The Corpus ms (Corpus Christi coll., Oxford) of Chaucer's Canterbury tales. Ed. by Frederick J. Furnivall.

[6-text p 405]

And next folwyng bigynneth his tale of Gresilde. [MS Arch. Seld. B. 14, on leaf 66]

Ther was in the weste side of ytaylle down at the rote / of Vesulus the colde a lusty playne / habundaunte of vitaylle where many a toure and towne / thow maist biholde Line 60 that founded were / in tyme of faders olde and many a-nother / dilectable sight and Saluces / this noble contre hight Line 63

A Marques whilom / was lord of that londe Line 64 as were his worthi eldres / him bifore and obeysaunte / ay redy to his honde were alle his liges / both lesse and more [MS Arch. Seld. B. 14 folio 66b] Line 67 thus in delite he lyved / and hath done yore biloued and drad / thorugh favour of fortune both of his lordis / and of his comune Line 70

¶ Therwith he was / to speken of lynage Line 71 the gentilest borne / of al Lumbardye a faire persone and strong / and yonge of age and ful of honoure / and of curtesie Line 74 discrete I-nough / his contre for to gye saue in som thingis / he was to blame and Walter was this yonge lord-is name Line 77

¶ I blame him thus / that he considred noughte Line 78 in tyme comyng / what myghte him betide but on his lust present / was al his thoughte as for to havke and hounte / on euery side Line 81 wel nygh al other cures / lete he slide and eke he nolde / and that was worst of alle wedde no wiff / for aughte that myghte bifalle Line 84

[6-text p 406] Line 84

¶ Oonly that poynt / his peple bare soore [[MS Arch. Seld. B. 14.]] that flokmele on a day / they to him wente and oon of hem / that wysest was of loore or ellis that the lord / best wolde assente Line 88 that he shulde telle him / what his peple mente or ellis coude he wel / shewe suche matire he to the Marques seide / as ye shulle hire Line 91

¶ O noble Marques / youre humanite Line 92 assurith vs / and yevith vs hardynesse as offte as tyme / is of necessite that we to yow mow telle / oure hevynesse Line 95 acceptith now lord / of youre gentilnesse that we with pitevous herte / to yow pleyne and lete not youre eeris / my voys disdeyne Line 98

¶ Al haue I nought to done / in this matire Line 99 more than a-nother man hath / in this place yit for as meche / as ye my lord / so dere haue alwey shewed to me / favoure and grace Line 102 I dar the better axe of yow / a space [MS Arch. Seld. B. 14 folio 67a] of audience / to shewe oure requeste and ye my lord / to do right as ye leste Line 105

¶ For certes lord / so wel vs likith yow Line 106 and al youre werke / and haue done that we] [[Arch. Seld. B. 14 extract ends]] Ne coude nought vs self deuysen how [Corpus MS] [folio 130a] We mighte lyue in more felicite Line 109 Saue o þing lord if it ȝour wille be That for to be a wedded man ȝou leste þen were ȝoure peple in souereyn hertes reste [[No breaks in the Corpus MS between the stanzas.]] Line 112

Boweþ ȝoure nekke vnder þat blisful ȝok Line 113 Of souerainte and nought of seruise Which þat men clepe spousaile or wedlok And þenkeþ lord amonges ȝoure þoughtes wise Line 116

[6-text p 407] Line 116 [how that oure dayes pas / in sondre gise] [[Arch. Seld. B. 14.]] ffor þough we slepe or wake or renne or ryde Ay fleeþ þe tyme and wol noman abyde Line 119

And þough ȝoure greene þoughtes floure as ȝit Line 120 In crepeþ age alway as stille as stoon And deth manaceþ euery age and smyt In ech astat for þer askapeþ noon Line 123 And also certein as we knowe echoon þat we schulle deye as vncertein we alle Ben of þat day þat deþ schal on vs falle Line 126

¶ Accepteþ þanne of vs þe trewe entent Line 127 þat neuere ȝit ne refused ȝour heste And we lord if þat ȝe wile assent To chese ȝou a wijf in schort tyme atte leste Line 130 Borne of þe gentilest and of þe meste Of alle þis lond so þat it oughte seme honour to god and ȝou as we can deme Line 133

¶ Delyuer vs out of al þis busy dede Line 134 And tak a wijf for hihe goddes sake ffor if it so bifelle as god forbede þat þorugh ȝoure deþ ȝour lynage schulde slake Line 137 And þat a straunge successour schulde take ȝoure heritage. o wo were vs on lyue wherfore we pray ȝow hastily to wyue Line 140

¶ here meke preyer and here pitous cherte Line 141 Made þe marquys herte haue pite [ye wol quod he / myn owne peple dere] [[Arch. Seld. B. 14.]] To þat I neuer erst þouȝte streyne me Line 144 I me reioysed of my liberte That selden tyme is founden mariage [folio 130b] Ther I was free I moste be in seruage Line 147

[6-text p 408] Line 147

¶ But naþeles I se ȝour trewe entente Line 148 And truste vpon ȝour witte and haue don ay Wherfore with al my fre wille I wil assente To wedde me as sone as euer I may Line 151 But þer as ȝe han profred me to day To chese me a wijf I ȝou relesse þat choys and pray ȝou of ȝoure profre cesse Line 154

¶ ffor I wot þat children often ben Line 155 vnlike here eldres hem byfore Bounte comþ al of god not of þe stren Of which þei beþ engendred and y-bore Line 158 I truste in goddes bounte and þerfore my mariage and myn astat and reste I him bitake he may do as him leste Line 161

¶ lat me alone in chesyng of my wijf Line 162 But I ȝou pray and charge vpon ȝour lijf That charge vpon my bak I wil endure þat what wijf I take I þe assure Line 165 To worschipe hire whil þat hire lijf may dure In word in werk boþe heere and euerywhere As sche an Emperoures doughter were Line 168

¶ And forþermore þis schal ȝe swere þat ȝe Line 169 Aȝein my choys schulle neuer grucche ne stryue ffor siþþe I schal forgo my liberte At ȝoure request as euer mote I þriue Line 172 [there as myn herte is sett / there woll I wyve] [[Arch. Seld. B. 14.]] And but ȝe wol assente in such manere I pray ȝou speke nomore of þis matiere Line 175

¶ Wiþ hertly wil þey sweren and assenten Line 176 To al þis þing þer seyde no wight nay Beseking him of grace or þat þei wenten þat he wolde graunten hem a certein day Line 179

[6-text p 409] Line 179 Of his spousaile as sone as euer he may ffor ȝet alway þe poeple somwhat dredde lest þat þis marquys no wijf wolde wedde Line 182

He graunted hem a day such as him leste [folio 131a] Line 183 On which he wolde be wedded sikerly And sayde he dide al þis at þair requeste And þay wiþ humble entent ful buxomly Line 186 knelyng vpon here knees ful reuerently him þonkyng alle and þus þay haue an ende Of here entent and home aȝein þei wende Line 189

And her vpon he to his officers Line 190 Comandeþ for þe feste to purveye And to his priue knightes and squyers Such charge ȝaf as him list on hem leye Line 193 And þay to his comaundement obeye And ech of hem doþ al his diligence To do vnto þe feste reuerence Line 196

[PART II.]

¶ Prima pars

NOught fer fro þe paleys honurable Line 197 Wher as þe marquys schop his mariage Ther stood a throop of þe Cite delitable In which þat pore folk of þat village Line 200 hadden here bestes and here herbergage And of here labour toke here sustienance After þe erþe ȝaf hem abundance Line 203

Among þis pore folk þer dwelled a man Line 204 Which was holde pouerest of hem alle But heihe god sum tyme sende can his grace in to a litel oxe stalle Line 207 Ianicula men of þat throop him calle A doughter hadde he fair ynough to sight ¶ And Grisildis þis ȝonge mayden highte Line 210

[6-text p 410] Line 210

But for to speke of verteuous beaute Line 211 þanne was sche on þe fairest vnder sonne fful pouerely y-fostered was sche No likerous lust was in hire herte ronne Line 214 Wel oftere of þe welle þan of þe tonne Sche drank for sche wolde vertues plese Sche knew wel labour but non ydel ese Line 217

¶ But þough þis mayden tendre were of age Line 218 ȝet in þe brest of hire virginite [folio 131b] Ther was y-closed rype and scharpe corage And in a gret reuerence and charite Line 221 hire olde pouere fader fostred sche A fewe scheep spynnyng on feld sche kepte Sche nolde not ben ydel til þat sche slepte Line 224

And whan sche com homward sche wolde bringe Line 225 Wortes or oþer herbes tymes ofte The which sche schredde and seth for hir lyuynge And made hir bed ful harde and no þing softe / Line 228 And ay sche kepte hir faderes lif on lofte Wiþ euery obeissance and diligence That childe may do to faderes reuerence / Line 231

¶ vpon Grisilde þe pouer creature Line 232 fful ofte siþe þe marquys sette his ye As he on huntyng rood perauenture And whan it fell þat he might hir aspye Line 235 he not wiþ wantoun lokyng of folye his eyen caste on hire but in sad wyse vpon hir cheere he wolde him ofte auyse Line 238

¶ Commendyng in his herte hir wommanhede Line 239 And eek hire vertu passyng any wight Of so ȝong age as wel in cheere as in dede ffor þough þe poeple haue no gret insight Line 242

[6-text p 411] Line 242 In vertu he considerd ful right hir bounte and disposed þat he wolde Wedde hir oonly if euer he wedde scholde Line 245

The day of weddyng com but no wight can Line 246 Telle what womman þat it schulde be ffor which meruayle wondreþ many man And seyde whan þey were in pryuyte Line 249 Wil nat oure lord ȝit leue his vanite Wil he nat wedde allas allas þe while Why wol he þus himself and vs begile Line 252

But naþeles þis marquys haþ don make Line 253 Of gemmes sette in golde and in asure Broches and rynges for Grisildes sake [folio 132a] And of hire cloþing tok he þe mesure Line 256 Of a mayden like to hire stature And eek of oþer ornamentes alle That vnto such a weddyng schulde falle Line 259

¶ þe tyme of vnderne of þe same day Line 260 Approcheþ þat þis weddyng schulde be And al þe paleys but was in aray Boþe halle and chambre eche in his degre Line 263 houses of offices stuffed wiþ plente Ther maystow se of deynteuous vitayle That may be founde as feer as last ytayle Line 266

¶ This real marquys richely arrayed Line 267 lordes and ladyes in his companye The which vnto þe feste were prayed And of his retenue þe bachelrie Line 270 With many a soun of sondry melodye vnto þe vilage of which I tolde In þis array þe righte wey haþ holde Line 273

[6-text p 412] Line 273

¶ Grisilde of þis god wot ful Innocent Line 274 þat for hire schapen al þis array was To fecche water at a welle is wente And comeþ home as sone as euer sche may Line 277 ffor wel sche hadde herd seyde þat ilke day That marquys schulde wedde and if sche might Sche wolde fayn han seyn some of þat sight Line 280

¶ Sche þought I wille wiþ oþre maydens stonde Line 281 þat ben my felawes in oure dore and se The marquisesse and þerfore wol I fonde To do at home as sone as it may be Line 284 þe labour which þat longeþ vnto me And þanne I may at leysyr hire by-holde If sche þis wey vnto þe castel holde Line 287

¶ And as sche wolde ouer hire þresshfold gon Line 288 The marquys cam and gan hir for to calle And sche sette doun hir water potte anon· Bysyde þis þresshfolde of þis oxe stalle [folio 132b] Line 291 And doun vpon hir knees sche gan to falle Wiþ sad contynance and kneleþ stille Til sche had herd what was þe lordes wille Line 294

þis þoughtful marquys spak vnto þis mayde Line 295 fful soberly and seyde in þis manere Wher is ȝour fader Grisildis he sayde And sche wiþ reuerence in humble chere Line 298 Answerde lord he is al redy heere And in sche goþ wiþoute lenger lette And to þe marquys hir fader sche fette Line 301

¶ he by þe hond þan took þis olde man/ Line 302 And sayde þus whan he him hadde a syde Ianycala I neyþer may ne can lengere þe plesaunce of myn herte hyde Line 305

[6-text p 413] Line 305 If þat þou vouche saff what so betyde þy doughter I wol take or þat I wende As for my wijf vnto hire lyues ende Line 308

¶ þou louest me I wot it wel certain Line 309 And art my feiþful liege man y-bore And al þat likeþ me I dar wel sayn It likeþ þe and specialliche þerfore Line 312 Telle me þat poynt as I haue sayd bifore If þat þou wilt vnto þat purpos drawe To take me as for þi sone in lawe Line 315

¶ The sodeyn cas þe man astoned so Line 316 þat reed he wax abayst and al quakynge he stood vnneþe he sayde worde no mo But only þus lord quod he my willynge Line 319 Is as ȝe wille nought aȝeins ȝour likynge I wole noþing ȝe be my lord so dere But as ȝou luste gouerneþ þis matiere Line 322

¶ ȝit wol I quod þis marquys softely Line 323 þat in þi chambre I and þou and sche. haue a collacion and wostow why ffor I wil axe if þat hire wille be Line 326 To be my wijf and reule hire after me [folio 133a] And al þis schal be doon in þi presence I wol not speke out of þin audience Line 329

¶ And in here chambre whil þay were aboute Line 330 here tretees which þat ȝe schul after heere þe poeple cam in to þe hous wiþoute And wondred hem in hor honeste manere Line 333 And tentyfly sche kepte hir fader deere But outerly Grysildis wondre might ffor neuer erst ne saugh sche such a sight Line 336

[6-text p 414] Line 336

¶ No wonder is þouȝ þat sche were astoned Line 337 To se so gret a geste in þat place Sche neuer was to suche gestes woned ffor which sche loked wiþ ful pale face Line 340 But schortly forþ þis mater for to chace This aren þe wordes þat þe marquys sayde To his benigne verray feyþful mayde Line 343

¶ Grisilde he seyde ȝe schule wel vnderstonde Line 344 It likeþ to ȝoure fader and to me That I ȝou wedde and eek it may so stonde As I suppose ȝe wil þat it so be Line 347 But þese demaundes ax I first quod he ¶ þat siþþen it schal be don in hasty wise Wille ȝe assente or elles ȝou auyse Line 350

I seye þis be redy wiþ good herte Line 351 To al my lust and þat I frely may As me best þinkeþ do ȝou knowe or smerte And neuer þe to grucche it night ne day Line 354 And eek whan I say ȝe ne say not nay Neiþer by word ne by frounyng contynance Swere þis and heer I swere oure alliance Line 357

¶ Weddyng vpon þis word quakyng for drede Line 358 Sche sayde lord vndigne or vnworþy Am I to þat ilke honour þat ȝe me bede But as ȝe wille ȝoure self right so wol I Line 361 And here I swere þat neuer willyngly In werk ne þought I nyl ȝou disobeye [folio 133b] ffor to be deed þough me were loþ to deye Line 364

¶ This is ynough Grisylde myn quod he Line 365 And forþ he goþ wiþ a ful sobre cheere Out at þe dore and after þat cam sche And to þe poeple he sayde in þis manere Line 368

[6-text p 415] Line 368 þis is my wyf quod he þat stondeþ heere honoureþ hire and loueþ eek I preye Who so me loueþ þer is no more to seye Line 371

And for þat noþing of hir olde gere Line 372 Sche scholde bringe in to his hous he bad That wommen schulde dispoylen hire right þere Of which þis ladyes were noþing glad Line 375 To handle hire cloþes wher Inne sche was clad But naþeles þis mayden bright of hewe ffro foot to heed þey cloþed han al newe Line 378

¶ hire heres han þey kempte þat layn vntressed Line 379 fful rudely and wiþ hire fyngres smale þay tyred hire heed þat longe rudely lay dressed Of hire array what schulde I make a tale Line 382 Sche is now fair of hew þat arst was pale vnneþe þe poeple hir knew for hir fairnesse Whan sche transmewed was in such richesse Line 385

¶ This marquys haþ hir wedded wiþ a ryng Line 386 Brouȝt for þe same cause and hire sette vpon an hors snow whyt and wel amblyng And to þe paleys or he lenger lette Line 389 Wiþ ioyful poeple þat hire ladde and mette Conueyed hire and þus þe day þay spende In reuel til þe sonne gan descende Line 392

¶ And schortly forþ þis tale for to chace Line 393 I seye þat to þis newe marquysesse God haþ such fauour sent hire of his grace That it ne semed nought be kykenesse Line 396 That sche was born and fedde in iudenesse As in a cote or in an Oxe stalle/ But norisshed in an emperoures halle [folio 134a] Line 399

[6-text p 416] Line 399

¶ To euery wight sche woxen is so deere Line 400 And worschipful þat folk þer sche was bore And from hire burþe knewe hire þere by ȝeere vnneþe trowede þey but durst han swore Line 403 þat to Ianicle of which I spak byfore Sche doughter nas for as by coueiture hem þoughte sche was anoþer creature Line 406

¶ ffor þough euere vertuous was sche Line 407 Sche was encressed in such excellence Of þewes good y-sette in heih bounte And so discrete and fair of eloquence So benigne and digne of reuerence And coude so þe poeples herte embrace þat ech hir loueþ þat lokeþ on hir face Line 413

¶ Not only of salues in þe toun Line 414 Pirplissched was þe bounte of hir name But eek besyde in many a region If on sayde wel anoþer sayde þe same Line 417 So spredeþ of hire heih bounte & fame That men and wommen als wel ȝonge as olde Gon to salice vpon hir to byholde Line 420

¶ Thus Walter lowly nat but really Line 421 Wedded wiþ fortunate honeste In goddes pees lyueþ ful esily At hom and outward grace ynough hadde he Line 424 And for he saugh þat vnder lough degre Was ofte vertu hyd þe poeple him helde A prudent man and þat is seyn ful seelde Line 427

¶ Nat oonly þis Grisildis þurgh hir witte Line 428 Coude al þe fait of wyfly homlynesse But eke whan þat þe cas requyred it The comun profyt coude sche redresse Line 431

[6-text p 417] Line 431 þer nas discorde rancour ne heuynesse In al þat lond þat sche couþe appese And wisly bringe hem alle in hertes eese Line 434

¶ Though þat hire housbonde absent were anon [folio 134b] If gentil men or oþer of hire countre / Were wroþe sche wolde bringen hem at on So wys and rype wordes hadde sche / Line 438 And Iuggements of so gret equite þat sche from heuen sent was as men wende þe poeple to plese and euery wrong to amende Line 441

¶ Nat long tyme after þat þis Grisilde Line 442 Was wedded sche a douȝter haþ y-bore Al hadde hir leuer haue born a knaue childe Glad was þis marquys and his folk þerfore Line 445 ffor þough a mayden childe come al bifore Sche may vnto a knaue child atteyne Be lykened siþþe sche is not bareyne Line 448

¶ Explicit ij^a pars.

Ther felle as it bifalleþ tymes mo Line 449 When þat þis childe had souked but a þrowe This marquys in his herte longeþ so To tempte his wyf hir sadnesse for to knowe Line 452 þat he ne might out of his herte þrowe ¶ This merueylous desir his wijf to assaye Needeles god wot he þought hir to affraye Line 455

he hadde assayed hire ynough bifore Line 456 And fond hir euer good what needed it hire for to tempte and alway more and more But as for me I seye þat euele it sitte Line 459 þough some men it preyse for a subtil witte To assaye a wijf whan þat it is no neede And putten hire in anguissche and in dreede Line 462

[6-text p 418] Line 462

¶ ffor which þis marquys wrought in þis manere Line 463 he com a night allone þer as sche lay Wiþ sterne fate and wiþ trouble cheere And seyde þus Grisilde quod he þat day Line 466 þat I ȝou took out of ȝoure pore aray And putte ȝou in astat of heye noblesse ȝe haue nouȝt forgeten as I gesse Line 469

¶ I seye Grisilde þis present dignite Line 470 In which I haue putte ȝow as I trowe [folio 135a] makeþ ȝou nouȝt forȝeteful for to be þat I ȝou took in pouer astate ful lowe Line 473 ffor eny wele ȝe mote ȝoure selue knowe Tak heed of euery word þat I ȝou say þer nys no wight þat heereþ it but we tway Line 476

¶ ȝe wote ȝoure selue wel how þat ȝe come here Line 477 In to þis hous þat nys nat longe ago And þough to me ȝe be right leeue and deere vnto my gentiles ȝe ben noþing so Line 480 þey say to hem it is gret schame and wo ffor to be sogette and ben in seruage To þe þat art born of a smal vilage Line 483

¶ And namely siþþe þy douȝter was y-bore Line 484 This wordes han þey spoke douteles But I desire as I haue don byfore To lyue my lyf wiþ hem in reste and pees Line 487 I may not in þis cas be recheles I mot do wiþ þi douȝter for þe beste Nouȝt as I wolde but as my gentils leste Line 490

¶ And ȝit god wot þis is ful loþ to me Line 491 But naþeles wiþouten ȝour wetynge I wil nat do but þis wil I quod he That ȝe to me assent/ as in þis þinge Line 494

[6-text p 419] Line 494 Schewe now ȝour pacience as in werkynge þat ȝe me hight and swor in ȝour village That day þat maked was our mariage Line 497

¶ Whan sche had herd al þis sche nat ameued Line 498 Noyþer in word ne cheere ne contynance ffor as it semed sche was nat agreued Sche sayde lord al liþ in ȝour plesaunce Line 501 My childe and I wiþ hertely obeissance ben ȝoures al and ȝe mowe saue & spille ȝoure owne þing workiþ after ȝour wille Line 504

¶ Ther may no þing so god my soule saue Line 505 liken to ȝou þat may displesen me Ne I desyre noþing for to haue [folio 135b] Ne drede for to lese saue oonly þe Line 508 þis wille is in myn herte and ay schal be No lengþe of tyme or deþ may þis deface Ne chaunge my corrage to anoþer place Line 511

¶ Glad was þis marquys for hire answeryng Line 512 But ȝit he feigned as it were not so Al dreery was his cheer as his lokyng Whan þat he schulde out/ of þe chambre go Line 515 Sone after þis a forlong way or tuo he priuely haþ tolde al his entente vnto a man and to his wijf him sente Line 518

¶ A maner sergeant was þis priue man Line 519 The which he feiþful often founden hadde In þinges gret and eek such folk wel can Don execucion of þinges badde Line 522 The lord knew wel þat he him loued and dradde And whan þis sergaunt knew his lordes wille In to þe chambur he stalked him ful stille Line 525

[6-text p 420] Line 525

¶ Ma dame he sayde ȝe moote forȝiue it me Line 526 Though I do þing þe which I am constreyned ȝe ben so wys þat ful wel knowe ȝe þat lordes heestes mowe not be feyned Line 529 þey mowe wel be weyled or compleyned But men moot needes to here lust obeye And so wol I þer nys nomore to seye Line 532

¶ þis child am I comaunded for to take Line 533 And spak no more but out þe childe he hente Dispitously and gan a cheere make As þough he wold han slayn it or he wente Line 536 Grisildes mot al soffre and consente And as a lombe sche sitteþ meke & stille And lete þis cruel sergant han his wille Line 539

¶ Suspeccious was þe defame of þis man Line 540 Suspecte his face suspecte his word also Suspecte þe tyme in which he þis bygan. Allas hir doughter þat sche loued so [folio 136a] Line 543 Sche wende he wolde haue slayen it right þo But naþeles sche nouþer weep ne siked Conformyng hire to þat þe marquys liked Line 546

¶ But atte laste speke sche bigan Line 547 And mekely sche to þe sergaunt preyed So as he was a worþy gentil man þat sche moste kisse hir childe or þat it deyde Line 550 And in hir barm þis litel child sche leyde Wiþ ful sadde face and gan þis childe to blisse And lulled it and after gan it kisse Line 553

¶ And þus sche seyde in hire benigne vois Line 554 ffar wel my child I schal þe neuer se But siþ I haue þe marked wiþ þe croys Of þilke fader blessed mote þou be Line 557

[6-text p 421] Line 557 þat for vs deyed vpon a crosse of tre þy soule litel child I him bytake ffor þis night schalt þou deye for my sake Line 560

¶ I trowe to a norice in þis cas Line 561 It hadde ben hard þis reuþe for to se Wel might a mooder þan han cryed allas But naþeles so sadde stedefast was sche Line 564 þat sche endured alle aduersite And to þe sergeaunt mekely sche sayde haue her aȝein ȝour litel ȝonge mayde Line 567

¶ Goþ now quod sche and doþ my lordes heste Line 568 But o þing wold I pray ȝou of ȝour grace þat but my lord forbad ȝou atte leste Burieþ þis litel body in som place Line 571 þat bestes ne no briddes it to-race But he ne wolde no word to þe purpos seye But/ tok þe childe and went vpon his weye Line 574

¶ þis sergaunt cam vnto þis lord ageyne Line 575 And of Grisildes wordes and hir cheere he tolde him word for word in schort and pleyne And him presenteþ with his douȝter dere Line 578 Somwhat þis lord hadde reuþe in his manere [folio 136b] But naþeles his purpos held he stille As lordes don whan þay wol haue here wille Line 581

And bad þis sergaunt þat he priuyly Line 582 Schulde þis child ful ofte wynde and wrappe Wiþ alle circumstaunces tendrely And carye it in a coffre or in a lappe Line 585 But vpon peyne his heed of for to swappe þat noman schulde knowe of his entent Ne when he come ne whider þat he went Line 588

[6-text p 422] Line 588

¶ But at Boloigne it to his suster deere Line 589 That ilke time of Panyke was Countesse / he schulde it take and schewe hir þis mateere / Besekyng hire to don hire besynesse Line 592 This child to fostre in alle gentilnesse And whos child þat it was he bad hire hyde ffrom euery wight for ought þat may betyde Line 595

¶ þis sergaunt goþ and haþ fulfild þis þing Line 596 But now to þis markys retorne we ffor now goþ he ful ofte ymagynyng If by his wyffes cheer he mighte se Line 599 Or by hire word apparceyue þat sche Were chaunged but he neuer coude hir fynde But euer in oon ylike sad and kynde Line 602

¶ As glad as besy as humble in seruice Line 603 And eek in loue as sche was wont to be Was sche to him in euery maner wyse Ne of hir doughter nought a word spak sche Line 606 Accident for non aduersite Was seyn in hire ne neuer hir douȝter name Ne nempned sche in ernest ne in game Line 609

¶ Explicit iij^a pars.

IN þis astat þer ben passed .iiij. ȝer Line 610 sche wiþ childe was but as god wolde A knaue childe sche bar by þis walter fful gracious and fair for to biholde Line 613 And whan þat folk it to his fader tolde Nat onlich he but al þe contre merye [folio 137a] Was for þis child and god þey þank and herye Line 616

¶ Whan it was tuo ȝeer old and fro be breste Line 617 Departed of his norice on a day This marquys caughte ȝit anoþer leste

[6-text p 423] To tempte his wijf ȝit ofter if he may Line 620 O nedeles was sche tempted in assay But wedded men knowen no mesure Whan þat þay fynde a pacient creature Line 623

¶ Wijf quod þis marquys ȝe han herd of þis Line 624 My poeple sekerly bereþ heuy of oure mariage And namely siþþe my sone boren is Now is it wers þan euer in al oure age Line 627 The murmur sleþ myn herte and my corage ffor to myn eeres comeþ þe voys so smerte That it wel neih destroyed haþ myn herte Line 630

¶ Now sey þey þus whan walter is agon Line 631 þanne schal þe blood of Ianicle succede And ben oure lord for oþer haue we non Suche wordes seiþ my poeple it is no drede Line 634 Wel ought I of such murmur taken heede ffor certeinly I drede such sentence þough þey nought pleyne speke in myn audience Line 637

¶ I wolde lyue in pees if þat I mighte Line 638 Wher fore I am disposed outerly As I his suster seruede be nighte Right so þenke I to serue him priuely Line 641 þus warne I ȝou for ȝe nouȝt sodeinly Out of ȝour self for no wo schulde outraye Beþ pacient and þerfore I ȝou praye Line 644

¶ I haue quod sche sayd þus and euer schal Line 645 I wille no þing ne nyl no þing certayne But as ȝou liste nouȝt greueþ me al þough þat my doughter and my sone be slayne Line 648 At ȝour comaundement þis is to sayne I haue nouȝt had no part of children tweyne But first siknesse and after wo and peyne [folio 137b] Line 651

[6-text p 424] Line 651

¶ ȝe ben oure lord doþ wiþ ȝour owne þing Line 652 Riȝt as ȝou liste askeþ no rede at me ffor as I lifte at home al my cloþinge Whan I first come to ȝou right so quod sche Line 655 lefte I my wille and al my liberte And tok ȝour cloþing wherfore I ȝou preye Doþ ȝour plesance I wil ȝour lust obeye Line 658

¶ And certes if I hadde prescience Line 659 ȝoure wille to knowe or ȝe ȝour lust me tolde I wolde it do wiþouten necligence But now I wot ȝour lust and what ȝe wolde Line 662 Al ȝour plesaunce ferme and stable I holde ffor wiste I þat my deþ wolde do ȝou ese Right gladly wolde I deye ȝou to plese Line 665

¶ Deþ may not make no comparisoun Line 666 vnto oure loue and whan þis marquys say þe contenaunce of his wijf he cast a doun his eyȝen tuo and wondreþ þat sche may Line 669 In pacience suffre al þis array And forþ he goþ wiþ drery contynaunce But to his herte it was right gret plesance Line 672

¶ þis Oggel sergaunt in þe same wise Line 673 þat he hir douȝter caughte right so he Or worse if men worse can deuyse haþ hent hir sone þat ful was of beaute Line 676 And euer in oon so pacient was sche That sche no cheere made of heuynesse But kiste hir sone and after gan it blesse Line 679

¶ Saue þis sche preyed him if þat he mighte Line 680 hir litel sone he wolde in erþe graue his tendre lymes delicat to sight ffro foules and fro bestes for to saue Line 683

[6-text p 425] Line 683 but sche non answer of him mighte haue he wente his wey as he no þing ne roughte But to Boloigne he tendrely it brouȝte Line 686

¶ This marquys wondreþ euer lenger þe more [folio 138a] Line 687 vpon hir pacience and if þat he Ne hadde soþly knowe þer bifore þat parfitly hir children loued sche Line 690 he wolde haue wende þat of som subtilte And of malice or for cruel corrage That sche hadde suffred þis wiþ sad visage Line 693

¶ But wel he knewe next himself certayne Line 694 Sche loued hir children best in euery wise / But now of wommen wolde I aske fayne If þise assayes mighte nouȝt suffise / Line 697 What couþe a stordy housbonde more deuyse To proeue his wijf and hire stedfastnesse And he contynuyng euer in sturdynesse Line 700

¶ But þer ben folk of such condicion Line 701 That whan þey haue a certein purpos take They can nought stynte of here entencion But right as þey were bounden to a stake Line 704 þey wil nat of þat firste purpos slake / Right so þis marquys fully haþ purposed To tempte his wijf as he was first disposed Line 707

¶ he wayteþ if by word or contynance Line 708 That sche to him was chaunged of corage But neuer coude he fynde variance Sche was ay oon in hert and in visage Line 711 And ay þe furþer þat sche was in age þe more trewe if þat it were possible Sche was to him more lowe and more pesible Line 714

[6-text p 426] Line 714

¶ ffor which it semed þus þat of hem tuo Line 715 þer nas but oo wille for as walter liste That same lust was hire plesance also And god he þanked al fel for þe beste Line 718 Sche schewed weel for no worldly vnreste A wijf as of hir self no þing ne scholde Wille in effecte but as hir housbond wolde Line 721

þe sclaundre of walter ofte and wyde spradde Line 722 That of a cruel herte he wikkedly [folio 138b] ffor he a pore womman wedded hadde haþ murdred boþe his children priuely Line 725 Such murmur was among hem comunly No wonder is for to þe poeples eere Ther com no word but þat þay mordred were Line 728

ffor which þer as his poeple þer bifore Line 729 hadde loued him wel þe sclaunder of his diffame Made hem þat þey him hatede þerfore To ben a murdrer is an hateful name Line 732 But naþeles for ernest ne for game he of his cruel purpos nolde stente To tempte his wijf was sette al his entente Line 735

¶ Whan þat his douȝter twelf ȝer was of age Line 736 he to þe court of Rome in subtil wise Enformed of his wille and sente his message Comaundyng hem suche bulles to deuyse/ Line 739 In þis maner and in þis same gyse how þat þe pope as for his poeples reste Bad him to wedde anoþer if him leste Line 742

¶ I say he bad þay scholden countrefete Line 743 The popes bulles making mencion þat he haþ leue his firste wijf to lete As by þe popes dispensacion Line 746

[6-text p 427] Line 746 To stynte rancour and discencion Bitwixe his poeple and him þus spak þe bulle þe which þey han publisshed atte fulle Line 749

¶ The rude poeple as it no wonder is Line 750 Wenden ful wel þat it hadde be riȝt so But whan þis tyþinges come to Grisildis I deme þat hir herte was ful wo Line 753 And sche ylike sad for euermo Disposed was þis humble creature To aduersite of fortune al tendure Line 756

¶ Abydyng euer his lust and his plesance Line 757 To whom sche was ȝiuen herte and al As to hire worldly verray suffisaunce [folio 139a] But schortly if þis story telle I schal Line 760 This marquys writen haþ in special A lettre in which he scheweþ his entente And secretly he to boloigne it sente Line 763

¶ To þe erl of Panyke which þat hadde þo Line 764 Wedded his suster preyed he specially To bringen home aȝein his children tuo But he o þinge preyed outrely Line 767 With alle his herte ful affectuously þat he to no wight þough men wolde enquere Schulde nought telle whos children þat þei were Line 770

¶ But seye þe mayden schulde y-wedded be Line 771 Vnto þe marquys of Saluce right anon And as þis erle was preyed right so dede he ffor at day sette he on his day is goon Line 774 Toward Saluce and lordes many oon In riche array þis mayden for to gyde hire ȝonge broþer ryding by hir syde Line 777

[6-text p 428] Line 777

Arrayed was toward hir mariage Line 778 This freisshe mayde ful of gemmes cleere hir broþer which þat vij. ȝeer was of age Arrayed eek ful freissch in his manere Line 781 And þus in gret noblesse and wiþ glad cheere Toward Saluces schapynge hire iourneye ffro day to day þey ryden in here weye [¶ Quarta pars.] Line 784

[PART V.]

AMong al þis after his wicked vsage Line 785 þis marquys ȝit his wijf gan tempte more To þe outrest proef of hire corage ffully to han experiment and lore Line 788 If þat sche was as stidefast as bifore he on a day in open audience fful boustously haþ seid hir þis sentence Line 791

Certes Grisildis I hadde ynough plesaunce Line 792 To han ȝou to my wijf for ȝour goodnesse As for ȝour trouþe and ȝour obeissance Nat for ȝour lignage ne for ȝour richesse [folio 139b] Line 795 But now quod he in verray soþfastnesse þat in gret lorschipe if I wol auyse þer is gret seruytute in sondry wise Line 798

¶ I may not do as euery ploughman may Line 799 My poeple me constreyneþ for to take anoþer wijf and cryen day by day And eek þe pope rancour for to slake Line 802 Consenteþ it þat dar I vndertake And trewelich þus meche I wil ȝou seye My newe wijf is comynge by þe weye Line 805

¶ Be strong of herte and voyde anon hire place Line 806 And þilke doware þat ȝe broughten me Tak it aȝein and graunte it of my grace

[6-text p 429] Retorneþ to ȝour fadres hous quod he Line 809 No man may alwey haue prosperite Wiþ euene herte I rede ȝou tendure þe strok of fortune or of auenture Line 812

¶ And sche aȝein answerde in pacience Line 813 My lord seyde sche I wot & wiste alway how þat bitwixe ȝoure magnificence And my pouerte no wight can ne may Line 816 maken comparison it/ is no nay I helde me neuer digne in no manere To be ȝour wijf ne ȝit ȝour chamberere Line 819

And in þis hous þer ȝe me lady made Line 820 ¶ þe hihe god take I for my witnesse And also wisly he my soule glade I neuer heelde me lady ne maystresse Line 823 But humble seruaunt to ȝour worþinesse And euere schal whil þat my lijff may dure Abouen euery worldly creature Line 826

¶ That ȝe so longe of ȝoure benignite Line 827 han holde me in honour and nobleye Wher as I was nouȝt worþy for to be þat þanke I god and ȝow whom I preye Line 830 fforȝelde it ȝow þer nys no more to seye [folio 140a] vnto my fader gladly wol I wende And wiþ him dwelle vnto my lyues ende Line 833

¶ Ther I was fostred of a child ful smal Line 834 Til I be dede my lijf þer wil I lede A wydewe clene in body herte and al ffor siþþe I ȝaf to ȝow my maydenhede Line 837 And am ȝour trewe wijf it is no drede God schilde such a lordes wijf to take Anoþer man to housbonde or to make Line 840

[6-text p 430] Line 840

¶ And of ȝoure newe wyf god of his grace Line 841 So graunte ȝou wele and heigh prosperite ffor I wille gladly ȝelden hire my place In which I was blisful wont to be Line 844 ffor siþþe it likeþ ȝow my lord quod sche That whilom weren al myn hertes reste þat I schal go I wol go whan ȝou leste Line 847

¶ But þer as ȝe me profre swich dowayre Line 848 Ay I first brought it is wel in my mynde It were my wrecched cloþes no þing fayre The whiche to me were now ful hard to fynde Line 851 O goode god how gentil and how kynde ȝe semede by ȝour speche and ȝour visage þe day þat maked was our mariage Line 854

But soþ is seyde algate I fynde it trewe Line 855 ffor in effecte it preuede is on me loue is nat olde as whan þat it is newe But certes lord for non aduersite Line 858 To deyen in þe cas it schal not be þat euer in word or werk I schal repente þat I ȝou ȝaf myn herte in hol entente Line 861

¶ My lord ȝe wot þat in my fadres place Line 862 ȝe dede me strepe out of my pore wede And richely me cladden of ȝour grace To ȝou brought I nouȝt elles out of drede Line 865 But feiþ and nakednesse and maydenhede And here aȝein ȝour cloþing I restore [folio 140b] And eek ȝour weddyng ryng for euermore Line 868

¶ The remenaunt of ȝoure Iewellis redy be Line 869 Wiþinne ȝour chambre dar I sauely sayn Naked out of my fadres hous quod sche I cam and naked I mot agayn Line 872

[6-text p 431] Line 872 Al ȝoure plesaunce wolde I folwe fayn But ȝit I hope it be nat ȝoure entente That smokles out of ȝoure paleys I wente Line 875

¶ ȝe coude nouȝt do so dishoneste a þing Line 876 That þilke wombe in which ȝour children leye Schulde bifore þe poeple in my walkyng Be seyn al bare wher fore I ȝou preye / Line 879 lat me not lik a worme go by þe weye Remembre ȝou myn owne lord so deere I was ȝoure wijf þough I vnworþy were Line 882

Wherfore in guerdon of my maydenhede Line 883 Which þat I brought and not awey I bere As voucheþ sauf to ȝif me to my mede But such a smok as I was wont to were Line 886 þat I þer wiþ may wrye þe wombe of here þat was ȝour wijf and here take I my leue Of ȝou myn owen lord lest I ȝou greue Line 889

¶ The smok/ quod he þat þou hast on þi bak Line 890 lat it be stille and bere it forþ wiþ þe But vnneþes þilke word he spak But wente his wey for rewþe and pite Line 893 Biforn þe folk hir seluen strepeþ sche And in hire smok wiþ heued and foot al bare Toward hir fader hous is sche fare Line 896

The folk hir folwen wepyng in hire weye Line 897 And fortune ay þey cursen as þey gon But sche fro weepyng kepte hire eyhen dreye Ne in þis tyme word ne spak sche noon Line 900 hire fader þat þis tydinge herde anon Curseþ þe day and tyme þat nature Schope him to be a lyues creature [folio 141a] Line 903

[6-text p 432] Line 903

¶ ffor out of doute þis olde pouere man Line 904 þat whan þe lord had fulfilde his corage Line 906 ffor euer it demed siþ it ferst bigan Line 905 him wolde þinke it were disparage Line 907 To wedde oon of so pore a lynage To his astat so lowe to alighte And voyde hire as sone as euer he mighte Line 910

¶ Aȝein his doughter hastely goþ he Line 911 ffor he by noyse of folk knew hire comyng And wiþ hire olde cote as it mighte be he couered hire ful sorwfully wepynge Line 914 But on hir body might he it not bringe ffor rude was þe cloþ and more of age By fele dayes þan was hire mariage Line 917

Thus wiþ hir fader for a certein space Line 918 Dwelleþ þis flour of wyfly pacience þat neyþer by hir wordes ne hir face Biforn þe folk ne eek in here absence / Line 921 Ne schewede sche þat hire was don offence Ne of hire heih astat þe remembrance Ne hadde sche as by hire contynaunce Line 924

No wonder is for in hire gret astate Line 925 hire gost was euer in plein humilite No tendre mouþ non herte delicate No pompe ne semblant of realte Line 928 But ful of pacience and benignite Discrete and prydeles ay honorable And to hir housbonde euer meeke and stable Line 931

¶ Men speke of Iob. and most for his humblesse Line 932 As clerkes whan hem liste can endite Namly of men but as in soþfastnesse þough clerkes preyse wommen but a lite Line 935

[6-text p 433] Line 935 þer can no man in humblesse him aquite As wommen can ne can be half so trewe As wommen ben but it be falle of newe Line 938

[PART VI.]

¶ ffro Boloigne is þis erl of Panyke come / [folio 141b] Of which þe fame vp sprong to more & lesse / And to þe poeples eres alle and some / Was couþ eek þat a newe marquysesse Line 942 he wiþ him brought in such pompe and richesse That neuer was þer seyn wiþ mannes eye So noble array in al west lumbardye Line 945

¶ The marquys which þat schope and knew al þis Line 946 Or þat þis erl were come sent his message ffor þilke sely pore Grisildis And sche with humble herte and glad visage Line 949 nouȝt wiþ no swollen herte in hire corage Cam at his heste and on hir knees hir sette And reuerently and wysly sche him grette Line 952

¶ Grisildis quod he my wille is vtterly Line 953 þis mayden þat schal be wedded to me Receyued be to morn als really As possible is in myn hous for to be Line 956 And eke þat euery wight in his degre haue his astat in sittyng and seruise And heih plesaunce as I can best deuyse Line 959

¶ I haue no womman sufficaunt certayn Line 960 þe chambres for to arraye in ordinance After my lust and þerfore wolde I fayn Thyn were al such maner gouernance Line 963 þou knowest eek of olde al my plesaunce þough þin array be badde and yuel beseye Do þou þi deuer atte leste weye Line 966

[6-text p 434] Line 966

¶ Nat oonly lord þat I am glad quod sche Line 967 To do ȝoure lust but I desire also ȝou for to serue and plese in my degre Wiþouten feynyng and schal eueremo Line 970 Ne neuer for no wele ne no woo Ne schal þe goost wiþinne myn herte stente To loue ȝou best/ wiþ al my trewe entente Line 973

¶ And wiþ þat word sche gan the house to dighte Line 974 And tables for to sette and beddes make [folio 142a] And peyned hire to do al þat sche mighte Preyinge þe chambereres for goddes sake Line 977 To hasten hem and faste swepe and schake And sche þe moste seruisable of alle haþ euery chambre arrayed and his halle Line 980

¶ Abouten vndren gan þis erl alighte Line 981 And wiþ him brought his noble children tweye ffor wiþ þe poeple ran to see þe sight Of hire array so richely byseye Line 984 And þan at erst amonges hem þey seye That walter was no fool þough þat him liste To chaunge his wyf for it was for þe beste Line 987

¶ ffor sche is fairer as þey demen alle Line 988 þan is Grisilde and more tendre of age And fairer fruyt betwen hem schulde falle And more plesaunce for hire heih lynage Line 991 hire broþer eek so fair was of visage That hem to se þe poeple haþ cauȝt plesaunce Commendynge now þe marquys gouernaunce Line 994

¶ O stormy poeple vnsad and euer vntrewe Line 995 Ay vndiscrete and chaungyng as a fane Delityng ay in rombile þat is newe ffor lik þe mone ay wexen ȝe and wane Line 998

[6-text p 435] Line 998 Ay ful of clappyng dere y-nough a Iane ȝoure dome is fals ȝour inconstance wel preueþ A ful gret fool is he þat on ȝou leeueþ Line 1001

¶ Thus saiden sadde folk in þat Cite Line 1002 Whan þat þe peple gazed vp and doun ffor þey were glade right for þe nouelte To han a newe lady of oure toun Line 1005 No more of þis now make I mencioun But to Grisilde anon wil I me dresse And telle hire constance and hire besynesse Line 1008

¶ fful besy was Grisilde in euery þing Line 1009 That to þe feste was apertenent Right nought was sche abayssht of hire cloþing [folio 142b] þough it were rude and eek somdel torent Line 1012 But with glad chere to þe gate is went With oþer folk to grete þe marquysesse And after þat doþ forþ hire besynesse Line 1015

¶ Wiþ so glad chere his gestes sche resceyueþ Line 1016 And connyngly euerich in his degre That defaute no man apparceyueþ But ay þey wondren what sche mighte be Line 1019 þat in so pore array was for to se And coude such honour & reuerence And worþily þey preysen hire prudence Line 1022

¶ In al þis mene while sche ne stente Line 1023 þis mayde and eek hir broþer to comende With alle hire herte in ful benigne entente So wel þat no man couþe hire pris amende Line 1026 But atte laste whan þise lordes wende To sitte doun at mete he gan to calle Grisilde as sche was besy in his halle Line 1029

[6-text p 436] Line 1029

¶ Grisilde quod he as it were in his play Line 1030 how likeþ þe my wijf and hire beaute Right wel quod sche my lord for in good fey A fairer sawe I neuer non þan sche Line 1033 I pray to god ȝif ȝou prosperite And so hope I þat he wil to ȝou sende Plesaunce ynow vnto ȝour lyues ende Line 1036

¶ O þing beseke I ȝou and warne also / Line 1037 þat ȝe prike wiþ no tormentynge þis tendre mayden as ȝe han do mo ffor sche is fostred in hire norischinge Line 1040 more tenderly and to my supposynge Sche coude nought aduersite endure As coude a pore fostred creature/ Line 1043

And whan þis walter saugh hir pacience Line 1044 hire glad cher and no malice at al And he so often hadde don hire offence And sche ay sadde and constant as a wal [folio 143a] Continuyng euere hire Innocence oueral This sturdy marquys gan hire herte dresse To rewen on hire wyfly stedfastnesse Line 1050

¶ This is ynough Grisilde myn quod he Line 1051 Be now no more agast ne yuel apayed I haue þy feiþ and þi benignite As wel as euer womman was assayed Line 1054 In gret astate and pouereliche arrayed Now knowe I deere wijf þy stedfastnesse / And hire in armes toke and gan hire kesse Line 1057

¶ And sche for wonder took of hit no keepe Line 1058 Sche þouȝte nought what þing he to hir sayde/ Sche ferde as sche hadde stirte out of hir slepe Til sche out of hir masednesse abrayde Line 1061

[6-text p 437] Line 1061 Grisilde quod he god þat / for vs deyed þou art my wyf ne non oþer I haue Ne neuer hadde so god my soule saue Line 1064

¶ This is þy doughter which þou hast supposed Line 1065 To be my wijf þat oþer feiþfully Schal be myn [heir] as I haue ay purposed þou bare him in þi body trewely Line 1068 At boloygne haue I kept hem pryuyly Tak hem aȝein for now mayst þou not seye þat þou hast lorn non of þy children tweye Line 1071

¶ And folk þat oþerwise han sayd of me Line 1072 I warne hem wel þat I haue don þis dede ffor no malice ne for no cruelte But for tassaye in þe þy wommanhede Line 1075 And nat to slee my children god forbede But for to kepe hem pryuyly and stille Til I þi purpos knewe and al þy wille Line 1078

¶ Whan þis herde a swowne doun sche falleþ Line 1079 ffor pytous ioye and after hir swownynge Sche boþe hire ȝonge children to hire calleþ And in his armes pitously wepynge Line 1082 Embraceþ hem and tendrely kissinge [folio 143b] fful like a moder wiþ hire salte teeres Sche baþeþ boþe hire visage and hire heres Line 1085

¶ O which a pytous sight it was to see Line 1086 hir swownyng and hire humble voys to heere Graunt mercy lord god I þanke it ȝou quod she þat ȝe han saued me my children deere Line 1089 now rekke I neuer to be ded right heere Siþþe I stonde in ȝour loue and in ȝour grace No fors of deþ ne whan my spirit pace Line 1092

[6-text p 438] Line 1092

¶ O tendre o dere o ȝonge children myne Line 1093 ȝour woful moder wende stedefastly That cruel houndes or som foul vermyne hadde eten ȝou but god of his mercy Line 1096 And ȝoure benigne fader tenderly haþ don ȝou kepte and in þe same stounde Al sodeinly sche swapte a doun to grounde Line 1099

¶ And in hire swowne so sadly holdeþ sche Line 1100 hire children tuo whan sche gan hem enbrace þat with gret sleighte and wiþ gret difficulte þe children from hire arm þei gon arace Line 1103 O many a teer on many a pitous face Doun ran of hem þat stooden hire besyde vnneþe aboute hire mighten þey abyde Line 1106

Walter hir gladeþ and hir sorwe slakeþ Line 1107 Sche ryseþ vp abaysshed from hire traunce And euery wight hire ioye and feste makeþ til sche haþ caught aȝein hir contenance Line 1110 Walter hire doþ feiþfully plesaunce þat it is deynte for to se þe cheere Bitwixe hem tuo now þey ben mett in feere Line 1113

¶ This ladyes whan þat þey here tyme saye Line 1114 han taken hire and in to chambre goon And streepen hire out of hire ruyde array And in a cloþ of gold þat brighte schoon Line 1117 Wiþ a coroune of many a riche stoon vppon hire heed þey in to halle hir broughte [folio 144a] And þan sche was honoured as sche oughte Line 1120

¶ Thus haþ þis pitous day a blisful ende Line 1121 ffor euery man and womman doþ here might This day in mirþe and reuel to dispende Til on þe welken schone þe sterres bright Line 1124

[6-text p 439] Line 1124 ffor more solempne in euery mannes sight þis feste was and gretter of costage Than was þe reuel of hire mariage Line 1127

¶ fful many a ȝeer in hih prosperite Line 1128 lyuen þise tuo in concord and in reste And richely his douȝter maryed he vnto a lord on of þe worþieste Line 1131 Of alle ytayle þanne and pes & reste his wyues fader in his court he kepeþ Til þat his soule out of his body creepeþ Line 1134

¶ his sone succediþ in his heritage Line 1135 In reste and pees after his fader day And fortunat eek was in mariage Al putte he not his wijf in gret assay Line 1138 This world is not so strong it is no nay As it haþ ben in olde tyme ȝore And herkneþ what þis auctor seiþ þerfore Line 1141

This story is sayd not for þat wyues scholde Line 1142 ffolwen grisilde as in humilite ffor it were importable þough þey wolde But for þat euery wight in his degre Line 1145 Schulde be constante in aduersite As was Grisilde þerfore Petrayke writeþ þis story which he wiþ his stile enditeþ Line 1148

ffor siþþe a womman was so paciente Line 1149 vnto a mortel man wel more vs ouȝte Resceyuen al in gree þat god vs sente ffor grete skiles he preeueþ þat he wrouȝte Line 1152 But he ne tempteþ no man þat he brouȝte As seiþ seint Iame ȝif ȝe his pistil rede He preueþ folk alday it is no drede [folio 144b] Line 1155

[6-text p 440] Line 1155

And suffreþ vs as for oure excercise Line 1156 Wiþ scharpe scorges of aduersite fful often to ben betyn in sondry wyse Nought for to knowe oure wille for certes he Line 1159 Or we were born knew al oure frelete And for oure beste is al oure gouernance lat vs þanne lyue in vertuous suffraunce Line 1162

¶ But lordinges o word herkeneþ ar I go Line 1163 It were ful hard to fynde now a dayes In alle a toun Grisildes þre or tuo ffor if þat þey were putte to suche assayes Line 1166 The golde of hem haþ now so badde layes Wiþ bras þat þough þe coyne be fayr at eye It wolde raþer berst/ a tuo þan plye Line 1169

¶ ffor which here for þe wyues loue of Baþe Line 1170 Whos lijf and al hire helþe god mayntene In hire maystrye and elles were it skaþe I wolde wiþ lusty herte freisshe and grene Line 1173 Sey ȝou a song to glade ȝou I wene And late vs stynte of ernestful matiere herkneþ my song þat seiþ in þis manere Line 1176

¶ lenvoye de Chaucere

¶ Grisild is deed and eek hir pacience And boþe at oones buryed in ytayle Wher fore I crye in open audience Line 1179 No wedded man be hardy to assayle / his wyues pacience in hope to fynde / Grisildis for in certes he schal fayle / Line 1182

[6-text p 441] Line 1182

O noble wyues ful of heih prudence lat non humilite ȝoure tonge nayle / Ne lat no clerk haue cause or diligence Line 1185 To write of ȝou a story of such meruayle As Grisildis pacient and kynde lest chychevache ȝow swolwe in hire entrayle Line 1188

ffolweþ herto and holdeþ no scilence [[a leaf out]] [but euere answerith / in the contir-taille [MS Arch. Seld. B. 14 folio 82a] beth nat bidaffid / for youre innocence Line 1191 but sharply take on yow / the gouernaille enpoynteth wel this lessoun / in youre mynde for comune profit / sith hit may availle Line 1194

And ye Archiwivis / stondith at defence syn ye be stronge / as is a grete Camaille ne suffrith not / that men do yow offence Line 1197 and slender wivis / as feble in bataille beith egre as a Tigre / bi-yende the se fer in ynde ay clappith as a mylle / I yow consaille Line 1200

Ne dredith hem nought doith hem no reuerence for though thyn housbond armed be / in maille the wordis of thi crabbed eloquence Line 1203 shal persshe his breste / and eke his auentaille in gelousie I rede eke / thow him bynde and thow shalt make him covche / as a quaille Line 1206

Yf thow be feyre / there folk ben in presence shewe thow thi visage / and thin apparaille yf thow be foule / be fre of thi dispence Line 1209 to gete the frendis / ay do thi travaille be euer of chere as light / as leff on lynde and lete him care · wepe / wrynge and waille Line 1212

Here endith the Clerke of Oxonford his tale /]