The Canterbury tales and Faerie queene &c., &c., &c., ed. for popular perusal with current illustrations and explanatory notes, by D. Laing Purves.

98` 7THE CANTERBURY TALES.
Though I do thing to which I am constrain'd; Shoulde the child full softly wind and wrap,'
Ye be so wise, that right well knowe ye With all circumstances tenderly,
That lordes' hest&s may not be y-feign'd; 1 And carry it in a coffer, or in lap;
They may well be bewailed and complain'd, But, upon pain his head off for to swap,20
- But men must needs unto their lust 2 obey; That no man shoulde know of his intent,
And so will I, there is no more to say. Nor whence he came, nor whither that he went;
" This child I am commanded for to take." But at Bologna, to his sister dear,
And spake no more, but out the child he hent 3 That at that time of Panic' 21 was Countess,
Dispiteously,4 and gan a cheer to make 5 He should it take, and shew her this mattdre,
As though he would have slain it ere he went. Beseeching her to do her business
Griseldis must all suffer and consent: This child to foster in all gentleness,
And as a lamb she sat there meek and still, And whose child it was he bade her hide
And let this cruel sergeant do his will. From every wight, for aught that might betide.
Suspicious6 was the diffame7 of this man, The sergeant went, and hath fulfill'd this
Suspect his face, suspect his word also, thing.
Suspect the time in which he this began: But to the marquis now returns we;
Alas! her daughter, that she loved so, For now went he full fast imagining
She'weened 8 he would have it slain right tho,9 If by his wife's cheer he might6 see,
But natheless she neither wept nor siked,l0 Or by her wordes apperceive, that she
Conforming her to what the marquis liked. Were changed; but he never could her find,
But at the last to speake she began, But ever-in-one 22 alike sad 23 and kind.
And meekly she unto the sergeant pray'd, As glad, as humble, as busy in service,
So as he was a worthy gentle man, And eke in love, as she was wont to be,
That she might kiss her child, ere that it died: Was she to him, in every manner wise; 24
And in her barme 1 this little child she laid, And of her daughter not a word spake she;
With full sad face, and gan the child to bless,2 No accident for no adversity25
And lulled it, and after gan it kiss. Was seen in her, nor e'er her daughter's name
And thus she said in her benigne voice: She named, or in earnest or in game.
"Farewell, my child, I shall thee never see;
But, since I have thee marked with the cross,
Of that father y-blessed may'st thou be ars Quarta.
That for us died upon a cross of tree: In this estate there passed be four year
Thy soul, my little child, I him betake,l3 Ere she with child5 was; but, as God wo'ld,
For this night shalt thou dien for my sake." A knav 26 child she bare by this Waltere,
I trow 14 that to a norice 15 in this case Full gracious and fair for to behold;
It had been hard this ruthi 16 for to see: And when that folk it to his father told,
Well might a mother then have cried, " Alas! " Not only he, but all his country, merry
But natheless so sad steadfast was she, Were for this child, and God they thank and
That she endured all adversity, hery.27
And to the sergeant meekely she said, When it was two year old, and from the
" Have here again your little younge maid. breast
"Go now," quoth she, "and do my lord's Departed28 of the norice, on a day
behest. This marquis caughte yet another lest 2
And one thing would I pray you of your grace, To tempt his wife yet farther, if he may.
But if 17 my lord forbade you at the least, Oh! needless was she tempted in assay; -3
Bury this little body in some place, But wedded men not connen no measfire,3
That neither beasts nor birdis it arace."18 When that they find a patient creature.
But he no word would to that purpose say, "Wife," quoth the marquis, " ye have heard
But took the child and went upon his way. ere this
The sergeant came unto his lord again, My people sickly bear 32 our marriage;
And of Griselda's words and of her cheer 9 And namely 33 since my son y-boren is,
He told him point for point, in short and plain, Now is it worse than ever in all our age:
And him presented with his daughter dear. The murmur slays mine heart and my corige,
Somewhat this lord had ruth in his mann6re, For to mine ears cometh the voice so smart,34
But natheless his purpose held he still, That it well nigh destroyed hath mine heart.
As lordes do, when they will have their will; "Now say they thus,'When Walter is
And bade this sergeant that he privily y-gone,
1 It will not do merely to feign compliance with a 20 Strike. 21 Panico. 22 Constantly.
lord's commands. 2 Pleasure. 23 Steadfast. 24 Sort of way.
3 Seized. 4 Unpityingly. 25 No change of humour resulting from her affliction.
5 To make a show, assume an aspect. 26 Male, boy. 27 Praise. 28 Taken, weaned.
6 Ominous. 7 Reputation, evil fame. 29 Was seized by yet another desire.
8 Thought. 9 Then. 10 Sighed. 11 Lap, bosom. 30 Trial. 81 Know no moderation.
12 Cross. 13 Commit unto him. 14 Believe. 32 Do not regard with pleasure. Compare the Latin
15 Nurse. 16 Pitiful case, sight. 17 Unless. phrase, "segre ferre." 33 Especially.
18 Tear; French, "arracher." 19 Demeanour..34 Sorely, painfully.