The Harleian ms. 7334 of Chaucer's Canterbury tales. Ed. by Frederick J. Furnivall.

[6-text p 405]

¶ Incipit narrare

Ther is at þe west / ende of ytaile Line 57 Doun at þe root of vesulus þe colde A lusty playn abundaunt of vitaile wher many a tour and toun þou maist byholde. That foundid were in tyme of fadres olde. Line 61 And many anothir delitable sight And Saluces þis noble contray hight Line 63

A marquys whilom duellid in þat lond Line 64 As were his worþy eldris him bifore And obeisaunt ay redy to his hond were alle his liegis bothe lesse and more [folio 117b] Thus in delyt he lyueth and hath don ȝore Line 68 Biloued and drad þurgh fauour and fortune Boþe of his lordes and of his comune Line 70

Ther with he was as to speke of lynage Line 71 The gentileste born of lumbardye A fair persone . and strong and ȝong of age And ful of honour and of curtesie Discret ynough his contre for to gye Line 75 Sauynge in som þing he was to blame And wautier was þis ȝonge lordes name Line 77

I blame him thus that he considered nought Line 78 In tyme comyng what mighte bityde But on his lust present was al his þought As for to hauke and hunte on euery syde wel neigh al oþir cures let he slyde Line 82 And eek he nolde þat was [ [þe was erased] ] þe worst of al wedde no wyf for no þing þat might bifal Line 84

[6-text p 406] Line 84

Only þat poynt his poeple bar so sore Line 85 That flokmel on a day to him þay went And oon of hem that wisest was of lore Or elles þat þe lord wolde best assent That he schuld telle him what his poeple ment Line 89 Or ellis couþe he schewe wel such matiere he to þe marquys sayd as ȝe schuln hiere Line 91

O noble marquys . ȝoure humanite Line 92 Assureth vs and ȝiueth vs hardynesse As ofte as tyme is of necessite That we to ȝow may telle oure heuynesse Acceptith lord now . of ȝour necessite Line 96 That we with pitous hert vnto ȝow playne And let ȝoure eeris my vois not disdeyne Line 98

And haue I nought to doon in þis matere Line 99 More þan anoþer man haþ in þis place / Ȝit for as moche as ȝe my lord so deere han alway schewed me fauour and grace I dar þe better ask of ȝow a space / Line 103 And audience to asken oure request/ And ȝe my lord to doon right as ȝow lest [folio 118a] Line 105

For certes lord so wel vs likith ȝow Line 106 And al ȝour werk and euer han doon þat we Ne couþen not deuysen how we mighte lyue more in felicite Saue oon þing lord if þat ȝour wille be Line 110 That for to be a weddid man ȝow list/ Than were ȝour peple in souereign hertes rest / Line 112

Bowith ȝour neck . vndir þat blisful ȝok Line 113 Of souereignete . nought of seruise which þat men clepe spousail or wedlok And thenkith lord among ȝour þoughtes wise /

[6-text p 407] how þat our dayes passe in sondry wyse Line 117 For þough we slepe or wake or rome aboute Ay fleth þe tyme it wil no man abyde. Line 119

And though ȝour grene ȝouþe floure as ȝit Line 120 In crepith age alway as stille as stoon And deth manasith euery age and smyt In ech estat for þer ascapith noon And as certeyn as as we knowe euerychon Line 124 That we schuln deye as vncerteyn we alle Ben of þat day þat deþ schal on vs falle Line 126

Acceptith thanne of vs þe trewe entent Line 127 That neuer ȝit/ refusid ȝoure hest And we wil lord if þat ȝe wil assent Chese ȝow a wyf in schort tyme atte lest Born of þe gentilest and þe heighest Line 131 Of al þis lond so þat it oughte seme honour to god . and ȝow as we can deme Line 133

Deliuer vs out of al þis busy drede Line 134 And tak a wyf fo hihe goddes sake / For if it so bifel as god forbede That þurgh ȝour deþ ȝour lygnage schuld aslake And þat a straunge successour schuld take Line 138 Ȝour heritage . O . wo were vs on lyue wherfor we pray ȝow hastily to wyue Line 140

Her meeke prayer . and her pitous chere Line 141 Made þe marquys for to han pite Ȝe wolde quod he . myn owne poeple deere [folio 118b] To þat I neuer erst þought constreigne me. I me reioysid of my liberte Line 145 That selden tyme is founde in mariage Ther I was fre I mot ben in seruage Line 147

[6-text p 408] Line 147

But natheles I se of ȝou þe trewe entent Line 148 And trust vpon ȝour witt and haue doon ay wherfor of my fre wil I wil assent/ To wedde me as soon as euer I may But þer as ȝe haue profred me to day Line 152 To chese me a wyf I wol relese That choys and pray ȝow of þat/ profre cesse / Line 154

For god it woot þat childer ofte been Line 155 vnlik her worthy eldris hem bifore Bounte comeþ al of god nought of þe streen Of which thay ben engendrid and I-bore I trust in goddis bounte and þerfore Line 159 My mariage and myn estat and rest I him bytake . he may doon as him lest Line 161

Let me aloon . in chesyng of my wif Line 162 That charge vpon my bak I wil endure But I ȝow pray and charge vpon ȝour lyf That wyf þat I take ȝe me assure / To worschip / whil . þat hir lif may endure Line 166 In word and werk . boþe heer and euery where / As sche an Emperoures doughter were Line 168

And forthermor þus schul ȝe swer þat ȝe Line 169 Aȝeins my chois schuln neuer grucche ne stryue For sins I schal forgo my liberte At ȝour request as euer mot I þriue Ther as myn hert is set þer wil I wyue Line 173 And but ȝe wil assent in such manere I pray spek no more of þis matiere Line 175

With hertly wil . þay sworen and assentyn Line 176 To al þis þing þer sayde no wight nay Bysechyng him of grace er þat þay wentyn That he wol graunten hem a certeyn day

[6-text p 409] Of his spousail as soone as euer he may Line 180 For ȝit alway þe peple som what dredde [folio 119a] lest that the marquys wolde no wyf wedde Line 182

He graunted hem a day such as him lest Line 183 On which he wolde be weddid sicurly And sayd he dede al þis at her requeste And þay with humble hert ful buxomly knelyng vpon her knees ful reuerently Line 187 him þanken alle and þus þay haue an ende Of her entent . and hom aȝein þay wende Line 189

And her vpon he to his officeris Line 190 Comaundith for the feste to purueye And to his priue knightes and squyeres which charge ȝaf as him list on hem leye And thay to his comaundement obeye / Line 194 And ech of hem doth his diligence To doon vnto þe feste reuerence Line 196

¶ Explicit prima pars. [[No more break in the MS.]]

NOught fer fro þilke place honurable Line 197 wher as this marquys schop his mariage Ther stood a thrope of sighte delitable In which þat pore folk of þat vilage hadden her bestes and her herburgage / Line 201 And after her labour took her sustienaunce After the erthe ȝaf hem abundaunce Line 203

Among this pore folk there duelt a man Line 204 which þat was holden porest of hem alle But heighe god som tyme sende can his grace vnto a litel oxe stalle Ianicula men of þat throop him calle / Line 208 A doughter had he fair y-nough to sight And Crisildes þis ȝonge doughter hight Line 210

[6-text p 410] Line 210

But for to speke of hir vertuous beaute Line 211 Than was sche oon þe fayrest vnder sonne For porely I-fostered vp was sche No licorous lust was in his body ronne wel ofter of þe welle þan of þe tonne Line 215 She dronk and for sche wolde vertu please Sche knew wel labour but noon ydel ease Line 217

But þough þis mayden tender were of age [folio 119b] Line 218 Ȝet in þe brest of her virginite Ther was enclosed rype and sad corrage And in gret reuerence and charite Hir olde pore fader fostred sche / Line 222 A fewe scheep spynnyng on þe feld sche kept Sche nolde not ben ydel til sche slept Line 224

And whan sche com hom sche wolde brynge Line 225 wortis or oþer herbis tymes ofte The which sche schred and seth for hir lyuyng And made hir bed ful hard and no þing softe And ay sche kept hir fadres lif on lofte Line 229 with euery obeissance and diligence That child may do to fadres reuerence Line 231

Vpon Grisildes þe pore creature Line 232 Ful ofte sithes þis marquys set his ye As he on huntyng rood par auenture And whan it fel he mighte hir espye he not with wantoun lokyng of folye Line 236 his eyȝen cast vpon hir but in sad wyse vpon hir cheer he wold him oft avise Line 238

Comendyng in his hert hir wommanhede Line 239 And eek hir vertu passyng any oþer wight Of so ȝong age as wel in cheer as dede For þough þe poeple haue no gret insight

[6-text p 411] In vertu he considereth aright Line 243 Hir bounte and desposed þat he wolde wedde hir oonly if euer he wedde scholde Line 245

The day of weddyng cam but no wight can Line 246 Telle what womman it schulde be / For which meruayle wondrith many a man And sayden whan þay were in priuete wol nought our lord ȝit leue his vanite Line 250 wol he not wedde allas allas þe while why wol he þus himself and vs bigyle Line 252

But natheles þis marquys haþ doon make Line 253 Of gemmes set in gold and in asure Broches and rynges for Grisildes sake / And of hir clothing took he þe mesure [folio 120a] By a mayde y-lik to hir of stature Line 257 And eek of oþer ornamentes alle / That vnto such a weddyng schulde falle / Line 259

The tyme of vndern of þe same day Line 260 Approchith þat þis weddyng schulde be / And al þe palys put was in array Boþe halle an chambur . ylik here degre houses of office stuffid with plente Line 264 Ther maystow se of deynteuous vitayle That may be founde as fer as lastith Itaile / Line 266

This real marquys really arrayd Line 267 lordes and ladyes in his compaignye he which vnto þe feste were prayed And of his retenu þe bachelerie with many a soun of sondry melodye Line 271 vnto þe vilage of which I tolde In þis array þe right way han þay holde Line 273

[6-text p 412] Line 273

Grysild of þis god wot ful Innocent / Line 274 That for hir schapen was al þis array / To fecche water at a welle is went/ And cometh hom as soone as sche may For wel sche had herd sayd þat ilke day Line 278 The marquys schulde wedde and if sche might Sche wold haue seyen som what of þat sight Line 280

Sche sayd I wol with oþer maydenes stonde / Line 281 That ben my felawes . in oure dore and see / The marquys and þerfore wol I fonde / To don at hom as soone as it may be The labour which þat longeth vnto me Line 285 And þanne may I at leysir hir byholde And sche þe way in to þe castel holde / Line 287

And as sche wold ouer þe þreisshfold goon Line 288 The marquys cam and gan hir for to calle And sche set doun her water-pot anoon Bisides þe þreischfold of þis oxe stalle / And doun vpon hir/ knees . sche gan falle Line 292 And with sad countenaunce knelith stille Til sche had herd what was þe lordes wille [folio 120b] Line 294

This þoughtful marquys spak vnto þis mayde Line 295 Ful soberly and sayd in þis manere wher is ȝour fader Grisildes he sayde And sche with reuerence and humble cheere Sayde lord he is al redy heere / Line 299 And in sche goth wiþouten lenger let And to þe marquys sche hir fader fet Line 301

He by þe hond þan takith þis olde man Line 302 And sayde þus . whan he him had on syde / Ianicula I neither may ne can lenger þe plesauns of myn herte hyde

[6-text p 413] If þat ȝe vouche sauf what so betyde / Line 306 Thy doughter wil I take er þat I wende As for my wyf vnto hir lyues ende / Line 308

Thow louest me I wot it wel certeyn Line 309 And art my faithful liege man I-bore / And al þat likith me I dar wel sayn It likith þe . and specially þerfore Tel me þat poynt . as ȝe haue herd bifore Line 313 If þat þow wolt vnto þat purpos drawe / To take me as for þy · sone in lawe Line 315

The sodeyn caas þe man astoneyd þo Line 316 That reed he wax abaischt and al quakyng he stood vnneþe sayd he wordes mo But oonly þis . lord quod he my willyng Is as ȝe wol aȝenst ȝoure likyng Line 320 I wol no þing ȝe be my lord so deere Right as ȝow list gouernith þis matiere Line 322

Ȝit wol I quod þis markys softely Line 323 That in þy chambre I and þou and sche / haue a collacioun and wostow why For I wol aske if it hir wille be To be my wyf and reule hir after me Line 327 And al þis schal ben doon in þy presence I wol nought speke out of þyn audience Line 329

And in þe chamber whil þay were aboute Line 330 her tretys which as ȝe schul after hiere The poeple cam vnto þe hous wiþoute [folio 121a] And wondrid hem in how honest manere And tendurly sche kept hir fader deere Line 334 But outerly grisildes wonder might For neuer erst ne saugh sche such a sight Line 336

[6-text p 414] Line 336

No wonder is þough þat sche were astoned Line 337 To seen so gret a gest come in to þat place / Sche neuer was to suche gestes woned For which sche loked with ful pale face / But schortly þis matiere forth to chace Line 341 These arn þe wordes þat þe marquys sayde / To this benigne verray faithful mayde Line 343

Grisyld he sayde ȝe schul wel vnderstonde / Line 344 It liketh to ȝour fader and to me That I ȝow wedde and eek it may so stonde As I suppose ȝe wil þat it so be / But þese demaundes aske I first quod he / Line 348 That sith it schal be doon in hasty wyse wol ȝe assent or elles ȝow auyse / Line 350

I say þis be ȝe redy with good hert/ Line 351 To al my lust and þat I frely may As me best liste . do ȝow laughe or smert And neuer ȝe to gruch it night ne day And eek whan I say ȝe ȝe say not nay Line 355 Neyther by word ne frownyng contenaunce Swer þis and here swer I oure alliaunce Line 357

Wondryng vpon þis word quakyng for drede Line 358 Sche sayde lord vndigne and vnworthy I am to thilk honour . þat ȝe me bede But as ȝe wil ȝour self right so wol I And here I swere þat neuer wityngly Line 362 In werk ne thought I nyl ȝow disobeye For to be deed þough me were loth to deye Line 364

This is ynough Grisilde myn quod he / Line 365 And forth goth he wiþ a ful sobre chere Out at þe dore and after þat cam sche And to þe pepul he sayd in þis manere ·

[6-text p 415] This is my wyf quod he þat stondith heere Line 369 honoureth hir and loueth hir I ȝow pray [folio 121b] who so me loueth þer is no more to say Line 371

And for þat no þing of hir olde gere Line 372 Sche schulde brynge vnto his hous he bad That wommen schuld despoilen hir right þere Of which þese ladyes were nought ful glad To handle hir cloþes wher-in sche was clad Line 376 But natheles þis mayde bright of hew Fro foot to heed þay schredde han al newe Line 378

Hir heeres han þay kempt þat lay vntressed Line 379 Ful rudely and with hir fyngres smale A coroun on hir heed þay han I-dressed And set hir ful of nowches gret and smale Of hir array what schuld I make a tale / Line 383 Vnnethe þe poeple hir knew for hir fairnesse / whan sche translated was in such richesse / Line 385

This marquis haþ hir spoused with a ryng Line 386 Brought for þe same cause and þan hir sette vpon an hors snow-whyt and wel amblyng And to his palys er he lenger lette with ioyful poeple þat hir ladde and mette Line 390 Conueyed hire and þus þe day þay spende In reuel til þe sonne gan descende Line 392

And schortly þis tale for to chace Line 393 I say þat to þis newe marquisesse God hath schewed fauour and sent hir of his grace That it semyd not by liklynesse That sche was born and fed in rudenesse Line 397 As in a cote or in an Oxe stalle But norischt in an emperoures halle Line 399

[6-text p 416] Line 399

To euery wight sche waxen is so deere Line 400 And worschipful þat folk þer sche was born And from hir burthe knew hir ȝer by ȝere Vnneth trowed þay but dorst han sworn That to Ianicle of which I spak biforn Line 404 Sche doughter were . for as by coniecture Hem þought sche was anoþer creature Line 406

For þough þat euer vertuous was sche Line 407 Sche was encresed in such excellence [folio 122a] Of thewes goode i-set in high bounte And so discret and fair of eloquence So benigne and so digne of reuerence Line 411 And couþe so þe poeples hert embrace That ech hir loueþ þat lokith in hir face Line 413

Nought oonly of Saluce in þe toun Line 414 Puplissched was þe bounte of hir name But eek byside in many a regioun If oon sayd wel anoþer sayd þe same So sprad of hire heigh bounte þe fame / Line 418 That men and wommen as wel ȝong as olde Gon to Saluce vpon hir to byholde Line 420

This walter louly . nay but really Line 421 weddid with fortunat honestete In goddes pees lyueth ful esily At home and outward grace ynough haþ he And for he saugh þat vnder low degre Line 425 was ofte vertu y-hid þe poeple him helde A prudent man and þat is seint ful selde Line 427

Nought oonly þis Grisildes þurgh hit witte Line 428 Couthe al þe feet of wifly humblesse / But eek whan þat þe tyme required it The comun profyt couthe sche redresse

[6-text p 417] Ther nas discord rancour ne heuynesse / Line 432 In al þat lond þat sche ne couþe appese / And wisly bryng hem alle in rest and ese Line 434

Though þat hir housbond absent were anoon Line 435 If gentil men or oþer of hir contre were wroth sche wolde brynge hem at oon So wyse and rype wordes hadde sche And Iuggement of so gret equite Line 439 That sche from heuen sent was as men wende / Poeple to saue and euery wrong to amende Line 441

Nought longe tyme after þat þis Grisilde Line 442 was wedded sche a douȝter haþ I-bore Al had hir leuer han had a knaue childe Glad was þis marquis and þe folk þerfore For though a mayden child come al byfore / [folio 122b] Line 446 Sche may vnto a knaue child atteigne By liklihed and sche nys not bareigne [[No break in the MS.]] Line 448

¶ Incipit Tercia pars.

Ther fel as fallith many tymes mo Line 449 whan þat þis child haþ souked but a þrowe This marquys in his herte longith so Tempte his wyf . hir sadnesse for to knowe That he ne might out of his herte þrowe Line 453 This meruaylous desir his wyf tassaye Now god wot he þought hir to affraye Line 455

He had assayed hir ynough bifore Line 456 And fond hir euer good what needith it/ hire to tempte . and alway more and more Though som men prayse it for a subtil wit But as for me I say that euel it sit Line 460 Tassay a wyf whan þat it is no neede And putte hir in anguysch and in dreede Line 462

[6-text p 418] Line 462

For which þis marquis wrouȝt in þis manere Line 463 he com aloone a night þer as sche lay / wiþ sterne face and with ful trouble cheere And sayde þus Grisild quod he þat day / Þat I ȝow took out of ȝour pore array / Line 467 And putte ȝow in estat of heigh noblesse Ȝe haue not þat . forgeten as I gesse / Line 469

I say Grisild þis present dignite Line 470 In which þat I haue put ȝow as I trowe Makith ȝow not . forȝetful for to be Þat I ȝow took in pore estat ful lowe For eny wele ȝe moot ȝour selue knowe / Line 474 Tak heed of euery word þat/ I ȝow say / Ther is no wight þat herith it but we tway / Line 476

Ȝe wot ȝour self . how ȝe comen heere Line 477 In to þis hous it is nought long ago And þough to me þat ȝe be leef and deere vnto my gentils ȝe be no þing so Thay seyn to hem it is gret schame and wo Line 481 For to ben subiect/ . and ben in seruage / To the þat born art of a smal village [folio 123a] Line 483

And namely syn þy doughter was I-bore Line 484 These wordes han þay spoken douteles But I desire as I haue doon byfore To lyue my lif with hem in rest and pees I may not in þis caas be reccheles Line 488 I moot do with þy doughter for þe best/ Not as I wolde but as my pepul lest Line 490

And ȝit god wot þis is ful loth to me Line 491 But naþeles wiþoute ȝoure witynge wol I not doon . but þis wold I quod he / That ȝe to me assent as in þis þing /

[6-text p 419] Schew now ȝour paciens in ȝour wirching Line 495 Þat þou me hightest and swor in ȝon village That day þat maked was oure mariage Line 497

Whan sche had herd al þis sche nouȝt ameeuyd Line 498 Neyþer in word in cheer or countenaunce For as it semed sche was nought agreeued She sayde lord al lith in ȝour plesaunce My child and I with hertly obeisaunce Line 502 Ben ȝoures al . and ȝe may saue or spille Ȝour oughne þing . werkiþ after ȝour wille / Line 504

Ther may no þing so god my soule saue Line 505 liken to ȝow þat may displesen me Ne I desire no þing for to haue Ne drede for to lese saue oonly ȝe This wil is in myn hert and ay schal be Line 509 No length of tyme or deþ may þis deface / Ne chaunge my corrage to oþer place / Line 511

Glad was this marquis of hir answeryng Line 512 But ȝit he feyned as he were not so Al dreery was his cheer and his lokyng whan þat he schold out of þe Chambre go Soon after þis a forlong way or tuo Line 516 he priuely haþ told al his entent vnto aman . and vnto his wyf him sent Line 518

A maner Sergeant was þis priue man Line 519 The which þat faithful oft he founden hadde In þinges grete . and eek such folk wel can [folio 123b] Don execucioun in þinges badde The lord knew wel þat he him loued and dradde Line 523 And whan þis sergeant wist his lordes wille In to þe chamber he stalked him ful stille. Line 525

[6-text p 420] Line 525

Ma dame he sayd ȝe most forȝiue it me Line 526 Though I do þing . to which I am constreynit. Ȝe ben so wys þat ful wel knowe ȝe Þat lordes hestes mow not ben I-feynit Thay mowe wel biwayl it or compleyn it/ Line 530 But men moot neede vnto her lust obeye And so wol I þer is no more to seye Line 532

This child I am comaundid for to take / Line 533 And spak no more. but out þe child he hent Dispitously and gan a chiere make As þough he wold han slayn it er he went Grisild moot al suffer and al consent Line 537 And as a lamb sche sitteth meeke and stille / And let þis cruel sergeant doon his wille Line 539

Suspecious was þe defame of þis man Line 540 Suspect his face. suspect his word also / Suspect þe tyme. in which he þis bigan Allas hir doughter þat she loued so Sche wend he wold han slayen it right þo Line 544 But naþeles sche neyþer weep ne siked Conformyng hir to þat þe marquis liked Line 546

But atte last speke sche bigan Line 547 And mekely sche to þe sergeant preyde So as he was a worþy gentil man That she most kisse hir child er þat it deyde And on hir arm þis litel child sche leyde Line 551 wiþ ful sad face. and gan þe child to blesse And lullyd it and after gan it kesse / Line 553

And þus sche sayd in hir benigne vois Line 554 Far wel my child I schal þe neuer see / But sith I þe haue marked wiþ þe croys / Of þilke fader blessed mot þou be

[6-text p 421] That for vs deyde vpon a cros of tre Line 558 Thy soule litel child. I him bytake [folio 124a] For þis night schaltow deyen for my sake / Line 560

I trowe þat to a norice in þis caas Line 561 It had ben hard þis rewthe for to see wel might a moder þan haue cryed allas But naþeles so sad stedefast was sche Þat she endured al aduersite Line 565 And to þe sergeant mekely sche sayde / Haue her agayn ȝour litel ȝonge mayde Line 567

Goth now quod sche and doþ my lordes heste Line 568 But o þing wil I pray ȝow of ȝour grace Þat but my lord forbede ȝow atte leste Burieth þis litel body in som place That bestes ne no briddes it to-race / Line 572 But he no word wil to þe purpos say / But took þe child and went vpon his way Line 574

This sergeant com vnto þis lord agayn Line 575 And of Grisildes wordes and hir cheere He tolde poynt for poynt in schort and playn And him presentith with his douȝter deere Som what þis lord hath rewthe in his manere Line 579 But naþeles his purpos huld he stille / As lordes doon whan þay woln haue her wille Line 581

And bad þe sergeaunt þat he priuely Line 582 Scholde þis childe softe wynde and wrappe / with alle circumstaunces tendurly And cary it in a cofre or in his lappe Vpon peyne his heed of for to swappe Line 586 That no man schulde knowe of þis entent Ne whens he com. ne whider þat he went Line 588

[6-text p 422] Line 588

But at Boloyne to his suster deere Line 589 That þilke tyme of panik was Countesse He schuld it take and schewe hir þis matiere Byseching her to doon hir busynesse This child to fostre in alle gentilesse Line 593 And whos child þat it was he bad hir hyde From euery wight for ought þat mighte bytyde Line 595

The sergeant goþ and haþ fulfild þis þing Line 596 But to þis marquys now retourne we [folio 124b] For now goþ he ful fast ymaginyng If by his wyues cher he mighte se Or by hir word apparceyue þat sche Line 600 were chaunged. but he hir neuer couþe fynde But euer in oon y-like sad and kynde / Line 602

As glad as humble as busy in seruise / Line 603 And eek in loue as sche was wont to be was sche to him in euery maner wyse / Ne of hir doughter nouȝt o word spak sche Non accident/ for noon aduersite Line 607 was seyn in hir ne neuer hir doughter name Ne nempnyd sche. in ernest ne in game [[No break in the MS.]] Line 609

¶ Incipit. Quarta pars.

IN þis estaat þer passed ben foure ȝer Line 610 Er sche wiþ childe was. but as god wolde A knaue child sche bar by þis waltier Ful gracious and fair for to biholde And whan þat folk it/ to his fader tolde Line 614 Nouȝt oonly he. but al his contre merye was for þis child and god þay þank and herie Line 616

When it was tuo ȝer old and fro þe brest Line 617 Departed fro his noris vpon a day This markys caughte ȝit another lest

[6-text p 423] To tempt his wif ȝit after if he may O needles was sche tempted in assay Line 621 But weddid men ne knowen no mesure whan þat þay fynde. a pacient creature Line 623

Wyf quod þis marquys ȝe han herd er þis Line 624 My peple sekly berith oure mariage And namly syn. my sone y-boren is Now is it wors þan euer in al our age The murmur sleþ myn hert and my corrage Line 628 For to myn eeris comeþ þe vois so smerte Þat it wel neigh destroyed haþ myn herte. Line 630

Now say þay þus whan wauter is a goon Line 631 Than schal þe blood of Ianicula succede And ben our lord for oþer haue we noon· Suche wordes saith my poeple out/ of drede / [folio 125a] wel ought I of such murmur taken heede Line 635 For certeynly I drede such sentence Þough þay not pleynly speke in myn audience / Line 637

I wolde lyue in pees if þat I might Line 638 wher for I am disposid outrely As I his suster seruede by night Right so þynk I to serue him priuely This warn I ȝou þat ȝe not sodeinly Line 642 Out of ȝour self for no þing schuld outraye Beþ pacient and þer of I ȝow pray Line 644

I haue quod sche sayd þus and euer schal Line 645 I wol no þing ne nil no þing certayn But as ȝow list. nought greueth me at al Though þat my doughter and my sone be slayn. At ȝour comaundement þis is to sayne Line 649 I haue no had no part of children twayne But first syknes and after wo and payne / Line 651

[6-text p 424] Line 651

Ȝe ben oure lord doth with ȝour owne þing Line 652 Right as ȝow list axith no red of me For as I left at hom al my cloþing whan I first com to ȝow right so quod sche Left I my wille and my liberte / Line 656 And took ȝour cloþing. wher for I ȝow preye Doþ ȝoure plesaunce. I wil ȝoure lust obeye Line 658

And certes if I hadde prescience Line 659 Ȝour wil to knowe. er ȝe ȝoure lust me tolde I wold it doon wiþoute negligence But now I wot ȝour lust and what ȝe wolde Al ȝour plesaunce ferm and stable I holde Line 663 For wist I þat my deth wold don ȝow ease Right gladly wold I deye ȝow to please Line 665

Deth may make no comparisoun Line 666 vnto ȝour loue and whan þis marquys say The constance of his wyf he cast a doun His eyȝen tuo and wondrith þat sche may In pacience suffre al þis array Line 670 And forth he goþ with drery countenaunce But to his hert it was ful gret plesaunce [folio 125b] Line 672

This Igly sergeaunt in þe same wise Line 673 That he hir doughter fette. right so he Or worse if men worse can deuyse hath hent hir sone þat ful was of beaute And euer in oon so pacient was sche Line 677 That sche no cheere made of heuynesse But kist hir sone. and after gan him blesse Line 679

Saue þis sche prayed him if þat he mighte Line 680 her litel sone he wold in eorþe graue His tendre lymes delicate to sight From foules and from bestes him to saue

[6-text p 425] But sche noon answer of him mighte haue Line 684 he went his way as him no þing ne rought But to Boloyne he tenderly it brought Line 686

This marquis wondreth euer þe lenger þe more Line 687 vpon hir pacience. and if þat he Ne hadde soþly knowen þer bifore Þat parfytly hir children loued sche he wold haue wend þat of som subtilte Line 691 And malice or of cruel corrage That sche had suffred þis wiþ sad visage Line 693

But wel he knew þat next himself certayn Line 694 Sche loued hir children best in euery wise But now of wommen wold I aske fayn If þese assayes mighten not suffice what couþe a stourdy housebonde more deuyse Line 698 To prove hir wyfhode and her stedefastnesse / And he contynuyng euer in stourdynesse Line 700

But þer ben folk of such condicioun Line 701 That whan þay haue a certeyn purpos take Thay can nought stynt of her entencioun But right as þay were bounden to a stake / Þay wil not of her firste purpos slake Line 705 Right so þis marquys fullich haþ purposed To tempt his wyf as he was first disposed Line 707

He wayteth if by word or countenaunce Line 708 That sche to him was chaunged of corage But neuer couþe he fynde variaunce [folio 126a] Sche was ay oon in hert and in visage And ay þe ferþer þat sche was in age / Line 712 The more trewe if þat it were possible / Sche was to him and more penyble. Line 714

[6-text p 426] Line 714

For which it semyd þis þat of hem tuo Line 715 Þer nas but oo wil for as walter lest/ The same plesaunce was hir lust also And god by thanked al fel for þe best/ Sche schewed wel. for no worldly vnrest Line 719 A wyf as of hir self no þing ne scholde wylne in effect. but as hir housbond wolde Line 721

The sclaunder of walter ofte and wyde spradde Line 722 That of a cruel hert he wikkedly For he a pore womman weddid hadde hath morthrid boþe his children priuely Such murmur was among hem comunly Line 726 No wonder is for to þe peples eere Ther com no word. but þat þay mortherid were / Line 728

For which wher as his peple þer byfore Line 729 had loued him wel þe sclaunder of his diffame Made hem þat þay him hatede þerfore To ben a mordrer. is an hateful name But naþeles for ernest or for game Line 733 he of his cruel purpos nolde stente To tempt his wyf was set al his entente Line 735

Whan þat his doughter twelf ȝer was of age Line 736 he to þe court of Rome in suche wise Enformed of his wille sent his message Comaundyng hem. such bulles to deuyse As to his cruel purpos may suffise Line 740 how þat þe pope as for his peples reste Bad him to wedde anoþer if him leste Line 742

I say he bad þay schulde countrefete Line 743 The popes bulles makyng mencioun That he haþ leue his firste wyf to lete As by þe popes dispensacioun

[6-text p 427] To stynte rancour and discencioun Line 747 Bitwix his peple and him þus sayd þe bulle [folio 126b] The which þay han publisshid atte fulle / Line 749

The rude poepel as it no wonder is Line 750 wende ful wel þat it had be right so But whan þese tydynges come to Grisildis I deeme þat hir herte was ful wo But sche y-like sad for euermo Line 754 Disposid was þis humble creature Thaduersite of fortun al tendure Line 756

Abydyng euer his lust and his plesaunce Line 757 To whom þat sche was ȝiue hert and al As to hir verray worldly suffisaunce But schortly if I þis story telle schal This marquys writen haþ in special Line 761 A letter in which he schewith his entent And secrely he to Boloyne it sent / Line 763

To therl of panyk/ which þat hadde þo Line 764 weddid his suster prayd he specially To brynge hom aȝein his children tuo In honurable estaat al openly But oon þing he him prayde outerly Line 768 That he to no wight þough men wold enquere Schuld not tellen. whos children þay were Line 770

But say þe mayde. schuld I-weddid be Line 771 vnto þe markys of Saluce anoon And as þis eorl was prayd so dede he For at day set. he on his way is goon Toward Saluce and lordes many oon Line 775 In riche array þis mayden for to guyde hir ȝonge broþer rydyng by hir syde Line 777

[6-text p 428] Line 777

Arrayed was toward hir mariage Line 778 This freisshe may al ful of gemmes clere hir broþer which þat. seuen ȝer was of age Arrayed eek. ful freissh in his manere / And thus in gret noblesse and with glad chere Line 782 Toward Saluces schapyng her iournay Fro day to day þay ryden in her way [[No break in the MS.]] Line 784

¶ Incipit pars Quinta.

AMong al þis after his wikked vsage [folio 127a] Line 785 This marquis ȝit his wif to tempte more To þe vttrest proef of hir corrage Fully to han experiens and lore If þat sche were as stedefast as byfore Line 789 He on a day in open audience Ful boystously haþ sayd hir þis sentence Line 791

Certes Grisildes I had ynough plesaunce Line 792 To haue ȝow to my wif for ȝour goodnesse And for ȝoure trouþe and for ȝour obeissaunce Nought for ȝour lignage ne for ȝour richesse But now know I in verray sothfastnesse / Line 796 That in gret lordschip if I wel auyse / Ther is gret seruise in sondry wyse / Line 798

I may not do as euery plough man may Line 799 My poeple me constreignith for to take Anoþer wyf and certeyn day by day And eek þe popes rancour for to slake Consentith it þat dar I vndertake Line 803 And trewely þus moche I wol ȝow say My newe wif is comyng by þe way Line 805

Be strong of hert and voyde anoon hir place Line 806 And þilke dower þat ȝe broughten me Tak it agayn I graunt it of my grace

[6-text p 429] Retourneth to ȝour fadres hous quod he No man may alway haue prosperite Line 810 with euen hert I rede ȝow endure The strok of fortune or of aduenture Line 812

And sche agayn answerd in pacience Line 813 My lord quod sche I wot and wist/ alway how þat bitwixe ȝour magnificence And my pouerte no wight can ne may Make comparisoun it is no nay Line 817 ¶ I. ne held me neuer digne in no manere To ben ȝour wyf ne ȝit ȝour Chamberere Line 819

And in þis hous þer ȝe me lady made / Line 820 The highe god take I for my witnesse And al so wisly he my soule glade I neuer huld me lady ne maistresse / [folio 127b] But humble seruaunt to ȝour worthinesse Line 824 And euer schal whil þat/ my lyf may dure Abouen euery worldly creature Line 826

That ȝe so longe of ȝour benignite Line 827 han holden me in honour and nobleye wher as I was not worthy for to be That þonk I god and ȝow to whom I preye Forȝeld it ȝow þer is more to seye Line 831 vnto my fader gladly wil I wende And with him duelle vnto my lyues ende / Line 833

Ther I was fostred as a child ful smal Line 834 Til I be deed my lyf ther wil I lede A widow clene in body hert and al For sith I ȝaf to ȝow my maydenhede And am ȝour trewe wyf it is no drede Line 838 God schilde such a lordes wyf to take Anoþer man to housbond or to make Line 840

[6-text p 430] Line 840

And of ȝour newe wif. god of his grace Line 841 So graunte ȝow. wele and prosperite For I wol gladly ȝelden hir my place I which þat I was blisful wont to be For sith it liketh ȝow my lord quod sche Line 845 That whilom were al myn hertes reste That I schal gon. I wil go whan ȝow leste Line 847

But þer as ȝe profre me such dowayre / Line 848 As I ferst brought. it is wel in my mynde It were my wrecchid cloþes no þing faire Þe whiche to me were hard now for to fynde O goode god. how gentil and how kynde Line 852 Ȝe semed by ȝour speche and ȝour visage That day þat maked was our mariage Line 854

But soþ is sayd algate I fynd it trewe / Line 855 For in effect. it/ proued is on me loue is nought old. as whan þat it is newe/ But certes lord for noon aduersite / To deyen in þe caas it schal not be / Line 859 Þat euer in word or werk I schal repente That I ȝow ȝaf myn hert in hol entente [folio 128a] Line 861

My lord ȝe wot þat in my fadres place Line 862 Ȝe dede me strippe out of my pore wede And richely me cladden of ȝour grace To ȝow brought I nought elles out of drede But faith and mekenes and maydenhede / Line 866 And her agayn my cloþyng I restore And eek my weddyng ryng for euermore Line 868

The remenant of ȝour jewels redy be / Line 869 wiþin ȝour chambur dore dar I saufly sayn Naked out of my fadres hous quod sche / I com and naked moot I torne agayn

[6-text p 431] Al ȝour pleisauns. wold I fulfille fayn Line 873 But ȝit I hope it be not ȝoure entent That I smocles out of ȝour chambre went Line 875

Ȝe couþe not doon so dishonest a þing Line 876 Þat þilke wombe in which ȝour children leye Schulde byforn þe poeple in my walkyng Be seye al bare wher-fore I ȝow pray let me not lik a worm go by þe way / Line 880 Remembre ȝow myn oughne lord so deere / I was ȝour wyf. þough I vnworþy were Line 882

Wherfor in guerdoun of my maydenhede Line 883 which þat I brought and nought agayn I bere As voucheth sauf. as ȝeue me to my meede Such a smok as I was wont to were That I þer with may wrye þe wombe of here / Line 887 Þat was ȝour wif and here take I my leue Of ȝow myn oughne lord. lest I ȝow greue Line 889

The smok quod he þat þou hast on þy bak Line 890 let it be stille and ber it forþ wiþ þe But wel vnnethes þilke word he spak But went his way for routhe and for pite Byforn þe folk hir seluen strippith sche / Line 894 And in hir smok. wiþ heed and foot al bare Toward hir fader house forth is sche fare Line 896

The folk hir folwen wepyng in hir weye Line 897 And fortune ay þay cursen as þay goon But/ sche fro wepyng kept hir eyen dreye [folio 128b] Ne in þis tyme word ne spak sche noon hir fader þat þis tyding herd anoon Line 901 Cursed þe day and tyme þat nature Schoop him to ben a lyues creature Line 903

[6-text p 432] Line 903

For out of doute þis olde þore man Line 904 was euer in suspect of hir mariage For euer he deemed sith þat it bigan That whan þe lord fulfilled had his corrage him wolde þinke þat it were disparage Line 908 To his estate . so lowe for to light And voyden hire as sone as euer he might Line 910

Agayns his doughter hastily quod he Line 911 For he by noyse of folk knew hir comyng And wiþ hir olde cote as it might be / he couered hir ful sorwfully wepynge But on hir body might he it nouȝt bringe Line 915 For rude was þe cloth . and sche mor of age By deyes fele . þan hir mariage Line 917

Thus with hir fader for a certeyn space Line 918 Dwellith þis flour of wifly pacience That neyther by her wordes ne by hir face Byforn þe folk nor eek in her absence Ne schewed sche that hir was doon offence Line 922 Ne of hir highe astaat no remembraunce Ne hadde sche . as by hir countenaunce Line 924

No wonder is for in hir gret estate Line 925 hir gost was euer in playn humilite Ne tender mouth noon herte delicate Ne pompe . ne semblant of realte But ful of pacient benignite Line 929 Discrete and prideles ay honurable / And to hir housbond euer meke · and stable Line 931

Men speke of Iob . and most for his humblesse /· Line 932 As clerkes whan hem lust can wel endite Namely of men . but as in sothfastnesse Þough clerkes prayse wommen but a lite

[6-text p 433] Þer can no man in humblesse him acquyte Line 936 As wommen can . ne can be half so trewe [folio 129a] As wommen ben . but it be falle of newe [[No break in the MS.]] Line 938

Fro boloyne is þis erl of panik y-come Line 939 Of which þe fame vp sprong to more and lasse And to þe poeples eeres alle and some was couth eek þat a newe marquisesse he wiþ him brought in such pomp and richesse Line 943 That neuer was þer seyn with mannes ye So noble array in al west lombardye Line 945

The marquys which þat schoop and knew al þis Line 946 Er þat þis erl was come sent his message / After þilk cely pore Grisildis And sche wiþ humble hert and good visage Not with so swollen hert in hir corrage Line 950 Cam at his hest . and on hir knees hir sette And reuerently and wyfly sche him grette Line 952

Grisild quod he . my wil is outrely Line 953 This mayden þat schal weddid be to me Receyued be to morwe as really As it possible is in myn hous to be And eek þat euery wight in his degre Line 957 haue his estaat in sittyng and seruyse In high plesaunce as I can deuyse Line 959

I haue no womman suffisant certeyne Line 960 The chambres for tarray in ordinance After my lust and þerfor wold I feyne / That þin were al such maner gouernaunce Thow knowest/ eek of al my plesaunce Line 964 Though þyn array be badde and ille byseye Do þou þy deuer atte leste weye Line 966

[6-text p 434] Line 966

Nought oonly lord þat I am glad quod sche / Line 967 To don ȝour lust . but I desire also / Ȝow for to serue and plese in my degre wiþoute feynyng and schal euer mo Ne neuer for no wele ne for no wo Line 971 Ne schal þe gost wiþinne myn herte stente / To loue ȝow best wiþ al my trewe entent Line 973

And wiþ þat word sche gan þe hous to dight Line 974 And tables for to sette and beddes make [folio 129b] And peyned hir to doon al þat sche might Preying þe chamberers for goddes sake To hasten hem and faste swepe and schake Line 978 And sche þe moste seruisable of alle / haþ euery chamber arrayed and his halle / Line 980

Abouten vndern gan þis lord alight Line 981 Þat with him brought þese noble children tweye For which þe peple ran to se þat sight Of her array so richely biseye And þan at erst amonges hem þay seye Line 985 That walter was no forþ þough that him lest To chaunge his wyf . for it was for þe best / Line 987

For sche is fairer . as þay demen alle / Line 988 Than is Grisild and more tender of age And fairer fruyt bitwen hem schulde falle And more plesaunt for hir high lynage hir broþer eek . so fair was of visage Line 992 That hem to seen þe peple haþ caught plesaunce Comending now þe marquys gouernaunce Line 994

O stormy poeple . vnsad and euer vntrewe Line 995 And vndiscret and chaungyng as a fane Desyryng euer in rombel þat is newe For lik þe moone ay wax ȝe and wane

[6-text p 435] Ay ful of clappyng dere ynough a Iane Line 999 ȝoure doom is fals ȝour constaunce yuel preuith A ful gret fool is he that on ȝow leeuith Line 1001

Thus sayde saad folk in þat Citee Line 1002 whan þat þe poeple gased vp and doun For þay were glad right of þe nouelte To han a newe lady of her toun No more of þis now make I mencioun Line 1006 But to Grisildes agayn wol I me dresse And telle hir constance and hir busynesse / Line 1008

Ful busy was grisild in euery þing Line 1009 That to þe feste was appertinent Right nought was sche abaissht of hir cloþing Though it were ruyde . and som del eek torent But wiþ glad cheer to þe ȝate is sche went [folio 130a] Line 1013 with oþer folk to griete þe marquisesse And after þat doth forth hir busynesse / Line 1015

With so glad chier his gestes sche receyueth Line 1016 And so connyngly euerich in his degre / That no defaute no man aparceyueth But ay þay wondren what sche mighte be That in so pouer array was for to se Line 1020 And couþe such honour and reuerence And worthily þay prayse hir prudence Line 1022

In al þis mene while sche ne stent Line 1023 This mayde and eek hir brother to comende with al hir hert . in ful buxom entent So wel þat no man couþe hir pris amende But atte last whan þat þese lordes wende Line 1027 To sitte doun to mete he gan to calle / Grisild as sche was busy in his halle Line 1029

[6-text p 436] Line 1029

Grisyld quod he as it were in his play Line 1030 how likith þe my wif and hir beaute Right wel my lord quod sche for in good fay A fairer saugh I neuer noon þan sche I pray to god ȝiue hir prosperite Line 1034 And so hope I . þat he wol to ȝow sende Plesaunce ynough vnto ȝour lyues ende / Line 1036

On þing warn I ȝow and biseke also / Line 1037 That ȝe ne prike wiþ no tormentynge Þis tendre mayden as ȝe haue do mo For sche is fostrid in hir norischinge More tendrely and to my supposynge / Line 1041 Sche couþe not aduersite endure As couþe a pore fostrid creature Line 1043

And whan þis walter saugh hir pacience Line 1044 hir glade cheer and no malice at al And he so oft had doon to hir offence And sche ay sad . and constant as a wal Continuyng euer hir Innocence oueral Line 1048 This sturdy marquys gan his herte dresse To Rewen vpon hir wyfly stedefastnesse / Line 1050

This is ynough Grisilde myn quod he [folio 130b] Line 1051 Be now no more agast ne yuel apayed I haue thy faith and þy benignite As wel as euer womman was assayed In gret estate and propreliche arrayed Line 1055 Now knowe I dere wyf þy stedefastnesse And hir in armes took and gan hir kesse Line 1057

And sche for wonder took of it no keepe Line 1058 Sche herde not what þing he to hir sayde Sche ferd as sche had stert out of a sleepe Til sche out of hir masidnesse abrayde

[6-text p 437] Grisild quod he by god þat for vs deyde Line 1062 Thou art my wyf ne noon oþer I haue Ne neuer had as god my soule saue Line 1064

This is my doughter which þou hast supposed Line 1065 To be my wif þat oþer faithfully Schal be myn heir as I haue ay purposed Thow bar hem in þy body trewely At Boloyne haue I kept hem priuely Line 1069 Tak hem agayn for now maistow not seye That þou hast lorn noon of þy children tweye Line 1071

And folk þat oþer weyes han seyd of me Line 1072 I warn hem wel þat I haue doon þis deede For no malice ne for no cruelte But for tassaye in þe þy wommanhede And not to slen my children god forbede Line 1076 But for to kepe hem priuely and stille Til I þy purpos knowe and al þy wille Line 1078

Whan sche þis herd a swoned doun sche fallith Line 1079 For pitous ioy . and after her swownyng Sche bothe hir ȝonge children to hir callith And in hir armes pitously wepyng Embraseth hem and tenderly kissyng Line 1083 Ful lik a moder with hir salte teris Sche bathis boþe hir visage and hir eeris Line 1085

O such a pitous þing it was to see [[This line is repeated in the MS., but has been scratcht out.]] hir swownyng and hir humble vois to heere Graunt mercy lord . god thank it ȝow quod sche [folio 131a] That ȝe han kept my children so deere Now rek I neuer to be deed right heere Line 1090 Sith I stond in ȝour loue and in ȝour grace No fors of deth ne whan my spirit pace Line 1092

[6-text p 438] Line 1092

O tender deere . ȝonge children myne Line 1093 Ȝoure woful moder wende stedefastly That cruel houndes or som foul vermyne had eten ȝow but god of his mercy And ȝour benigne fader tenderly Line 1097 hath doon ȝow kept and in þat same stounde Al sodeinly sche swapped doun to grounde / Line 1099

And in hir swough so sadly holdith sche Line 1100 hir children tuo . whan sche gan hem tembrace That with gret sleight and gret difficulte The children from her am þay gonne arace O many a teer . o many a pitous face. Line 1104 Doun ran of hem þat stooden hir bisyde Vnnethe aboute hir mighte þay abyde Line 1106

Waltier hir gladith and hir sorwe slakith Line 1107 Sche rysith vp abaisshed from hir traunce And euery wight hir ioy and feste makith Til sche hath caught agayn hir continaunce wauter hir doth so faithfully plesaunce Line 1111 That it was daynte for to see þe cheere Bitwix hem tuo . now þay be met in feere Line 1113

These ladys whan þat þay her tyme say Line 1114 han taken hir and in to chambre goon And strippen hir . out of hir rude array And in a cloth of gold þat brighte schon with a coroun of many a riche stoon Line 1118 vpon hir heed þay in to halle hir brought And þer sche was honoured as hir ought Line 1120

Thus hath þis pitous day a blisful ende Line 1121 For euery man and womman doth his might This day in mirth and revel to despende Til on þe welken schon þe sterres bright

[6-text p 439] For more solempne in euery mannes sight Line 1125 This feste was and gretter of costage [folio 131b] Than was þe reuel of hir mariage / Line 1127

Ful many a ȝer in heigh prosperite Line 1128 lyuen þese tuo in concord and in rest And richeliche his doughter maried he vnto a lord on of þe worthiest Of al ytaile and þanne in pees and rest Line 1132 His wyues fader in his court he kepith Til þat þe soule out of his body crepith Line 1134

His sone succedith in his heritage Line 1135 In rest and pees . after his fader day And fortunat . was eek in mariage Al put he not his wyf in gret assay This world is not so strong it is no nay Line 1139 As it haþ ben in olde tymes ȝore And herknith what þis auctor saith þerfore Line 1141

This story is sayd nat for þat wyues scholde Line 1142 Folwe Grisild . as in humilite For it were importable þough þay wolde But for þat euery wight in his degre Schulde be constant . in aduersite Line 1146 As was Grisild . therfore Petrark writeth This story which wiþ high stile he enditeth Line 1148

For swich a womman was so pacient Line 1149 vnto a mortal man wel more vs oughte Receyuen al in gre þat god vs sent For gret skil is he proue þat he wroughte But he ne temptith no man þat he boughte Line 1153 As saith seint Iame if he his pistil rede he prouith folk al day it is no drede Line 1155

[6-text p 440] Line 1155

And suffrith vs as for our exercise Line 1156 wiþ scharpe scourges of aduersite Ful ofte to be bete in sondry wise Nought for to knowe oure wille for certes he Er we were born . knew al our frelte Line 1160 And for oure best is al his gouernaunce Leet vs þanne lyue in vertuous suffraunce Line 1162

But oo word lordes herkneth er I go Line 1163 It were ful hard to fynde now a dayes [folio 132a] As Grisildes in al a toun þre or tuo For if þat þay were put to such assayes The gold of hem haþ now so badde alayes Line 1167 with bras þat þough þe coyn be fair at ye hit wolde raþer brest in tuo þan plye Line 1169

For which heer for þe wyues loue of bathe Line 1170 whos lyf and alle of hir secte god meyntene In high maistry and elles were it scathe I wil with lusty herte freisch and grene Say ȝow a song to glade . ȝow I wene Line 1174 And lat vs stynt of ernestful matiere herknith my song . þat saith in þis manere / [[No break in the MS.]] Line 1176

¶ Lenvoye . de Chaucer.

GRisild is deed and eek hir pacience Line 1177 And bothe at oones buried in Itayle For whiche I crye in open audience / Line 1179 No weddid man so hardy be to assayle his wyues pacience in hope to fynde Grisildes for in certeyn he schal fayl Line 1182

[6-text p 441] Line 1182

O noble wyues ful of heigh prudence / Line 1183 let noon humilite ȝour tonges nayle Ne lat no clerk haue cause or diligence Line 1185 To write of ȝow a story of such meruayle / As of Grisildes pacience and kynde Lest Chichiuache ȝow swolwe in hir entraile Line 1188

Folwith Ecco þat holdith no silence Line 1189 But euer answereth at þe countretayle Beþ nouȝt bydaffed for ȝour Innocence Line 1191 But scharply tak on ȝow þe gouernayle Empryntith wel þis lessoun in ȝour mynde For comun profyt sith it may auayle Line 1194

Ȝe archewyues stondith at defens Line 1195 Syn ȝe ben strong as is a greet/ Chamayle Ne suffre not þat men ȝow don offens Line 1197 And sclendre wydewes felle as in batayle Beth egre as is a Tyger ȝond in Inde Ay clappith as a mylle I ȝow counsaile Line 1200

Ne drede hem not . do hem no reuerence [folio 132b] Line 1201 For þough þin housbond armed be in mayle The arwes of þy crabbid eloquence Line 1203 Schal perse his brest and eek his aduentayle / In gelousy I rede eek þou him bynde And þou schalt make him couche as doth a quayle Line 1206

If þou be fair þer folk ben in presence Line 1207 Schew þou þy visage and þin apparaile If þou be foul be fre of þy despense Line 1209 To gete þe frendes do ay þy trauayle / Be ay of chier as light as lef on lynde / And let hem care and wepe and wryng and wayle Line 1212

Explicit.