
744 Certes, Grisilde, I hadde ynogh plesance,
745 To han yow to my wyf for your goodnesse,
746 As for youre trouthe, and for your obeisance-
747 Noght for youre lynage, ne for youre richesse;
748 But now knowe I, in verray soothfastnesse,
749 That in greet lordshipe, if I wel avyse,
750 Ther is greet servitute in sondry wyse.
751 I may nat doon as every plowman may;
752 My peple me constreyneth for to take
753 Another wyf, and crien day by day,
754 And eek the pope, rancour for to slake,
755 Consenteth it, that dar I undertake-
756 And treweliche thus muche I wol yow seye,
757 My newe wyf is comynge by the weye.
758 Be strong of herte, and voyde anon hir place,
759 And thilke dower that ye broghten me
760 Taak it agayn, I graunte it of my grace.
761 Retourneth to youre fadres hous, quod he;
762 No man may alwey han prosperitee.
763 With evene herte I rede yow t'endure
764 This strook of Fortune or of aventure.
765 And she answerde agayn in pacience,
766 My lord, quod she, I woot and wiste alway
767 How that bitwixen youre magnificence
768 And my poverte, no wight kan ne may
769 Maken comparisoun, it is no nay.
770 I ne heeld me nevere digne in no manere
771 To be your wyf, no, ne youre chamberere.
772 And in this hous ther ye me lady maade,
773 The heighe God take I for my witnesse,
774 And also wysly he my soule glaade,
775 I nevere heeld me lady ne maistresse,
776 But humble servant to youre worthynesse,
777 And evere shal whil that my lyf may dure
778 Aboven every worldly creature.
779 That ye so longe of youre benignitee
780 Han holden me in honour and nobleye,
781 Wher as I was noght worthy for to bee,
782 That thonke I God and yow, to whom I preye
783 Foryelde it yow; ther is namoore to seye.
784 Unto my fader gladly wol I wende,
785 And with hym dwelle unto my lyves ende.
786 Ther I was fostred of a child ful smal,
787 Til I be deed, my lyf ther wol I lede,
788 A wydwe clene in body, herte, and al,
789 For sith I yaf to yow my maydenhede
790 And am youre trewe wyf, it is no drede,
791 God shilde swich a lordes wyf to take
792 Another man, to housbonde or to make!
793 And of youre newe wyf, God of his grace
794 So graunte yow wele and prosperitee,
795 For I wol gladly yelden hir my place
796 In which that I was blisful wont to bee.
797 For sith it liketh yow my lord, quod shee,
798 That whilom weren al myn hertes reste,
799 That I shal goon, I wol goon whan yow leste.
800 But ther as ye me profre swich dowaire
801 As I first broghte, it is wel in my mynde
802 It were my wrecched clothes, no thyng faire,
803 The whiche to me were hard now for to fynde.
804 O goode God! how gentil and how kynde
805 Ye semed by youre speche and youre visage
806 The day that maked was oure mariage!
807 But sooth is seyd, algate I fynde it trewe,
808 (For in effect it preeved is on me)
809 Love is noght oold, as whan that it is newe,
810 But certes, lord, for noon adversitee,
811 To dyen in the cas it shal nat bee
812 That evere in word or werk I shal repente
813 That I yow yaf myn herte in hool entente.
814 My lord, ye woot that in my fadres place
815 Ye dide me streepe out of my povre weede,
816 And richely me cladden of youre grace.
817 To yow broghte I noght elles, out of drede,
818 But feith, and nakednesse, and maydenhede.
819 And heere agayn my clothyng I restoore,
820 And eek my weddyng ryng for everemo.
821 The remenant of youre jueles redy be
822 In-with youre chambre, dar I saufly sayn.
823 Naked out of my fadres hous, quod she,
824 I cam, and naked moot I turne agayn.
825 Al your plesance wol I folwen fayn,
826 But yet I hope it be nat your entente
827 That I smoklees out of your paleys wente.
828 Ye koude nat doon so dishoneste a thyng,
829 That thilke wombe in which your children leye,
830 Sholde biforn the peple in my walkyng
831 Be seyn al bare; wherfore I yow preye,
832 Lat me nat lyk a worm go by the weye!
833 Remembre yow, myn owene lord so deere,
834 I was your wyf, though I unworthy weere.
835 Wherfore, in gerdoun of my maydenhede
836 Which that I broghte, and noght agayn I bere,
837 As voucheth sauf to yeve me to my meede
838 But swich a smok as I was wont to were,
839 That I therwith may wrye the wombe of here
840 That was your wyf, and heer take I my leeve
841 Of yow, myn owene lord, lest I yow greve.
842 The smok, quod he, that thou hast on thy bak,
843 Lat it be stille, and bere it forth with thee.
844 But wel unnethes thilke word he spak,
845 But wente his wey for routhe and for pitee.
846 Biforn the folk hirselven strepeth she,
847 And in hir smok, with heed and foot al bare,
848 Toward hir fader hous forth is she fare.
849 The folk hir folwe, wepynge in hir weye,
850 And Fortune ay they cursen, as they goon.
851 But she fro wepyng kepte hir eyen dreye,
852 Ne in this tyme word ne spak she noon.
853 Hir fader, that this tidynge herde anoon,
854 Curseth the day and tyme that nature
855 Shoop hym to been a lyves creature.
856 For out of doute this olde povre man
857 Was evere in suspect of hir mariage,
858 For evere he demed, sith that it bigan,
859 That whan the lord fulfild hadde his corage,
860 Hym wolde thynke it were a disparage
861 To his estaat, so lowe for t'alighte,
862 And voyden hir as soone as ever he myghte.
863 Agayns his doghter hastiliche goth he,
864 For he by noyse of folk knew hir comynge,
865 And with hir olde coote, as it myghte be,
866 He covered hir, ful sorwefully wepynge,
867 But on hir body myghte he it nat brynge.
868 For rude was the clooth, and moore of age
869 By dayes fele, than at hir mariage.
870 Thus with hir fader for a certeyn space
871 Dwelleth this flour of wyfly pacience,
872 That neither by hir wordes ne hir face,
873 Biforn the folk ne eek in hir absence,
874 Ne shewed she that hir was doon offence,
875 Ne of hir heighe estaat no remembraunce
876 Ne hadde she, as by hir contenaunce.
877 No wonder is, for in hir grete estaat
878 Hir goost was evere in pleyn humylitee.
879 No tendre mouth, noon herte delicaat,
880 No pompe, no semblant of roialtee,
881 But ful of pacient benyngnytee,
882 Discreet and pridelees, ay honurable,
883 And to hir housbonde evere meke and stable.
884 Men speke of Job, and moost for his humblesse,
885 As clerkes whan hem list konne wel endite,
886 Namely of men; but as in soothfastnesse,
887 Though clerkes preise wommen but a lite,
888 Ther kan no man in humblesse hym acquite,
889 As womman kan, ne kan been half so trewe
890 As wommen been, but it be falle of newe.
Part 6
892 Fro Boloigne is this Erl of Panyk come,
893 Of which the fame up sprang to moore and lesse,
894 And in the peples eres, alle and some,
895 Was kouth eek that a newe markysesse
896 He with hym broghte, in swich pompe and richesse,
897 That nevere was ther seyn with mannes eye
898 So noble array in al Westlumbardye.
899 The markys, which that shoop and knew al this,
900 Er that thise Erl was come, sente his message
901 For thilke sely povre Grisildis;
902 And she with humble herte and glad visage,
903 Nat with no swollen thoght in hire corage
904 Cam at his heste, and on hir knees hire sette,
905 And reverently and wysely she hym grette.
906 Grisilde, quod he, my wyl is outrely
907 This mayden, that shal wedded been to me,
908 Received be to morwe as roially
909 As it possible is in myn hous to be;
910 And eek that every wight in his degree
911 Have hsi estaat in sittyng and servyse
912 And heigh plesaunce, as I kan best devyse.
913 I have no wommen, suffisaunt, certayn,
914 The chambres for tarraye in ordinaunce
915 After my lust, and therfore wolde I fayn
916 That thyn were al swich manere governaunce;
917 Thou knowest eek of olde al my plesaunce,
918 Thogh thyn array be badde and yvel biseye,
919 Do thou thy devoir at the leeste weye.
920 Nat oonly lord, that I am glad, quod she,
921 To doon your lust, but I desire also
922 Yow for to serve and plese in my degree
923 Withouten feyntyng, and shal everemo.
924 Ne nevere, for no wele ne no wo,
925 Ne shal the goost withinne myn herte stente
926 To love yow best with al my trewe entente.
927 And with that word she gan the hous to dighte,
928 And tables for to sette, and beddes make,
929 And peyned hir to doon al that she myghte,
930 Preyynge the chambereres for Goddes sake
931 To hasten hem, and faste swepe and shake,
932 And she, the mooste servysable of alle,
933 Hath every chambre arrayed, and his halle.
934 Abouten undren gan this Erl alighte,
935 That with hym broghte thise noble children tweye,
936 For which the peple ran to seen the sighte
937 Of hir array, so richely biseye;
938 And thanne at erst amonges hem they seye,
939 That Walter was no fool, thogh that hym leste
940 To chaunge his wyf, for it was for the beste.
941 For she is fairer, as they deemen alle,
942 Than is Grisilde, and moore tendre of age,
943 And fairer fruyt bitwene hem sholde falle,
944 And moore plesant for hir heigh lynage.
945 Hir brother eek so faire was of visage,
946 That hem to seen the peple hath caught plesaunce,
947 Commendynge now the markys governaunce.
948 O stormy peple, unsad and evere untrewe!
949 Ay undiscreet and chaungynge as a vane,
950 Delitynge evere in rumbul that is newe;
951 For lyk the moone ay wexe ye and wane,
952 Ay ful of clappyng, deere ynogh a jane,
953 Youre doom is fals, youre constance yvele preeveth,
954 A ful greet fool is he that on yow leeveth!
955 Thus seyden sadde folk in that citee,
956 Whan that the peple gazed up and doun,
957 For they were glad right for the noveltee
958 To han a newe lady of hir toun.
959 Namoore of this make I now mencioun,
960 But to Grisilde agayn wol I me dresse,
961 And telle hir constance and hir bisynesse.
962 Ful bisy was Grisilde in every thyng
963 That to the feeste was apertinent.
964 Right noght was she abayst of hir clothyng,
965 Thogh it were rude and somdeel eek torent,
966 But with glad cheere to the yate is went
967 With oother folk to greete the markysesse,
968 And after that dooth forth hir bisynesse.
969 With so glad chiere hise gestes she receyveth,
970 And konnyngly everich in his degree,
971 That no defaute no man aperceyveth,
972 But ay they wondren what she myghte bee
973 That in so povre array was for to see,
974 And koude swich honour and reverence;
975 And worhtily they preisen hire prudence.
976 In al this meenewhile she ne stente
977 This mayde and eek hir brother to commende
978 With al hir herte, in ful benigne entente,
979 So wel that no man koude hir pris amende
980 But atte laste, whan that thise lordes wende
981 To sitten doun to mete, he gan to calle
982 Grisilde, as she was bisy in his halle.
983 Grisilde, quod he, as it were in his pley,
984 How liketh thee my wyf and hir beautee?
985 Right wel, quod she, my lord, for in good fey
986 A fairer saugh I nevere noon than she.
987 I prey to God yeve hir prosperitee,
988 And so hope I that he wol to yow sende
989 Plesance ynogh unto youre lyves ende.
990 O thyng biseke I yow, and warne also
991 That ye ne prikke with no tormentynge
992 This tendre mayden, as ye han doon mo;
993 For she is fostred in hir norissynge
994 Moore tendrely, and to my supposynge
995 She koude nat adversitee endure,
996 As koude a povre fostred creature.
997 And whan this Walter saugh hir pacience,
998 Hir glade chiere, and no malice at al,
999 And he so ofte had doon to hir offence
1000 And she ay sad and constant as a wal,
1001 Continuynge evere hir innocence overal,
1002 This sturdy markys gan his herte dresse
1003 To rewen upon hir wyfly stedfastnesse.
1004 This is ynogh Grisilde myn, quod he,
1005 Be now namoore agast, ne yvele apayed.
1006 I have thy feith and thy benyngnytee
1007 As wel as evere womman was, assayed
1008 In greet estaat, and povreliche arrayed;
1009 Now knowe I, goode wyf, thy stedfastnesse!
1010 And hir in armes took, and gan hir kesse.
1011 And she for wonder took of it no keep.
1012 She herde nat, what thyng he to hir seyde.
1013 She ferde as she had stert out of a sleep,
1014 Til she out of hire mazednesse abreyde.
1015 Grisilde, quod he, by God that for us deyde,
1016 Thou art my wyf, ne noon oother I have,
1017 Ne nevere hadde, as God my soule save.
1018 This is thy doghter which thou hast supposed
1019 To be my wyf; that oother feithfully
1020 Shal be myn heir, as I have ay purposed;
1021 Thou bare hym in thy body trewely.
1022 At Boloigne have I kept hem prively.
1023 Taak hem agayn, for now maystow nat seye
1024 That thou hast lorn noon of thy children tweye.
1025 And folk that ootherweys han seyd of me,
1026 I warne hem wel that I have doon this deede
1027 For no malice, ne for no crueltee,
1028 But for t'assaye in thee thy wommanheede,
1029 And not to sleen my clildren, God forbeede!
1030 But for to kepe hem pryvely and stille,
1031 Til I thy purpos knewe and al thy wille.
1032 Whan she this herde, aswowne doun she falleth
1033 For pitous joye, and after hir swownynge
1034 She bothe hir yonge children unto hir calleth,
1035 And in hir armes pitously wepynge
1036 Embraceth hem, and tendrely kissynge
1037 Ful lyk a mooder, with hir salte teeres
1038 She bathed bothe hir visage and hir heeres.
1039 O, which a pitous thyng it was to se
1040 Hir swownyng, and hir humble voys to heere!
1041 Grauntmercy, lord, that thanke I yow, quod she,
1042 That ye han saved me my children deere.
1043 Now rekke I nevere to been deed right heere.
1044 Sith I stonde in your love and in your grace,
1045 No fors of deeth, ne whan my spirit pace!
1046 O tendre, O deere, O yonge children myne!
1047 Your woful mooder wende stedfastly
1048 That crueel houndes, or som foul vermyne
1049 Hadde eten yow; but God of his mercy
1050 And youre benyngne fader tendrely
1051 Hath doon yow kept, and in that same stounde
1052 Al sodeynly she swapte adoun to grounde.
1053 And in hir swough so sadly holdeth she
1054 Hir children two, whan she gan hem tembrace,
1055 That with greet sleighte and greet difficultee
1056 The children from hir arm they gonne arace.
1057 O many a teere on many a pitous face
1058 Doun ran, of hem that stooden hir bisyde;
1059 Unnethe abouten hir myghte they abyde.
1060 Walter hir gladeth, and hir sorwe slaketh,
1061 She riseth up abaysed from hir traunce,
1062 And every wight hir joye and feeste maketh,
1063 Til she hath caught agayn hir contenaunce.
1064 Walter hir dooth so feithfully plesaunce,
1065 That it was deyntee for to seen the cheere.
1066 Bitwixe hem two, now they been met yfeere.
1067 Thise ladyes, whan that they hir tyme say,
1068 Han taken hir and into chambre gon,
1069 And strepen hir out of hir rude array
1070 And in a clooth of gold that brighte shoon,
1071 With a coroune of many a riche stoon
1072 Upon hir heed, they into halle hir broghte,
1073 And ther she was honured as hir oghte.
1074 Thus hath this pitous day a blisful ende,
1075 For every man and womman dooth his myght
1076 This day in murthe and revel to dispende,
1077 Til on the welkne shoon the sterres lyght.
1078 For moore solempne in every mannes syght
1079 This feste was, and gretter of costage,
1080 Than was the revel of hire mariage.
1081 Ful many a yeer in heigh prosperitee
1082 Lyven thise two in concord and in reste.
1083 And richely his doghter maryed he
1084 Unto a lord, oon of the worthieste
1085 Of al Ytaille, and thanne in pees and reste
1086 His wyves fader in his court he kepeth,
1087 Til that the soule out of his body crepeth.
1088 His sone succedeth in his heritage
1089 In reste and pees, after his fader day,
1090 And fortunat was eek in mariage-
1091 Al putte he nat his wyf in greet assay;
1092 This world is nat so strong, it is no nay,
1093 As it hath been of olde tymes yoore.
1094 And herkneth what this auctour seith therfore.
1095 This storie is seyd, nat for that wyves sholde
1096 Folwen Grisilde as in humylitee,
1097 For it were inportable though they wolde,
1098 But for that every wight in his degree
1099 Sholde be constant in adversitee
1100 As was Grisilde. Therfore Petrark writeth
1101 This storie, which with heigh stile he enditeth.
1102 For sith a womman was so pacient
1103 Unto a mortal man, wel moore us oghte
1104 Receyven al in gree that God us sent.
1105 For greet skile is, he preeve that he wroghte.
1106 But he ne tempteth no man that he boghte,
1107 As seith Seint Jame, if ye his pistel rede;
1108 He preeveth folk al day, it is no drede,
1109 And suffreth us, as for oure excercise,
1110 With sharpe scourges of adversitee
1111 Ful ofte to be bete in sondry wise,
1112 Nat for to knowe oure wyl, for certes he
1113 Er we were born knew al oure freletee,
1114 And for oure beste is al his governaunce.
1115 Lat us thanne lyve in vertuous suffraunce.
1116 But o word, lordynges, herkneth er I go,
1117 It were ful hard to fynde nowadayes
1118 In al a toun Grisildis thre or two,
1119 For it that they were put to swiche assayes,
1120 The gold of hem hath now so badde alayes
1121 With bras, that thogh the coyne be fair at eye,
1122 It wolde rather breste atwo than plye.
1123 For which, heere for the Wyves love of Bathe,
1124 Whos lyf and al hir seete God mayntene
1125 In heigh maistrie, and elles were it scathe,
1126 I wol with lusty herte fressh and grene
1127 Seyn yow a song, to glade yow, I wene,
1128 And lat us stynte of ernestful matere.
1129 Herkneth my song, that seith in this manere.
1131 Grisilde is deed, and eek hir pacience,
1132 And bothe atones buryed in Ytaille,
1133 For which I crie in open audience
1134 No wedded man so hardy be t'assaille
1135 His wyves pacience, in hope to fynde
1136 Grisildis, for in certein he shal faille.
1137 O noble wyves, ful of heigh prudence,
1138 Lat noon humylitee youre tonge naille,
1139 Ne lat no clerk have cause or diligence
1140 To write of yow a storie of swich mervaille
1141 As of Grisildis, pacient and kynde,
1142 Lest Chichivache yow swelwe in hire entraille.
1143 Folweth Ekko, that holdeth no silence,
1144 But evere answereth at the countretaille;
1145 Beth nat bidaffed for youre innocence,
1146 But sharply taak on yow the governaille.
1147 Emprenteth wel this lessoun in youre mynde
1148 For commune profit, sith it may availle.
1149 Ye archiwyves, stondeth at defense,
1150 Syn ye be strong as is a greet camaille.
1151 Ne suffreth nat that men yow doon offense,
1152 And sklendre wyves, fieble as in bataille,
1153 Beth egre as is a tygre yond in Ynde,
1154 Ay clappeth as a mille, I yow consaille.
1155 Ne dreed hem nat, doth hem no reverence,
1156 For though thyn housbonde armed be in maille,
1157 The arwes of thy crabbed eloquence
1158 Shal perce his brest and eek his aventaille.
1159 In jalousie I rede eek thou hym bynde,
1160 And thou shalt make hym couche as doth a quaille.
1161 If thou be fair, ther folk been in presence
1162 Shewe thou thy visage and thyn apparaille;
1163 If thou be foul, be fre of thy dispence,
1164 To gete thee freendes ay do thy travaille,
1165 Be ay of chiere as light as leef on lynde,
1166 And lat hym care, and wepe, and wryng, and waille.