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

[6-text p 405]

And here bygynneþ þe clerk his tale [on leaf 160]

Ther is at þe west side of ytayle [¶ The tale;/] Doune at þe rote of vesulus þe cold A lusty pleyn abundant of vitaile wher mony a toune & tour [[& tour inter|lined by perhaps a later hand]] þou maist bihold þat founded were in tyme of elders olde And mony anoþer delectable siȝt And saluce þis noble cuntre hiȝt Line 63

A Marquis whilom [lord] was in þat lond Line 64 As were his worþi elders hym bifore And Obeisaunt and redy to his hond Were alle his leeges boþ lasse and more Line 67 Þus in delite he lyued and haþ do ȝore Be-loued and drad þourgh fauour of fortune Boþ of his lordys and of his comune Line 70

Therwiþ he was to speke of lynage Line 71 The gentelest y-born of al lumbardy A faire persone . stronge and ȝenge of age And ful of honure and curteisie Line 74 Discrete ynouȝe his cuntrey forto gye Saue in some þingges he was to blame And Water was þis yonge lordes name Line 77

I blame him þus þat he considered nouȝt Line 78 In tyme commynge what myȝt betide But on his lust present was al his þouȝt [folio 160b] And forto hauke and hunte on euery side Line 81 Wel nye al oþer cures lete he slide And eke he ne wold þat was worst of all Wedde no wif for ouȝt myȝt byfall Line 84

[6-text p 406] Line 84

Only þat pointe his puple bere so sore Line 85 þat flok-mele on a day þei [to him] went And oon of hem þat wisest was of lore Or ellis þat þe lorde wold best assent Line 88 þat he shulde telle hym what his puple ment Or ellis coude he wel shewe such matere He to þe Marquis seide as ȝe mowe here Line 91

(6)

O Noble Marquis ȝoure humanitee Line 92 Assureþ vs and ȝeueth vs hardynesse As ofte tyme as it is necessite That we ȝou mow telle our heuynesse Line 95 Accepteþ lord of ȝour gentilnesse þat we to ȝowe wiþ pitous hert compleyne And lat ȝoure eeres not my vois disdeyne Line 98

(7)

Al haue I nouȝt to done in þis matere Line 99 More þan anoþer haþ in þis place ȝit for as moche as ȝe my lord so dere Haue alway shewed [me] fauour and grace Line 102 I dare þe better aske of ȝou a space Of audience to shewen our request And ȝe my lord to done riȝt as ȝou lest Line 105

(8)

For certes lord so wel vs likeþ ȝou Line 106 And alle ȝoure werkes and euer han do þat we Ne cowde nat our owne silf devisen howe We myȝt more lyve in felicite Line 109 Saue oo þinge lord if it ȝour wille be That to be a wedded man if ȝou list Than were our puple in souereyn hertes rest [folio 161a] Line 112

(9)

Boweþ ȝoure nek vndere þat blisful ȝok Line 113 Of souereynte nouȝt of seruise Which men clepe spousale or wedlok And þenkeþ lord among ȝoure þouȝtes wise Line 116

[6-text p 407] Line 116 That of wedloke commeþ grete emprise ffor þouȝe we slepe or wake ronne or ride Ay fleeþ þe tyme it wil no man abide. Line 119

(10)

And þouȝe ȝour grene ȝouþe growe as ȝit Line 120 In crepeþ age alway as stille as stone And deþe manaseþ euery age and smyt In eche astate for þer ascapeþ noon Line 123 And also certeyn as we knowe euerichon Þat we shul dye as vncerteyn we all Ben of þat day þat deþ shal on vs falle Line 126

(11)

Accepteth þan of vs þe trewe entent Line 127 That neuere ȝit refused your heest And we wil al lord ȝif ȝe wil assent Chese ȝou a wif in short tyme at the lest Line 130 Born of þe gentelest and of þe mest Of al þis londe so þat it out seme Honure to god and ȝou. so as we con deme Line 133

(12)

Delyuere vs of al þis bysy drede Line 134 And take a wif for hiȝe goddis sake ffor ȝif it byfelle so as god forbede þat þourgh deþ ȝour lynage shuld sclake Line 137 And a straunge lynage shuld take Ȝour heritage. oo woo were vs alyue Wherfore we prey ȝou hastely to wif Line 140

(13)

Her meke preier & her pitous chere Line 141 Made þ^e Marquis haue such pite Wil ȝe quod he myne owne puple dere [folio 161b] To þat I neuer erst þouȝt constreyne me Line 144 I me reioyse not of my liberte þat seelden tyme is found in mariage Ther I was free I mot bene in seruage Line 147

[6-text p 408] Line 147

But naþelees I se ȝoure trewe entent Line 148 And trust vpon ȝou and haue don ay Wherfore of my fre wille I assent To wedde me as sone as euer I may Line 151 But þer as ȝe han profered me to day To chese me a wif I ȝou relese That chois; & prei ȝou of ȝour propher cese Line 154

(15)

For god it wote þat children oft ben Line 155 Vnlike her worþi eldres hem bifore Bounte commeþ al of god not of þ^e strene Of which þei ben engendred and ybore Line 158 I Trust in goddys bounte and þerfore My mariage and my astate and rest I hym bitake he may do as hym lest Line 161

(16)

Lat me allone in chesing of my wiff Line 162 That charge vpon my bak I wil endure But I ȝou prey and charge vpon ȝour lif Þat wif þat I take ȝe me ensure Line 165 To worship hur whil our lyf endure In worde and werke boþ here and ellys where As she an emperours douȝter were Line 168

(17)

And ferþermore þis shullen ȝe swere þat ȝe Line 169 Aȝeinst my chose shul neiþer grucche ne stryue ffor siþ I shal forgo my liberte At ȝoure request as euer mot I thryue Line 172 Ther as myn hert is sette þer wil I wyue And but ȝe wollen assent in such manere I prey ȝou spekeþ no more of þis matere [folio 162a] Line 175

(18)

Wiþ harty wille þei sweren and assenten Line 176 To al þis þinge þer seide no wiȝt nay Bisechinge hym of grace er þei wenten That he hem wold graunten a certeyn day Line 179

[6-text p 409] Line 179 Of his spousale as sone as euer he may ffor ȝit alway þe puple somwhat dredde Lesse þis Marquis wol no wif wedde Line 182

He graunted hem a day such as hym lest Line 183 On which he wolde be wedded sikerly And seide he did al þis at her request And þei wiþ humble entent ful buxomly Line 186 Knelinge vpon her knees ful reuerently Hym þonken alle and þus þei han an ende Of her entent and home aȝein þei wende Line 189

And here vpon he toke his officers Line 190 Commaundinge for þe fest to purueye And to his privey knyȝtes and sqwiers Such charge ȝaf hem . as hym lust on hem to leye Line 193 And þei his comaundementz to obeye And ech of hem doþ his diligence To done vnto þe fest reuerence Line 196

[PART THE SECOND.]

Nouȝt fer from þilk place honurable Line 197 wher as þis Marquis shope his mariage þer stoode a Thrope of siȝt delectable In which poor folk of þat vilage Line 200 Hadden her beestes and her harbigage And of her labour toke her sustinaunce After þe erþe hem ȝaue abundaunce Line 203

Among þise poor folk þer dwelled a man Line 204 which þat was holden porest of hem all But hegh god somtyme sende can [folio 162b] His grace vnto a litel oxes stall Line 207 Ianicula men of þat thrope hym calle A doughter had he faire and ȝong of siȝt And Grisild þis ȝonge maiden hiȝt Line 210

[6-text p 410] Line 210

But forto speke of vertuous bewte Line 211 þan was she oon þe fairest vnder sonne fful poorly yfostred was she No licorousnesse was on her lust yronne Line 214 Wel ofter of þe well þan of þe tunne She drank / and for she wole vertue plese She knewe wel labour but non ydel ese Line 217

(24)

But þouȝe þis maide were tender of age Line 218 Ȝit in þe brest of her virginite þere was enclosed ripe and sad corage And in grete reuerence and in grete charite Line 221 Her olde poor fadere fostred shee A fewe shepe spynnyng on þe felde she kept She wolde not ben ydel til she sclepte Line 224

(25)

And whan she homward come she wolde bringe Line 225 wortes and herbes tymes ful oft which she shradde and siþ for her lyuyng And made her bedde ful hard and no þing soft Line 228 And euere she kept her faders lif on loft wiþ euery obeisaunce and diligence That childe may do to faders reuerence Line 231

(26)

Vppon Grisilde þe poor creature Line 232 fful oft haþ Marquis sette hys eye As he on hundyinge rode perauenture And whan it felle þat he myȝt hir espye Line 235 he not wiþ wa[n]ton lokinge of foly his eyen cast vpon hur but in sad wise Vpon her chere he wold hym oft avise [folio 163a] Line 238

(27)

Commending in his hert her wommanhede Line 239 And eke her vertue passing eny wiȝt Of so ȝonge age as wel in chere as in dede ffor þouȝe þe puple haue no gret insiȝt Line 242

[6-text p 411] Line 242 In vertue he considered ful riȝt Her bewte and disposed þat he wold Hir wedde if euer he wedde shuld Line 245

(28)

The day of weddyng come but no wiȝt can Line 246 Telle what womman it shuld be ffor which mervaile wondred mony man And seiden whan þei weren in priuete Line 249 wil not our lorde leue his vanyte wil he not wedde alas alas þe while whi wil he hym self and vs þus begile Line 252

(29)

But na-þe-lees þis marquis haþ do make Line 253 Of Gemmes sette in gold and in asure Broches and ryngges for grisild sake And of her cloþing toke he þe mesure Line 256 Of a maide like to her stature And eke of oþer ornamentes all þat to such a wedding shul fall Line 259

(30)

The tyme of vndern þe same day Line 260 Approcheþ þat þis wedding shulde be And all þe paleys putt was in aray Both halle and chambres ech in his degre Line 263 Houses of office . stuffed wiþ grete plente Þer maist þou see of deynteuous vitaile þat may be found as fer as lasteþ ytaile Line 266

(31)

This rial Marquis rially araied. Line 267 lordys and ladys in his companye þe which to þe feest were preied / [folio 163b] And of his retenwe þe bachelerye Line 270 wiþ mony a soune of sondry melodye vnto þe vilage [of þe] which I told In þis aray þe riȝte way haþ hold Line 273

[6-text p 412] Line 273

Griseld god wote of þis ful Innocent Line 274 þat for hure was shape al þis aray To fecchen watere at þe welle is went And commeþ home as sone as euer she may Line 277 ffor wel she herd say þat ilk day þat Marquis shuld wedde and if she myȝt She wold fayn see somme of þat siȝt Line 280

(33)

She þouȝt I wil wiþ oþer maidens stond Line 281 þat bene my felawes in oure door and see The Marquis and þerfor wil I fonde To done at home as sone as it may be Line 284 Þe laboure which þat longeþ vnto me And þan may I at leisere it byhold If she þis way to þe castel holde Line 287

(34)

And as she wolde ouer þe thresshold gon Line 288 The Marquis come and can hur forto calle And she sette doune her water pot anon beside þe thresshold of þe oxes stalle Line 291 And doun vpon her knees she gan to falle And wiþ sadde countenaunce kneled stille Til she had herde what was þe lordes wille Line 294

(35)

This þouȝtful Marquys spake vnto þis maide Line 295 wel soberly and seide in þis manere where is ȝoure fader Griseld he seide And she wiþ reuerence and meke chere Line 298 Answered lord he is al redy here And Inne she gooþ wiþ-out lenger lette And to þe Marquis she her fadere fette. [folio 164a] Line 301

(36)

He by þe honde þan toke þis olde man Line 302 And seide him þus whan he hym had a side Ianicula I neiþer may ne can lenger þe plesaunce of myn herte hide Line 305

[6-text p 413] Line 305 If þat ȝe vouchesauf what so be-tide þi douȝter wil I take er þat I wende As for my wif to my lyues end Line 308

(37)

Thow louest me I woot wel certeyn Line 309 And art my feiþ-ful liege man ybore And al þat likeþ me I dar wel seyn It likeþ þe and specialy þerfore Line 312 Tel me þat poynt þat I haue seide byfore If þat þowe wolde vnto þat purpoos drawe To take me as for þine sone in lawe Line 315

(38)

The sodeyn caas þe man astonyed soo / Line 316 þat rede he wexe al basshed and al quakinge He stood and vnneþes seide wordes moo But only þus lord quod he my willinge Line 319 Is as ȝe wol not aȝeinst ȝour likinge I wil no þinge ȝe be my lorde so dere Riȝt as ȝou lest gouerneþ þis matere Line 322

(39)

Than wil I do þus quod Marquis softly Line 323 þat in to þe chambre I and þou. and she haue a collacion and woost þou why ffor I wil aske hur ȝif hir wil be Line 326 To be my wif and rewle hir after me And al þis she shal done in þi presence I wil not speke out of þine audience Line 329

(40)

And in þe Chambere while þei were aboute Line 330 Her tretis which ȝe shul after here Þe puple come into þe hous withoute And wondred hem in howe honest manere [folio 164b] Line 333 And tentifly she kepte hur fadere dere But vtterly grisild wonder myȝt ffor neuere erst sey she shuch a siȝt Line 336

[6-text p 414] Line 336

No wonder is þouȝe she be astonyed Line 337 To se so grete a gest come in þat place She was neuere to suche gestys wonned ffor which she loked wiþ ful pale face Line 340 But shortly fro þis matere forto pace Thise were þe wordes þat þis marquis saide To þis benygne verrey feiþful mayde Line 343

(42)

Grisyle he seide ȝe wol wel vnderstonde Line 344 It likeþ vnto ȝoure fadere and me Þat I ȝou wedde and eke it may so stonde As I suppose þat ȝe wil it so be Line 347 But þis demaunde I axe furst quod he That siþen it shal be don on hastif wise Wol ȝe assent or ellis ȝowe avise Line 350

(43)

I seye þis be ȝe redy with good hert Line 351 To al my lust and þat I frely may As me best þenkeþ do ȝou lawgh or smert And ȝe neuer gruch nyȝt ne day Line 354 And eke whan I seie ȝe say ȝe not nay Neiþer be word ne fraward countenance Swere þis and here I swere our aliance Line 357

(44)

WOndringe vpon þis worde quaking for drede Line 358 She seide Indigne and vnworþi Am I to þat [honour] þat ȝe me bede But riȝt as ye wil ȝour self riȝt so wil I Line 361 And [here] I swere þat neuer willingly In word ne þouȝt I neuere ȝou disobeye ffor to be dede þouȝe me were loþe to deye Line 364

(45)

This is ynowe Grisile myn quod he [folio 165a] Line 365 And forþ he goþ wiþ a sobre chere Out at þe door after cam she And to þe puple he seide in þis manere Line 368

[6-text p 415] Line 368 This is my wif quod he þat stondeþ here Honoureþ hir and loueth [hire] I prey Who so loueþ me þer nys no more to seye Line 371

(46)

And for no þing of hure olde gere Line 372 She shuld bring to his hous he bade þat wommen shulden spulen hir riȝt þere Of which þe ladies were not riȝt glade Line 375 To handel her cloþes in which she was clad But naþeles þis maiden briȝt of hwe ffrom fote to hede ycloþed han al newe Line 378

(47)

Her heres han þei kembed þat lay vntressed Line 379 wel rwdely with her fyngeres smale And a crowne on her hede þei han dressed Isette ful of owches grete and smal Line 382 Of hir aray what shuld I make a tale Vnneþes þe puple hir knewe for her fairnesse Whan she transformed was in such richesse Line 385

(48)

¶ This Marquis haþ hure spoused wiþ a rynge Line 386 Bouȝt for þe same cause an þan hir sette vppon an hors snowe white and wel amblynge And to his palaies er he lenger lette Line 389 Wiþ Ioiful puple þat he lad and mette Conveied hir and þus þe day þei spende In reuel to þe sonne canne descende Line 392

(49)

And shortely forþ þis tale forto chace Line 393 I sey þat to þis newe Marquissesse God haþ ysent such favour of his grace þat it semed not as by liknesse Line 396 That she was born and fedde in rudenesse [folio 165b] As in a Cote ar in an oxes stalle But norshed in an Emperours halle Line 399

[6-text p 416] Line 399

To euery wiȝt she woxen is so dere Line 400 And worshipful þat folk þer she was bore And from her birth knewe her fro ȝere to ȝere Vnneþ trowed þei but durst haue swore Line 403 þat to Ianicle of which I speke byfore She douȝtere ne were for as by coniecture hem þouȝt she was a noþer creature Line 406

(51)

ffor [þouȝe] þat euere vertuous was she Line 407 She was encresed in such excellence Of thewe sette in high bounte And so discrete and faire of eloquence Line 410 So benygne and digne of reuerence And coude þe puples hertes so enbrace þat ech her loued þat loked on her face Line 413

(52)

Nouȝt only of saluce in þe toun Line 414 Publisshed was þe bounte of her name And eke be-side in mony a regioun If oon seide wel anoþer seide þe same Line 417 So spradde of hure bounte þe fame That men and wommen boþ ȝonge and olde Goon to saluse hur to be-holde Line 420

(53)

This walter . lowly nay but ryally Line 421 weddeþ wiþ fortune honeste In goddes pees lyuen wel esely At hoom and outward grace ynoȝe had he Line 424 And for he sawe vnder lowe degre was oft vertue hid þe puple hym helde A prudent man and þat is sene wel selde Line 427

(54)

Nouȝt only Grisile þus þorgh her witte Line 428 Couþe al þe fete of wively humblenesse [folio 166a] But eke whan þe cas required it The comon profite coude she redresse Line 431

[6-text p 417] Line 431 Ther nas no discord rancour ne heuynesse In al þe londe þat she ne coude it cese And bring hem al wisely in rest and ese Line 434

Though þat hur husbond present were anon Line 435 ȝif Gentil men or oþer of her contre were wrooþ she cowde bringe hem at on So wise and rype wordes had she Line 438 And Iuggement of so grete equite That she fro heuene was as men wende [[this line is re|peated in the MS.]] Puple to saue and euery wrong tamende Line 441

Not longe tyme aftere þat þis grisild Line 442 Was wedded she a douȝter haþ ybore Al had she leuer born a knaue child Glad was þe Marquis and his folk þerfore Line 445 ffor þouȝe a mayde childe come al byfore She may to a knaue childe atteyne By liklihede siþens she is not bareyne Line 448

[THE THIRD PART.]

Therfor as it falleþ tymes moo Line 449 That þis childe haþ sowked but a thrawe This marquis in his hert longeþ so To tempte his wif her sadnesse to knowe Line 452 Þat he ne myȝt fro his hert throwe Þis merveilous desire his wif tassay Naþe-lees god wote he þouȝt hir to affray Line 455

He had assaied hir ynouȝe to-fore Line 456 And fonde hur euer good what nedeþ It Hir forto torment and alway more and more þouȝe somme preise it for a subtile witte Line 459 But as for me I saie þat euel it sitte [folio 166b] To assaie a wif whan it is no nede And putten hure in angwissh and in drede Line 462

[6-text p 418] Line 462

For which þis Marquis wrouȝt in þis ma[ne]re Line 463 He came a nyght alon þer as she lay wiþ steerne face and trouble chere And seide þoo Griseld quoþ he þat day Line 466 þat I ȝou toke out of ȝoure poor aray And putte ȝou in estate of hie noblesse ȝe han not ȝit forȝeten as I gesse Line 469

(60)

I seye Griseld þis present dignite Line 470 In which I haue put ȝou as I trowe Makeþ not ȝou forȝetful forto be þat I ȝou toke in poor estate ful lowe Line 473 ffor eny þinge ȝe mote ȝoure seluen knowe Take hede of euery word þat I ȝou seie ther is no wiȝt þat hereþ þis but we tweye Line 476

(61)

Ȝe wote ȝour self wele howe þat ȝe come here Line 477 Into þis hous it is not long ago And þouȝe to me ȝe be leef and dere vnto my gentiles ȝe be no þing so Line 480 þei seyn to hem it is grete shame and woo fforto be sogette and in seruage To þe þat art born of so lowe lynage Line 483

(62)

And namely siþ þi douȝter was bore Line 484 þise wordes han þei spoke doutlees But I desire as I haue don byfore To lyve my lif wiþ hem in rest and pees Line 487 I may not in þis cas bene rechelees I most don wiþ [þi] douȝtere for þe best nouȝt as I wold but as my gentils lest Line 490

(63)

And ȝit god woot þis is ful loþ to me Line 491 But naþeles wiþ outen ȝour wetynge [folio 167a] I nyl not doo but þis I wil quod he þat ȝe to me assent as in þis þinge Line 494

[6-text p 419] Line 494 Sheweþ now ȝoure pacience in ȝour worchinge That ȝe me byhiȝt and swore in ȝour vilage That day þat maked was our mariage Line 497

(64)

Whan she had herde al þis she was not amoued Line 498 Neiþer in word or chere or countenaunce ffor as it semed she was not agreued She seid lorde all lith in ȝoure plesaunce Line 501 My childe and I wiþ hertely obeisance Bene ȝoures all and ȝe may saue and spille ȝoure owne þing wheder þat ȝe wille Line 504

(65)

Ther may no þinge so god my saule saue Line 505 likinge to ȝou þat may displese me Ne I desire no þinge to haue Ne drede to lese saue only ȝe Line 508 This wille is my hert and ay shal be No length of tyme or deþ it may deface Neiþe chaunge my corage into oþer place Line 511

(66)

Glad was þe Marquis of hur answering Line 512 But ȝit he feyned as he were not so. Al drery was his chere and his lokinge whan she shuld out of þe chamber goo Line 515 Sone after þis a forlong way or twoo he pleynly haþ told his entent Vnto a man which he to his wif sent Line 518

(67)

A maner sergeaunt was þis privey man Line 519 þe which þat feithful fond yhad In þingges grete and eke such folk wel can Don execucion of þingges bad Line 522 þe lord knewe wel þat he hym loued and drad. And whan þis sergeaunt wist his lordes will [folio 167b] Into þe chambere he stalked hym ful still Line 525

[6-text p 420] Line 525

Madame he seide ȝe mote forȝeue it me Line 526 þough I do þinge to which I am constreyned / Ȝe bene so wise þat wel knowe ȝe þat lordes heestes may not be feyned Line 529 þei mowen wel be wailed or compleyned But men mote nede vnto her lust obeye And so wil I þer nys no more to seye Line 532

(69)

That childe I am commaunded to take Line 533 And spake no more but out þ^e child he hent Despitously and gan a chere make As he wold han slayn it þer he went Line 536 Griseld mot al suffre and al consent And as a lombe she sitteþ meke and stille And lete þis cruel Seriaunt haue his wille Line 539

(70)

Suspecte was þe name of þis man Line 540 Suspecte his face . suspecte his world also Suspecte þe tyme þat he þis bygan/ ffor his douȝter þat she loued soo Line 543 She wende he wold haue slayn it riȝt þoo But naþelees she neiþer wepte ne seide Confeermyng hur to þat þe Marquis seide Line 546

(71)

And at þe last speke she bygan Line 547 And nekely to þe sergeant preide So as he was a worþi gentil man þat she myȝt kisse her childe er þat it deide Line 550 And in her barme þis litel childe she leide wiþ ful sadde face and gan þe childe to blisse And lulled it and after gan it kisse Line 553

(72)

And þus she seide in her benigne voys Line 554 fare wele my child I shal þe neuere see But siþ I haue Marked þe wiþ croys Of þilk sadere yblessed mot þou be [folio 168a] Line 557

[6-text p 421] Line 557 þat for vs deyed vpon þe rood tre. þi soule litel childe I hym bytake ffor þis nyȝt shalt þou dyen for my sake Line 560

(73)

I trowe þat to a norice in þis caas / Line 561 It had ben hard þis rewþe forto see Wel myȝt a modere þan cry alas / But naþeles so sadde and stedfast was she Line 564 Þat she endured al hur aduersite And to þe Sergeant meke she seide Haue here aȝein my litel ȝonge maide Line 567

(74)

And goþ now quod she and doþ my lordes heest Line 568 And oon þinge wold I prei of ȝoure grace That but my lorde forbede ȝou at lest Burieþ þis litel body in som place Line 571 Þat no beestes no briddes it to-race But he no word to þo purpoos wold saye But toke þe childe and went vpon his way Line 574

(75)

This Sergeant come to þe lord ageyn Line 575 And of Griseldes wordes and of her chere He tolde hym poynt by poynt in short and pleyn And hym presented wiþ his douȝter dere Line 578 Somwhat þis lord had rawþe in his manere But naþelees his purpoos helde he stille As lordes don whan þei wil han her wille Line 581

(76)

And bad þis Sergeant ful priveily Line 582 he shuld ful soft þis child welde and wrappe with al þe circumstance tenderly And carie it in a coffre or in a lappe Line 585 But vp peyn his hede of for to swappe þat no man shuld knowe of his entent Ne whens he come ne whidere he went Line 588

[6-text p 422] Line 588

¶ But at Boloyne to his suster dere [folio 168b] Line 589 þat þoo of Pavie was countesse He shuld her take and shew hir þis matere Bisechinge hure to don her bysynesse Line 592 This childe to fostere in al gladnesse And whoos childe þat it was he bad hir hide ffrom euery wiȝt for ouȝt þat myȝt betide Line 595

This Sergeaunt goþ and haþ fulfilled þis þinge Line 596 But to þis marquis nowe retourne we ffor nowe goþ he wel oft ymagynynge If by his wif [chere] he myght See Line 599 And by hir wordes perceyue þat she Were chaunged but he coude neuere fynde. But euere in oon ylik sad and kinde Line 602

As glad as humble as bysy in seruise Line 603 and Eke in loue as she was wont to be Was she to hym in euery manere wise Ne of her douȝter oon worde speke she Line 606 Noon accident for noon aduersite Was seen in hir ne neuere her douȝter name Nempned she for ernest ne for game Line 609

[THE FOURTH PART.]

In þis estate passed ben foure ȝere Line 610 Er she wiþ child was but as god wold A knaue childe she bere by þis waltere fful gracious and faire to biholde Line 613 And whan folk it to hir fadere tolde Not oonly he But al þe contree mery Was for þe child and god þei þonke and herye Line 616

Whan it was two ȝere olde and from þe brest Line 617 Departed from his norce vpon a day þis Marquis kaught ȝit anoth[er] lest

[6-text p 423] To tempten his wif ofter if he may Line 620 O nedeles was she tempted in assay [folio 169a] But wedded men knowen no mesure Whan þei fynde a pacient creature Line 623

(82)

Wyf quod þis Marquis ȝe herd er þis Line 624 My puple sekely bereþ our mariage And namely siþen my sone born is Now it is wors þan euer in our age Line 627 þe murmur sleeþ myn. her[te] and my corage ffor to myn eres comeþ þe vois so smerte þat it wel nye destroieþ al my herte Line 630

(83)

Now seye men þus · whan walter is a goon. Line 631 þan shal þe blood of Ianicle succede And bene our lord for oþer haue we nōn Such wordes seyn my puple it is no drede Line 634 Wel ouȝte I of such murmur taken hede ffor certeynly I drede such sentence þouȝe þei not pleynly speke in myn audience Line 637

(84)

I wold lyue in pees if þat I myȝt Line 638 Wherfore I am disposed vtterly As I his sustere serued by nyȝt Riȝt so I þenke to serue hym prively Line 641 Þus warne I ȝou þat ȝe not sodeynly Out of ȝoure self for no woo shuld outray Beþ patient and þerof I ȝou pray Line 644

(85)

I haue quod she seide [þus] and euere shall Line 645 I wil desire no þing certeyn But as ȝou lust not greueth me at all þouȝe þat my douȝtere and my sone be sclayn Line 648 At ȝoure comaundement þis is to sayn I haue had no parte of children tweyn But furst siknesse and after woo and peyn Line 651

[6-text p 424] Line 651

Ȝe be our lord doo with ȝour owe þinge. Line 652 Riȝt as ȝou lust and askeþ no rede of me [folio 169b] ffor as I left at home al my cloþinge whan I come first to ȝou riȝt so quod she Line 655 left I my will and al my liberte And toke ȝoure cloþing wherfore I ȝou prey Do ȝoure wille I wille to it obeye Line 658

(87)

And certes ȝif I had prescience Line 659 ȝoure will to knowe. or ȝe ȝoure lust me told I wold it done wiþ oute necligence But now I wote ȝoure lust and what ȝe wolde Line 662 Al ȝoure plesaunce feerme and stable I hold ffor wist I þat my deþ wold do ȝou ese Gladly wil I suffre it ȝou to plese Line 665

(88)

Deth may make non comparisoun Line 666 Vnto ȝoure loue and whan þis Marquis say þe constance of his wiff he cast his hede adoun And his eyen two and wondred how she may Line 669 In such penaunce suffre al þis array And forþ he goþ wiþ drery countenance But to his hert it was ful grete plesannce / Line 672

(89)

This ege sergeant in þe same wise Line 673 þat he her douȝtere kaught riȝt so he Or wors if he coude wors devise Haþ kaught hire childe þat was ful of bewte Line 676 And euere in oon so pacient was she þat she no chere made of hevynesse But kiseþ her sone and after can hym blesse Line 679

(90)

Saue þis she preide him if þat he myȝt Line 680 hir litel sone he wold on erþe graue his tendere lymmes delicat to siȝt ffro fowles and beestes forto saue Line 683

[6-text p 425] Line 683 But she noon answere of hym myȝt haue He went his way as he no þing wrouȝt [folio 170a] But into boloyne tendrely it brouȝt Line 686

(91)

This Marquis wondreþ euere lenger þe more Line 687 Vpon her pacience and if þat he Ne had soþly knowe þerfore þat parfitly her children loued she Line 690 He wold haue wende þat of some sotilte And of malice or cruel corage That she had suffred þis with sad visage Line 693

(92)

Wut he knewe þat next hym self certayn Line 694 She loued her children best in euery wise But nowe of wommen wold I aske fayn ȝif þise assaies myȝt not suffise Line 697 what cowde a stordy husbond [more] devise To preue her wifhode and her stedfastnesse And be contynuyng in stordynesse Line 700

(93)

But þer ben folk of such condicion Line 701 Þat whan þei han a certeyn purpoos take Þey con not stinte of her entencion But as þei were bounden to a stake Line 704 þei wil not of þat purpoos sclake Riȝt so þis marquis haþ fully purposed To tempten his wif as he was first disposed Line 707

(94)

He waiteþ if by woordes or countenance Line 708 Ȝif she to hym was chaunged of corage But neuere coude he fynde variance She was euere in hert & in visage Line 711 And euer þe ferþer þat he was in age þe more trewer if it were possible She was to hym in loue and more penyble Line 714

[6-text p 426] Line 714

For which it semeþ þus þat of hem twoo Line 715 Ther was but oon will for as walter lust The same lust was her plesaunce also [folio 170b] And god be þonked al felle for þe best Line 718 She shewed wel for no worldly vnrest A wif as of her self no þinge shuld Willen in effecte but as her husbond wold Line 721

(96)

The sclaundere of waltere oft wide sprad Line 722 That a cruel hert wickedly ffor he a poor womman wedded had. Haþ morþered boþ his children priuely Line 725 which murmur was amonge heme comonly No wonder was for to þe puples eere þer come no worde but þat þei murþered were Line 728

(97)

For swich as of his puple þerbifore Line 729 had loued hym wel desclaundred of his name Made hem þat þei hated hym therfore To bene a murdrere is an hatful name Line 732 But naþelees for ernest ne for game He of his cruelte wold not stynte To tempte his wif was al his entente Line 735

(98)

Whan þis douȝtere xij ȝere was of age Line 736 he to þe courte of Rome in sotile wise Enformed of his wille sent his massage Comaunding hem such billes to devise Line 739 As to his cruel purpoos may suffise howe þat þe pope for his puples rest Bad hym wedde anoþer wif if þat hym lest Line 742

(99)

I sey he bad þat þei shuld counterfete Line 743 þe popes billes making mencion Þat he haþ leue his first wif to lete As by þe popes dispensacion Line 746

[6-text p 427] Line 746 To stinte rancoure and dissencion Bitwix þe puple and hym þus speke Þe bulle The which Þei han publissshed at þe fulle [folio 171a] Line 749

(100)

The rude puple as no wonder is Line 750 Wende ful wel it had be riȝt soo But þise tydyngges commen to griseld is I deme þat her hert was ful woo Line 753 But she was ylike sad euermoo Disposed was þis humble creature/ Þe aduersite of fortune al to endure Line 756

(101)

Abydinge euer his lust and his plesance Line 757 To whom she was ȝeuene hert and all As to her worldely suffisaunce ffor certeynly for his story telle I shall Line 760 This Marquis ywriten haþ in speciall A lettre in which he sheweþ his entent And sikerly he it to boloyne sent Line 763

(102)

To þe Erle of Pavie which þat he had so Line 764 wedded his sustere he preide specialy To bringen him aȝein his children two In honurable estaat al openly Line 767 Bot of on þing he hym preide al vtterly That he to [no] wiȝt þough men wold enquere Shuld not telle whoos children þei were Line 770

(103)

But seide þat þe mayde shuld wedded be Line 771 Vnto þe Marquis of Saluce anon And as þe erle was preide so did he ffor at a day Isette he on his way is gon Line 774 Toward Saluse and lordes mony on In riche aray þis maide forto gyde Hir yonge broþer ridyng by hir side Line 777

[6-text p 428] Line 777

Araied was towardes þis mariage Line 778 This mayde fressh ful of gemmys clere Hir broþer that vij. ȝere was of age. Araied eke was fresshly on his manere [folio 171b] Line 781 And in grete noblesse and glad chere Toward Saluce shapinge her iournay ffrom day to day þei riden forþ her way Line 784

[THE FIFTH PART.]

Amonge al þis aftere his wikked vsage Line 785 This Marquys ȝit his wif to tempten more To þe vttrest preef of his corage ffully to haue experience and lore Line 788 ȝif þat she were as stedfast as bifore he on a day in open audience wel boistously haþ seide hir þis sentence Line 791

CErtes Griseld I had ynowe plesaunce Line 792 To han ȝou to my wif for ȝoure goodnesse And for ȝoure treuth and ȝour obeysaunce Nouȝt for ȝoure lynage ne for ȝoure ricchesse Line 795 But it is now knowen in verray soþnesse þat in grete lordship if I wil avise Ther is grete souereynte in sondry wise Line 798

I may not done as euery plowe man may Line 799 My puple me constreynen forto take A noþer wiff and crien day by day And eke þe pope rancour forto sclake Line 802 Consenteþ it þat dar I vndertake And trewly þus moch wil I ȝou say My newe wif is commyng by þe way Line 805

Be stronge of hert and voide anon her place Line 806 And þilk dowary þat ȝe brouȝt to me Take it aȝein I graunte it of my grace

[6-text p 429] Retourneþ to ȝoure faders hous quod he Line 809 No man may alway haue prosperite wiþ euene hert I rede ȝou to endure þe stroke of fortune or of auenture Line 812

(109)

And she aȝein answerde in pacience [folio 172a] Line 813 My lord quod she I wote and wist alway howe þat I swore ȝou magnificence And my pouert no man can ne may Line 816 Maken noon comparison it is no nay I helde me neuere digne in no manere To be ȝoure wif ne ȝit your chambrere Line 819

(110)

And in þis hous þer ȝe me lady made Line 820 þe high god take I for my witnesse So wisly as he my soule glade I helde me neiþer lady ne maistresse Line 823 But humble seruaunte to ȝoure worþinesse And euere shal while my lif may endure Abouen euery worþi creature Line 826

(111)

That ȝe so longe of ȝour benygnite Line 827 haue holde me in honure and in nobleye where I was not worþi forto be þat þonk I god and ȝou [to] whom I prey Line 830 ffor-ȝeelde it ȝou þer nys no more to sey Vnto my fadere gladly wil I wende And wiþ hym dwelle to my lyves ende Line 833

(112)

Ther as I was fostred a child ful small Line 834 Til I be dede my liff [þer] wil I lede A widowe clene in hert body and all ffor siþen I ȝaf to ȝou my maydenhede Line 837 And am ȝoure trewe wif it is no drede God shild such a lordes wif to take Anoþer man to husbonde or to make Line 840

[6-text p 430] Line 840

And of ȝour newe wif god of his grace Line 841 So graunte ȝou welþe and prosperite ffor I wil gladly ȝeeld hir my place In which I was blisful wont to be Line 844 ffor Siþen it likeþ ȝou my lord quod she [folio 172b] That whilom weren al my hertes rest That I shal goon I wil goon whan ȝou lest Line 847

(114)

But þer ȝe me profre such dowarie Line 848 As I furst brouȝt it is wel in my mynde It were my wrecched cloþes no þing faire þe which to me nowe were ful hard to fynde Line 851 How god howe gentile and how kinde Ȝe semed by ȝoure spech and ȝour visage þe day þat maked was oure mariage Line 854

(115)

But soþ is seide algate I finde it trewe Line 855 ffor in effecte is proued nowe on me Loue is not olde as whan it is newe ffor certes lord for non aduersite Line 858 To dyen in þis cas it shal not be That in worde or werk I shal repent þat I ȝou ȝaue myn hert in good entent Line 861

(116)

My lorde ȝe wote þat in my faders place Line 862 Ȝe diden me stripen out of my poor wede And richely ȝe cladden me of ȝoure grace To ȝou brouȝt I not ellis out of drede Line 865 But fait nakednesse and maidenhede But here aȝein ȝoure cloþing I restore And eke my weddyng ringe for euermore Line 868

(117)

The remenaunte of ȝour Iwels redy be Line 869 wiþ in ȝour chambre dare I it seyuely seye Naked out of my faders hous quod she I come/ and naked I mote turne ageyne Line 872

[6-text p 431] Line 872 Al ȝoure plesaunce wil I folowe feyne But if I hope it be not ȝoure entente þat I smoklees out of ȝoure paleis went Line 875

(118)

Ȝe cowde not do so dishonest a þinge Line 876 That ilk wombe in which our children lay [folio 173a] Shuld byfore þe puple in my walkinge Be seyn al bare wherfor I ȝou pray Line 879 lat me not like a worm gon by þe way Remembre ȝou myn / owne lorde so dere I was ȝoure wif þouȝe I vnworþi were Line 882

(119)

Wherfore in guerdon of my maidenhede Line 883 Which þat I wrouȝt and not aȝein bere As voucheþ sauf to ȝeue me to my mede But such a smokke as I was wont to were Line 886 þat I þerwiþ may hille þe wombe of here þat was ȝoure wif and here I take my leue Of ȝowe myn owne lord lest I ȝou greue Line 889

(120)

The smok quod he þat þou hast on þi bak Line 890 Lat it be stille and bere it forþ wiþ þe But wel vnneþ þat word he spak But went his way for reuthe and pite Line 893 Byfore þe folk hure self stripeþ she And in her smok wiþ hede and fete al bare Toward her fadres hous forþ is she fare Line 896

(121)

The folk folowed weping in hir way Line 897 And fortune euere þei cursed as þei gon But she from weping kept her eyen day Ne in þis tyme word spak she non Line 900 Her fader þat here of herd anon Cursed þe day and tyme þat nature Shope him to be a lyues creature Line 903

[6-text p 432] Line 903

For out of doute þis olde poor man Line 904 was euer suspecte of her mariage ffor euer he demed siþen it bygan Þat whan þe lord yfylled had his corage Line 907 hym wold þenk it was a desparage To his astate so lowe to a liȝt [folio 173b] And voiden hir as sone as euere he myȝt Line 910

(123)

Aȝeinst his douȝtere hastely goþ he Line 911 ffor he by þe noys of folk knewe her commyng And wiþ her olde cote as it myȝt be He keuereþ hir ful sorowfully wepinge Line 914 But on hur body myȝt he it not bringe ffor rude was þe cloþ and more of age By dayes fele þan hur mariage Line 917

(124)

Thus with her fadere for a certeyn space Line 918 dwelleþ þis floure of wively pacience That neuer by her wordes ne be her face Bifore þe folk ne in her absence Line 921 Ne shewed she þat to hir was don offence Ne of hie astate in remembraunce Ne had she as by her countenaunce Line 924

(125)

No wonder is for in [her] grete estate Line 925 Her goost was euere in pleyn humilite No tender mouþe ne hert delicate Ne pompe ne semblant of Rialte Line 928 But ful of pacience and benygnite Discrete and pruydeles and euere honurable And to her husbonde euere meke and stable Line 931

(126)

Men speke of Iob and most of his humblesse Line 932 As clerkes whan hem lust can wel endite Namely of men but in soþfastnesse þouȝe clerkes preise wommen but a lite Line 935

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

[THE SIXTH PART.]

Fro babyloyne is þis Erle of Pavie come Line 939 Of which þe word spronge to more and lesse And to þe pules eeres al and somme was couþe eke a newe Marquyssesse [folio 174a] Line 942 He wiþ hym brouȝt in pompe and such ricchesse þat was neuere sey wiþ mannys eye So noble aray in Westlombardye Line 945

The Marquis þat Shope an knewe al þis Line 946 Er þat þis erle was commen sent his massage ffor cely poor Gryseldys And she with humble hert and glad visage Line 949 Nouȝt wiþ swollen hert in her corage Come at his heest and on here knees her sette And reuerently and wisely she hym grette Line 952

Griseld quod he my will is vtterly Line 953 þis maide þat shal wedded be vnto me Resceyued be to morowe as Really As it is possible in my hous to be Line 956 And eke þat euery wiȝt in his degre Haue his estate in sittyng and seruise And also plesaunce as ȝe can best deuyse Line 959

I haue no womman suffisant certayn Line 960 Þe Chambres to aray in ordynaunce After my lust and þerfor wil I fayn Þat þine were al such gouernaunce Line 963 Þou knowest eke of olde al my plesaunce þouȝe þine aray be bad and euel ysey Do þou þi deuoyre at þe lest wey Line 966

[6-text p 434] Line 966

Nouȝt only lord þat I am glad quod she Line 967 To do ȝoure lust but I desire also ȝoure forto plese and serue in my degre Without fayntise and shal euermoo Line 970 Ne neuer for no wele ne for no woo Ne shal þe goost within my hert stynt To loue ȝou best with al my trewe entent Line 973

(132)

And wiþ þat word she gan þe hous to diȝt [folio 174b] And tables to sette and beddys to make And peyned hure to doo al þat she myȝt Preying þe chambreres for goddis sake Line 977 To hasten hem and fast swope and shake And she þe most seruisable at all Haþ euery ychambre araied and his halle Line 980

(133)

Aboute vndern gan þis Erle aliȝt Line 981 That wiþ him brouȝt þise noble childre tweie ffor which þe puple ranne to se þat siȝt And hure araye so richely beseye Line 984 And þan at arst amonges hem þei gon seye That walter was no foole þough hym lest To chaunge his wiff for it was for þe best Line 987

(134)

For she is fairrer as þei demen alle Line 988 Than is Grisell and more tender of age And fairrer fruyte bytwene hem shuld falle And more plesaunt for hir hiȝe lynage Line 991 Hir broþer so faire was of his age þat hym to seen þe puple had kauȝt plesaunce Commendyng nowe ȝe Marquis gouernaunce Line 994

(135)

O sterne puple vnsad and [vn]trewe Line 995 Euere vndiscrete and chaungyng as a fane Delitinge euere in Rumour þat is newe ffor like þe mone euere wexe ȝe and wane Line 998

[6-text p 435] Line 998 Euere ful of clapping dere ynowe a Iane Ȝour dome is fals ȝour constance euel preueþ A wel grete fool is he þat on ȝou leueþ Line 1001

(136)

Thus seiden sadde folk in þat Cite Line 1002 Whan þat þe puple gased vp and doun ffor þei were glad riȝt for þe nouelte To make a newe lady of her toun Line 1005 No more of þis make I mencioun [folio 175a] But to griseld aȝein wil I me dresse And telle her constance and her bysynesse Line 1008

(137)

Wel bysy was gryseld in euery thinge Line 1009 þat to þe feest was pertinent Riȝt naught was she abasshed of her cloþinge þouȝe þei were Rude and eke somdel to-rent Line 1012 But wiþ glad chere to þe gate is went wiþ oþer folk to greten þe Marquissesse And after doþ she forþ her bysynesse Line 1015

(138)

Wiþ ful glad chere þe gestes she receyueþ Line 1016 And Boxomly euerich in his degre That no man defawte þer perceyueþ But euere þei wondren what she myȝt be Line 1019 That in so poor aray was forto se And cowde such honure & reuerence And worþely þei preisen her prudence Line 1022

(139)

In al þis me[ne] while she ne stynte Line 1023 This maiden and eke her broþer to commend Wiþ al her hert and benigne entente So wel þat no man koude her prise amende Line 1026 But at þe last whan at þise lordes wende To sitten a doun he gan to calle Griseld as she was bysy in þe halle Line 1029

[6-text p 436] Line 1029

Griseld quod he as it were in play Line 1030 How likeþ þe my wif in her bewte Riȝt wel quod she my lorde for in good fay A fairrer sawe I neuere non quod she Line 1033 I prey to god so ȝeue ȝou prosperite And so hope I he wil to ȝou sende Plesaunce ynouȝe to ȝoure lyues ende Line 1036

(141)

Sut oon þing I biseche and warne also ./ Line 1037 þat ȝe prik wiþ no tormentynge [folio 175b] þis tendere mayden as ȝe han don moo ffor she is fostred in her norshynge Line 1040 fful tenderly in her ȝong pleyynge She coude not aduersite endure As coude a poor fostred creature Line 1043

(142)

And whan þis Walter segh her pacience Line 1044 her glad chere and no malice at all And he so oft haþ done hir offence And she euer constant and sad as a wall Line 1047 Contynuyng euer her innocence ouerall This stordy marquis gan his herte dresse To Rwe vpon hur wifly stidfastnesse Line 1050

(143)

This is ynouȝe Griseld myn quod he Line 1051 Be no more agast ne euel apayde I haue þi feiþ and þi benignyte As wel as euer womman was asaied Line 1054 In gr[e]te astate and poorly araied Now knowe I dere wiff þi stedfastnesse And hure in armes toke and gan to kesse Line 1057

(144)

And she for wonder toke þerof no kepe Line 1058 She herd not what þing þat he seide She ferde as she had stert out of her sclepe Til she out of þe maisednesse abreide Line 1061

[6-text p 437] Line 1061 Griseld quod he by god þat for vs deyde þou art my wif and noon oþer I haue Ne neuere had as god my soule saue Line 1064

(145)

This is þi douȝter which þou hast supposed Line 1065 To bene my wif and noon oþer feiþfully shal bene myn heir as I haue euere disposed Thowe bere hem in þi body trewly Line 1068 At boylen haue I kepte hem sikerly Take hem aȝein for þou myȝt not seyn [folio 176a] þat þow hast lorn eny of þi children tweyn Line 1071

(146)

And folk þat oþerwise han seide of me Line 1072 I warne hem wel þat I haue done þis dede ffor no malice ne for no cruelte But forto assay þi wommanhede Line 1075 And not forto scle my children god forbede But forto kepen hem prively and stille Til I þi purpoos knewe and al þi wille Line 1078

(147)

And whan she þis herd adoun in swowe she falleþ Line 1079 ffor pitous ioying and after hire swowinge She boþ her yōnge children to hure calleþ And in hure armes pitously wepinge Line 1082 Enbrased boþ tenderly kissynge Wel like a modere wiþ her salt teeres She baþed boþ her visage and her heeres Line 1085

(148)

O such a pitous þinge it was to see Line 1086 Her sownyng and her pitous vois to here Gramercy my lord god y thenk ȝou quod she þat ȝe han saued me my children dere Line 1089 Now rech I neuere to be dede riȝt here Siþ I stonde in ȝour loue and in ȝour grace No force of deþ ne whan my spirit pace Line 1092

[6-text p 438] Line 1092

A tender o dere .o. ȝenge children myn Line 1093 Ȝoure wooful modere wende stedfastly Þat cruel houndes or some vermyn Had eten ȝou but god of his mercy Line 1096 And ȝoure benigne fader tenderly Haþ done ȝou kepte and þat same stounde Al sodeynly she swapte doun to þe grounde Line 1099

(150)

And hin her swowne so sadly holdeþ she Line 1100 her children two whan she gan hem brace That wiþ grete scleight and difficulte [folio 176b] The children from her armes gan þei to rase Line 1103 O mony a tere .o mony a pitous face Doun ranne of hem þat stoden hyr beside Vnneþ aboute hur myȝt þei abide Line 1106

(151)

Walter hir vptakeþ and her sorowe gladeþ Line 1107 She ariseþ vp al abasshed from her trance And euery wiȝt hir Ioye and feest makeþ To she haue kauȝt aȝein her countenance Line 1110 Walter her doþ so feiþfully plesaunce þat it was deynte for to se þe chere Bitwixe hem two nowe þei bene mette in fere Line 1113

(152)

Thise ladys whan þei her tyme say Line 1114 han taken hur and into chambre gone And stripen hir out of her rude aray And in a cloþe of gold þat brighte shone Line 1117 wiþ a crowne of mony a riche stone vpon hur hede þei hir into halle brouȝt And þer she was honoured as she ouȝt Line 1120

(153)

Thus haþ þis pitous day a blisful ende Line 1121 ffor euery man and womman doþ his myȝt This day in myrþe and reuel to dispende Til on þe welken shoon þe sterres briȝt Line 1124

[6-text p 439] Line 1124 ffor more solempne in euery mannys siȝt This fest was and gretter of costage Þan was þe reuel of þe mariage Line 1127

(154)

fful mony a ȝeer in high prosperite Line 1128 lyuen þise two in concord and in rest And richely his douȝter maried he Vnto a lord on of þe worþiest Line 1131 Of all ytaile and þan in pees and rest His wifes fader in his courte he kepeþ Til þat his soule out of his body crepeth [folio 177a] Line 1134

(155)

His sone entreþ into his heritage Line 1135 In rest and pees aftere his faders day And fortunate was eke in mariage Al putte he not his wif in assay Line 1138 This world is not [so] stronge it is no nay As it haþ bene in olde tymes ȝore And harkeneþ what þe auctour seiþ þerfore Line 1141

(156)

Þis storie is seide not þat wives shuld Line 1142 ffolowe Gryseld as in humilite ffor it were importable þouȝe þei wold But þat euery wiȝt in his degre Line 1145 Shulde be constant in aduersite. This storie which he wiþ high stile enditeþ Wiþ pacience Griseld he qwiteþ Line 1148

(157)

ffor siþens a womman was so pacient Line 1149 Vnto a mortall man moch more we ouȝt Resceyue alle in gree þat god vs sent ffor grete scelys he preueþ þat he bouȝt Line 1152 Mankynde þe which þat he wrouȝt As seiþ seint Iame if ȝe his pistel rede He preueþ folk al day it is no drede Line 1155

[6-text p 440] Line 1155

And suffreþ vs as for our exercise Line 1156 Wiþ sharpe shoures of aduersite Wel ofte to be leten in sondry wise Nowe forto knowe vs for certys he Line 1159 Er we were born knewe al our freelte And for our best is al our gouernaunce Lat vs it haue þan in vertuous suffrance Line 1162

[Chaucer's addition to the Tale.]

But oo witte harkeneþ lordyngges er ȝe goo / Line 1163 It were ful harde nowe adayes In al a toune fynde Griseldys þre or two ffor if þei were putte in such assaies Line 1166 þe gold of hem haþ nowe so hard alaies Wiþ bras þat þouȝe þe kynde be faire atte ye It woll raþer brast a two þan plye Line 1169

(160)

[ffor whiche hiere . for the wifes love of bath whos lyf and al hirs . swete god maynteigne [[1-line gap in the MS, after l. 1171.]] In high maistrie . and ellis were it skath I wil with lusty hert . fressh and grene Line 1173 Say now a song . to gladde yow I wene And late vs stynt . of Ernestful matiere Herknyth my song . that saith in this manere [MS Reg. 17 D xv folio 175b] [[ Not in Reg. 18 C II, Sloane 1685, or Harl. 1758.]] ] Line 1176

¶ Le Voy De Chaucere'/ [[headline]]

(161)

GRiseld is dede and eke her pacience [folio 177b] And boþ at onys yburied in Ytalie ffor which I cry in open audience Line 1179 No wedded man be hardy to assaile His wyves pacience in trust to fynde Griseldes for in certeyn he shal faile Line 1182

[6-text p 441] Line 1182

O noble wyues ful of hegh prudence lat none humilite ȝoure tonge nayle Ne lat no clerk haue cause ne diligence Line 1185 To write of ȝou a storie of such mervaile As of griselde pacient and kynde lest Chychyuache ȝou swelowe in hir entraile Line 1188

Foloweþ ekko þat holdeþ no silence But euere answereþ at þe countretale Beþ not bydaffed for our Innocence Line 1191 But sharpely take on ȝou þe gouernaile Emprinteþ wel þis lesson in ȝoure mynde ffor Comon profit sith it may availe Line 1194

NE drede hem nouȝt doth hem no reuerence Line 1201 ffor þouȝe þine husbonde araied be in maile þe arowes of þi crabbed eloquence Line 1203 Shal perce his brest and eke his aduentale In Ialowsie I rede eke þou hym bynde And þat þou shalt make hym couche as doþ a quale Line 1206

If þou be faire þere folk bene in present Shewe þou þi visage and þine apparaile If þowe be fowle be free of þi dispence Line 1209 To gete þe freendes ay do þi travaile Be aye of chere as liȝt as leef on lynde And lat hym care and wepe and wryng and waile Line 1212

Ȝe Arche wiffes stondeþ at ȝour defence Line 1195 Siþ ȝe bene stronge as is a grete camaile Ne Suffreþ not þat man do ȝou offence Line 1197 And sclendere wyves feble as in bataile Beth egre as a tygre ȝende in Ynde Ay Clappeþ as a mylle I ȝou counsaile. Line 1200