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

THE CLERK'S TALE. o10
"My Lord, ye know that in my father's place Dwelled this flow'r of wifely patience,
Ye did me strip out of my poore weed,1 That neither by her words nor by her face,
And richily ye clad me of your grace; Before the folk nor eke in their absence,
To you brought I nought elles, out of dread, Ne shewed she that her was done offence,
But faith, and nakedness, and maidenhead; Nor of her high estate no r6membrance
And here again your clothing I restore, Ne hadde she, as by 19 her countenance.
And eke your wedding ring for evermore. No wonder is, for in her great estate
"The remnant of your jewels ready be Her ghost 20 was ever in plein 21 humility;
Within your chamber, I dare safely sayn: No tender mouth, no hearte delicate,
Naked out of my father's house," quoth she, No pomp, and no semblant of royalty;
"I came, and naked I must turn again. But full of patient benignity,
All your pleasance would I follow fain:2 Discreet and prideless, aye honourable,
But yet I hope it be not your intent And to her husband ever meek and stable.
That smockless 3 I out of your palace went. Men speak of Job, and most for his humbless,
"Ye could not do so dishon6st 4 a thing, As clerkes, when them list, can well indite,
That thilke 5 womb, in which your children lay, Namely 2 of men; but, as in soothfastness,
Shoulde before the people, in my walking, Though clerkes praise women but a lite,2
Be seen all bare: and therefore I you pray, There can no man in hmbless him acuite
Let me not like a worm go by the way: As women can, nor can be half so true
Remember you, mine owen Lord so dear, As women be, but it be fall of new.24
I was your wife, though I unworthy were.
"Wherefore, in guerdon 6 of my maidenhead,rs
Which that I brought and not again I bear, From Bologn' is the earl of Panic' come,
As vouchisafe to give me to my meed 6 Of which the fame up sprang to more and less;
But such a smock as I was wont to wear, And to the people's earis all and some
That I therewith may wrie 7 the womb of her Was known eke, that a newi marchioness
That was your wife: and here I take my leave He with him brought, in such pomp and rich6ss
Of you, mine owen Lord, lest I you grieve." That never was there seen with manne's eye
" The smock," quoth he, "that thou hast on So noble array in all West Lombardy.
thy back, The marquis, which that shope25 and knew
Let it be still, and bear it forth with thee." all this,
But well unnethes 8 thilke word he spake, Ere that the earl was come, sent his message 6
But went his way for ruth and for pity. For thilk6 poor6 sely 27 Griseldis;
Before the folk herself6 stripped she, And she, with humble heart and glad visage,
And in her smock, with foot and head all bare, Nor with no swelling thought in her corage,2
Toward her father's house forth is she fare.9 Came at his hest,29 and on her knees her set,
The folk her follow'd weeping on her way, And rev'rently and wisely she him gret.30
And fortune aye they cursed as they gon: 10 "Griseld'," quoth he, "my will is utterly,
But she from weeping kept her eyen drey,l This maiden, that shall wedded be to me,
Nor in this timi wordi spake she none. Received be to-morrow as royally
Her father, that this tiding heard anon, As it possible is in my house to be;
Cursed the day and timi, that natfire And eke that every wight in his degree
Shope 1 him to be a living creature. Have his estate 31 in sitting and service,
For, out of doubt, this oldi poori man And in high pleasance, as I can devise.
Was ever in susp6ct of her marriage: "I have no women sufficient, certain,
For ever deem'd he, since it first began, The chambers to array in ordinance
That when the lord fulfill'd had his corage,l3 After my lust;32 and therefore would I fain
He would6 think it were a disparage 4 That thine were all such manner governance:
To his estate, so low for to alight, Thou knowest eke of old all my pleasance;
And voide 15 her as soon as e'er he might. Though thine array be bad, and ill besey,33
Against 16 his daughter hastily went he Do thou thy devoir at the leaste way." 34
(For he by noise of folk knew her coming), " Not only, Lord, that I am glad," quoth she,
And with her olde coat, as it might be, " To do your lust, but I desire also
He cover'd her, full sorrowfully weeping: ~ You for to serve and please in my degree,
But on her body might he it not bring,l7 Withoute fainting, and shall evermo':
For rude was the cloth, and more of age Nor ever for no weal, nor for no woe,
By dayis felel than at her marriage. Ne shall the ghost 35 within mine hearte stent 3
Thus with her father for a certain space To love you best with all my true intent."
1 Raiment. 2 Cheerfully.:18 Many; German, "viel." 19 To judge from.
3 Naked. 4 Dishonourable. 5 That. 20 Spirit. 21 Full. 22 Particularly.
6 Reward. 7 Cover. 8 With difficulty. 23 Little. 24 Unless it has lately come to pass.
9 Gone. 10 Go. 11 Dry. 25 Arranged. 26 Messenger. 27 Innocent.
12 Formed, ordained. 28 Mind. 29 Command. 30 Greeted.
13 Had gratified his inclination. 31 What.befits his condition. 32 Pleasure.
14 Disparagement, 15 Dismiss, get rid of. 33 Poor to look pn. 34 In the quickest manner.
16 To meet. 17 Cause it to meet. 35 Spirit. 36 Cease.