THE CLERKES TALE.
Here biginneth the Tale of the Clerk of Oxenford.
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- THER is, at the west syde of Itaille,
- Doun at the rote of Vesulus the colde,
- A lusty playne, habundant of vitaille,
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Wher many a tour and toun thou mayst biholde,
Skeat1900: 60
- That founded were in tyme of fadres olde,
- And many another delitable sighte,
- And Saluces this noble contree highte.
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- A markis whylom lord was of that londe,
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As were his worthy eldres him bifore;
Skeat1900: 65
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And obeisant and redy to his honde
Skeat1900: (10)
- Were alle his liges, bothe lasse and more.
- Thus in delyt he liveth, and hath don yore,
- Biloved and drad, thurgh favour of fortune,
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Bothe of his lordes and of his commune.
Skeat1900: 70
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- Therwith he was, to speke as of linage,
- The gentilleste y-born of Lumbardye,
- A fair persone, and strong, and yong of age,
- And ful of honour and of curteisye;
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Discreet y-nogh his contree for to gye,
Skeat1900: 75
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Save in somme thinges that he was to blame,
Skeat1900: (20)
- And Walter was this yonge lordes name.
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- I blame him thus, that he considereth noght
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In tyme cominge what mighte him bityde,
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But on his lust present was al his thoght,
Skeat1900: 80
- As for to hauke and hunte on every syde;
- Wel ny alle othere cures leet he slyde,
- And eek he nolde, and that was worst of alle,
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Wedde no wyf, for noght that may bifalle.
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Only that point his peple bar so sore,
Skeat1900: 85
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That flokmele on a day they to him wente,
Skeat1900: (30)
- And oon of hem, that wysest was of lore,
- Or elles that the lord best wolde assente
- That he sholde telle him what his peple mente,
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Or elles coude he shewe wel swich matere,
Skeat1900: 90
- He to the markis seyde as ye shul here.
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- ‘O noble markis, your humanitee
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Assureth us and yeveth us hardinesse,
- As ofte as tyme is of necessitee
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That we to yow mowe telle our hevinesse;
Skeat1900: 95
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Accepteth, lord, now for your gentillesse,
Skeat1900: (40)
- That we with pitous herte un-to yow pleyne,
- And lete your eres nat my voys disdeyne.
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- Al have I noght to done in this matere
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More than another man hath in this place,
Skeat1900: 100
- Yet for as muche as ye, my lord so dere,
- Han alwey shewed me favour and grace,
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I dar the better aske of yow a space
- Of audience, to shewen our requeste,
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And ye, my lord, to doon right as yow leste.
Skeat1900: 105
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For certes, lord, so wel us lyketh yow
Skeat1900: (50)
- And al your werk and ever han doon, that we
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Ne coude nat us self devysen how
- We mighte liven in more felicitee,
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Save o thing, lord, if it your wille be,
Skeat1900: 110
- That for to been a wedded man yow leste,
- Than were your peple in sovereyn hertes reste.
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- Boweth your nekke under that blisful yok
- Of soveraynetee, noght of servyse,
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Which that men clepeth spousaille or wedlok;
Skeat1900: 115
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And thenketh, lord, among your thoghtes wyse,
Skeat1900: (60)
- How that our dayes passe in sondry wyse;
- For though we slepe or wake, or rome, or ryde,
- Ay fleeth the tyme, it nil no man abyde.
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And though your grene youthe floure as yit,
Skeat1900: 120
- In crepeth age alwey, as stille as stoon,
- And deeth manaceth every age, and smit
- In ech estaat, for ther escapeth noon:
- And al so certein as we knowe echoon
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That we shul deye, as uncerteyn we alle
Skeat1900: 125
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Been of that day whan deeth shal on us falle.
Skeat1900: (70)
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- Accepteth than of us the trewe entente,
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That never yet refuseden your heste,
- And we wol, lord, if that ye wol assente,
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Chese yow a wyf in short tyme, atte leste,
Skeat1900: 130
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Born of the gentilleste and of the meste
- Of al this lond, so that it oghte seme
- Honour to god and yow, as we can deme.
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- Deliver us out of al this bisy drede,
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And tak a wyf, for hye goddes sake;
Skeat1900: 135
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For if it so bifelle, as god forbede,
Skeat1900: (80)
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That thurgh your deeth your linage sholde slake,
- And that a straunge successour sholde take
- Your heritage, o! wo were us alyve!
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Wherfor we pray you hastily to wyve.’
Skeat1900: 140
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- Hir meke preyere and hir pitous chere
- Made the markis herte han pitee.
- ‘Ye wol,’ quod he, ‘myn owene peple dere,
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To that I never erst thoghte streyne me.
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I me reioysed of my libertee,
Skeat1900: 145
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That selde tyme is founde in mariage;
Skeat1900: (90)
- Ther I was free, I moot been in servage.
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- But nathelees I see your trewe entente,
- And truste upon your wit, and have don ay;
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Wherfor of my free wil I wol assente
Skeat1900: 150
- To wedde me, as sone as ever I may.
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But ther-as ye han profred me to-day
- To chese me a wyf, I yow relesse
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That choys, and prey yow of that profre cesse.
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For god it woot, that children ofte been
Skeat1900: 155
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Unlyk her worthy eldres hem bifore;
Skeat1900: (100)
- Bountee comth al of god, nat of the streen
- Of which they been engendred and y-bore;
- I truste in goddes bountee, and therfore
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My mariage and myn estaat and reste
Skeat1900: 160
- I him bitake; he may don as him leste.
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- Lat me alone in chesinge of my wyf,
- That charge up-on my bak I wol endure;
- But I yow preye, and charge up-on your lyf,
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That what wyf that I take, ye me assure
Skeat1900: 165
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To worshipe hir, whyl that hir lyf may dure,
Skeat1900: (110)
- In word and werk, bothe here and everywhere,
- As she an emperoures doghter were.
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- And forthermore, this shal ye swere, that ye
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Agayn my choys shul neither grucche ne stryve;
Skeat1900: 170
- For sith I shal forgoon my libertee
- At your requeste, as ever moot I thryve,
- Ther as myn herte is set, ther wol I wyve;
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And but ye wole assente in swich manere,
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I prey yow, speketh na-more of this matere.’
Skeat1900: 175
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With hertly wil they sworen, and assenten
Skeat1900: (120)
- To al this thing, ther seyde no wight nay;
- Bisekinge him of grace, er that they wenten,
- That he wolde graunten hem a certein day
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Of his spousaille, as sone as ever he may;
Skeat1900: 180
- For yet alwey the peple som-what dredde
- Lest that this markis no wyf wolde wedde.
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- He graunted hem a day, swich as him leste,
- On which he wolde be wedded sikerly,
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And seyde, he dide al this at hir requeste;
Skeat1900: 185
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And they, with humble entente, buxomly,
Skeat1900: (130)
- Knelinge up-on her knees ful reverently
- Him thanken alle, and thus they han an ende
- Of hir entente, and hoom agayn they wende.
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And heer-up-on he to his officeres
Skeat1900: 190
- Comaundeth for the feste to purveye,
- And to his privee knightes and squyeres
- Swich charge yaf, as him liste on hem leye;
- And they to his comandement obeye,
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And ech of hem doth al his diligence
Skeat1900: 195
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To doon un-to the feste reverence.
Skeat1900: (140)
Explicit prima pars. Incipit secunda pars.
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- Noght fer fro thilke paleys honurable
- Ther-as this markis shoop his mariage,
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Ther stood a throp, of site delitable,
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In which that povre folk of that village
Skeat1900: 200
- Hadden hir bestes and hir herbergage,
- And of hir labour took hir sustenance
- After that the erthe yaf hem habundance.
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- Amonges thise povre folk ther dwelte a man
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Which that was holden povrest of hem alle;
Skeat1900: 205
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But hye god som tyme senden can
Skeat1900: (150)
- His grace in-to a litel oxes stalle:
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Ianicula men of that throp him calle.
- A doghter hadde he, fair y-nogh to sighte,
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And Grisildis this yonge mayden highte.
Skeat1900: 210
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But for to speke of vertuous beautee,
- Than was she oon the faireste under sonne;
- For povreliche y-fostred up was she,
- No likerous lust was thurgh hir herte y-ronne;
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Wel ofter of the welle than of the tonne
Skeat1900: 215
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She drank, and for she wolde vertu plese,
Skeat1900: (160)
- She knew wel labour, but non ydel ese.
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- But thogh this mayde tendre were of age,
- Yet in the brest of hir virginitee
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Ther was enclosed rype and sad corage;
Skeat1900: 220
- And in greet reverence and charitee
- Hir olde povre fader fostred she;
- A fewe sheep spinning on feeld she kepte,
- She wolde noght been ydel til she slepte.
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And whan she hoomward cam, she wolde bringe
Skeat1900: 225
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Wortes or othere herbes tymes ofte,
Skeat1900: (170)
- The whiche she shredde and seeth for hir livinge,
- And made hir bed ful harde and no-thing softe;
- And ay she kepte hir fadres lyf on-lofte
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With everich obeisaunce and diligence
Skeat1900: 230
- That child may doon to fadres reverence.
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- Up-on Grisilde, this povre creature,
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Ful ofte sythe this markis sette his yë
- As he on hunting rood paraventure;
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And whan it fil that he mighte hir espye,
Skeat1900: 235
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He noght with wantoun loking of folye
Skeat1900: (180)
- His yen caste on hir, but in sad wyse
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Up-on hir chere he wolde him ofte avyse,
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- Commending in his herte hir wommanhede,
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And eek hir vertu, passing any wight
Skeat1900: 240
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Of so yong age, as wel in chere
as dede.
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For thogh the peple have no greet insight
- In vertu, he considered ful right
- Hir bountee, and disposed that he wolde
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Wedde hir only, if ever he wedde sholde.
Skeat1900: 245
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The day of wedding cam, but no wight can
Skeat1900: (190)
- Telle what womman that it sholde be;
- For which merveille wondred many a man,
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And seyden, whan they were in privetee,
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‘Wol nat our lord yet leve his vanitee?
Skeat1900: 250
- Wol he nat wedde? allas, allas the whyle!
- Why wol he thus him-self and us bigyle?’
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- But natheles this markis hath don make
- Of gemmes, set in gold and in asure,
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Broches and ringes, for Grisildis sake,
Skeat1900: 255
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And of hir clothing took he the mesure
Skeat1900: (200)
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By a mayde, lyk to hir stature,
- And eek of othere ornamentes alle
- That un-to swich a wedding sholde falle.
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The tyme of undern of the same day
Skeat1900: 260
- Approcheth, that this wedding sholde be;
- And al the paleys put was in array,
- Bothe halle and chambres, ech in his degree;
- Houses of office stuffed with plentee
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Ther maystow seen of deyntevous vitaille,
Skeat1900: 265
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That may be founde, as fer as last Itaille.
Skeat1900: (210)
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- This royal markis, richely arrayed,
- Lordes and ladyes in his companye,
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The whiche unto the feste were y-prayed,
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And of his retenue the bachelrye,
Skeat1900: 270
- With many a soun of sondry melodye,
- Un-to the village, of the which I tolde,
- In this array the righte wey han holde.
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- Grisilde of this, god woot, ful innocent,
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That for hir shapen was al this array,
Skeat1900: 275
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To fecchen water at a welle is went,
Skeat1900: (220)
- And cometh hoom as sone as ever she may.
- For wel she hadde herd seyd, that thilke day
- The markis sholde wedde, and, if she mighte,
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She wolde fayn han seyn som of that sighte.
Skeat1900: 280
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- She thoughte, ‘I wol with othere maydens stonde,
- That been my felawes, in our dore, and see
- The markisesse, and therfor wol I fonde
- To doon at hoom, as sone as it may be,
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The labour which that longeth un-to me;
Skeat1900: 285
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And than I may at leyser hir biholde,
Skeat1900: (230)
- If she this wey un-to the castel holde.’
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- And as she wolde over hir threshfold goon,
- The markis cam and gan hir for to calle;
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And she sette doun hir water-pot anoon
Skeat1900: 290
- Bisyde the threshfold, in an oxes stalle,
- And doun up-on hir knees she gan to falle,
- And with sad contenance kneleth stille
- Til she had herd what was the lordes wille.
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This thoughtful markis spak un-to this mayde
Skeat1900: 295
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Ful sobrely, and seyde in this manere,
Skeat1900: (240)
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‘Wher is your fader, Grisildis?’ he sayde,
- And she with reverence, in humble chere,
- Answerde, ‘lord, he is al redy here.’
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And in she gooth with-outen lenger lette,
Skeat1900: 300
- And to the markis she hir fader fette.
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He by the hond than took this olde man,
- And seyde thus, whan he him hadde asyde,
- ‘Ianicula, I neither may ne can
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Lenger the plesance of myn herte hyde.
Skeat1900: 305
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If that thou vouche-sauf, what-so bityde,
Skeat1900: (250)
- Thy doghter wol I take, er that I wende,
- As for my wyf, un-to hir lyves ende.
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- Thou lovest me, I woot it wel, certeyn,
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And art my feithful lige man y-bore;
Skeat1900: 310
- And al that lyketh me, I dar wel seyn
- It lyketh thee, and specially therfore
- Tel me that poynt that I have seyd bifore,
- If that thou wolt un-to that purpos drawe,
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To take me as for thy sone-in-lawe?’
Skeat1900: 315
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This sodeyn cas this man astoned so,
Skeat1900: (260)
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That reed he wex, abayst, and al quaking
- He stood; unnethes seyde he wordes mo,
- But only thus: ‘lord,’ quod he, ‘my willing
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Is as ye wole, ne ayeines your lyking
Skeat1900: 320
- I wol no-thing; ye be my lord so dere;
- Right as yow lust governeth this matere.’
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- ‘Yet wol I,’ quod this markis softely,
- ‘That in thy chambre I and thou and she
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Have a collacion, and wostow why?
Skeat1900: 325
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For I wol axe if it hir wille be
Skeat1900: (270)
- To be my wyf, and reule hir after me;
- And al this shal be doon in thy presence,
- I wol noght speke out of thyn audience.’
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And in the chambre whyl they were aboute
Skeat1900: 330
- Hir tretis, which as ye shal after here,
- The peple cam un-to the hous with-oute,
- And wondred hem in how honest manere
- And tentifly she kepte hir fader dere.
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But outerly Grisildis wondre mighte,
Skeat1900: 335
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For never erst ne saugh she swich a sighte.
Skeat1900: (280)
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No wonder is thogh that she were astoned
- To seen so greet a gest come in that place;
- She never was to swiche gestes woned,
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For which she loked with ful pale face.
Skeat1900: 340
- But shortly forth this tale for to chace,
- Thise arn the wordes that the markis sayde
- To this benigne verray feithful mayde.
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- ‘Grisilde,’ he seyde, ‘ye shul wel understonde
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It lyketh to your fader and to me
Skeat1900: 345
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That I yow wedde, and eek it may so stonde,
Skeat1900: (290)
- As I suppose, ye wol that it so be.
- But thise demandes axe I first,’ quod he,
- ‘That, sith it shal be doon in hastif wyse,
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Wol ye assente, or elles yow avyse?
Skeat1900: 350
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- I seye this, be ye redy with good herte
- To al my lust, and that I frely may,
- As me best thinketh, do yow laughe or smerte,
- And never ye to grucche it, night ne day?
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And eek whan I sey “ye,” ne sey nat “nay,”
Skeat1900: 355
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Neither by word ne frowning contenance;
Skeat1900: (300)
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Swer this, and here I swere our alliance.’
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- Wondring upon this word, quaking for drede,
- She seyde, ‘lord, undigne and unworthy
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Am I to thilke honour that ye me bede;
Skeat1900: 360
- But as ye wol your-self, right so wol I.
- And heer I swere that never willingly
- In werk ne thoght I nil yow disobeye,
- For to be deed, though me were looth to deye.’
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‘This is y-nogh, Grisilde myn!’ quod he.
Skeat1900: 365
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And forth he gooth with a ful sobre chere
Skeat1900: (310)
- Out at the dore, and after that cam she,
- And to the peple he seyde in this manere,
- ‘This is my wyf,’ quod he, ‘that standeth here.
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Honoureth hir, and loveth hir, I preye,
Skeat1900: 370
- Who-so me loveth; ther is na-more to seye.’
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- And for that no-thing of hir olde gere
- She sholde bringe in-to his hous, he bad
- That wommen sholde dispoilen hir right there;
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Of which thise ladyes were nat right glad
Skeat1900: 375
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To handle hir clothes wher-in she was clad.
Skeat1900: (320)
- But natheles this mayde bright of hewe
- Fro foot to heed they clothed han al newe.
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- Hir heres han they kembd, that lay untressed
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Ful rudely, and with hir fingres smale
Skeat1900: 380
- A corone on hir heed they han y-dressed,
- And sette hir ful of nowches grete and smale;
- Of hir array what sholde I make a tale?
- Unnethe the peple hir knew for hir fairnesse,
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Whan she translated was in swich richesse.
Skeat1900: 385
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This markis hath hir spoused with a ring
Skeat1900: (330)
- Broght for the same cause, and than hir sette
- Up-on an hors, snow-whyt and wel ambling,
- And to his paleys, er he lenger lette,
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With Ioyful peple that hir ladde and mette,
Skeat1900: 390
- Conveyed hir, and thus the day they spende
- In revel, til the sonne gan descende.
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- And shortly forth this tale for to chace,
- I seye that to this newe markisesse
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God hath swich favour sent hir of his grace,
Skeat1900: 395
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That it ne semed nat by lyklinesse
Skeat1900: (340)
- That she was born and fed in rudenesse,
- As in a cote or in an oxe-stalle,
- But norished in an emperoures halle.
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To every wight she woxen is so dere
Skeat1900: 400
- And worshipful, that folk ther she was bore
- And from hir birthe knewe hir yeer by yere,
- Unnethe trowed they, but dorste han swore
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That to Ianicle, of which I spak bifore,
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She doghter nas, for, as by coniecture,
Skeat1900: 405
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Hem thoughte she was another creature.
Skeat1900: (350)
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- For thogh that ever vertuous was she,
- She was encressed in swich excellence
- Of thewes gode, y-set in heigh bountee,
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And so discreet and fair of eloquence,
Skeat1900: 410
- So benigne and so digne of reverence,
- And coude so the peples herte embrace,
- That ech hir lovede that loked on hir face.
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- Noght only of Saluces in the toun
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Publiced was the bountee of hir name,
Skeat1900: 415
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But eek bisyde in many a regioun,
Skeat1900: (360)
- If oon seyde wel, another seyde the same;
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So spradde of hir heigh bountee the fame,
- That men and wommen, as wel yonge as olde,
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Gon to Saluce, upon hir to biholde.
Skeat1900: 420
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- Thus Walter lowly, nay but royally,
- Wedded with fortunat honestetee,
- In goddes pees liveth ful esily
- At hoom, and outward grace y-nogh had he;
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And for he saugh that under low degree
Skeat1900: 425
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Was ofte vertu hid, the peple him helde
Skeat1900: (370)
- A prudent man, and that is seyn ful selde.
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- Nat only this Grisildis thurgh hir wit
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Coude al the feet of wyfly hoomlinesse,
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But eek, whan that the cas requyred it,
Skeat1900: 430
- The commune profit coude she redresse.
- Ther nas discord, rancour, ne hevinesse
- In al that lond, that she ne coude apese,
- And wysly bringe hem alle in reste and ese.
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Though that hir housbonde absent were anoon,
Skeat1900: 435
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If gentil men, or othere of hir contree
Skeat1900: (380)
- Were wrothe, she wolde bringen hem atoon;
- So wyse and rype wordes hadde she,
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And Iugements
of so greet equitee,
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That she from heven sent was, as men wende,
Skeat1900: 440
- Peple to save and every wrong tamende.
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- Nat longe tyme after that this Grisild
- Was wedded, she a doughter hath y-bore,
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Al had hir lever have born a knave child.
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Glad was this markis and the folk therfore;
Skeat1900: 445
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For though a mayde child come al bifore,
Skeat1900: (390)
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She may unto a knave child atteyne
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By lyklihed, sin she nis nat bareyne.
Explicit secunda pars. Incipit tercia pars.
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- Ther fil, as it bifalleth tymes mo,
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Whan that this child had souked but a throwe,
Skeat1900: 450
- This markis in his herte longeth so
- To tempte his wyf, hir sadnesse for to knowe,
- That he ne mighte out of his herte throwe
- This merveillous desyr, his wyf tassaye,
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Needless, god woot, he thoughte hir for taffraye.
Skeat1900: 455
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He hadde assayed hir y-nogh bifore,
Skeat1900: (400)
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And fond hir ever good; what neded it
- Hir for to tempte and alwey more and more?
- Though som men preise it for a subtil wit,
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But as for me, I seye that yvel it sit
Skeat1900: 460
- Tassaye a wyf whan that it is no nede,
- And putten her in anguish and in drede.
-
- For which this markis wroghte in this manere;
- He cam alone a-night, ther as she lay,
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With sterne face and with ful trouble chere,
Skeat1900: 465
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And seyde thus, ‘Grisild,’ quod he, ‘that day
Skeat1900: (410)
- That I yow took out of your povre array,
- And putte yow in estaat of heigh noblesse,
- Ye have nat that forgeten, as I gesse.
-
-
I seye, Grisild, this present dignitee,
Skeat1900: 470
- In which that I have put yow, as I trowe,
- Maketh yow nat foryetful for to be
- That I yow took in povre estaat ful lowe
- For any wele ye moot your-selven knowe.
-
Tak hede of every word that I yow seye,
Skeat1900: 475
-
Ther is no wight that hereth it but we tweye.
Skeat1900: (420)
-
-
Ye woot your-self wel, how that ye cam here
- In-to this hous, it is nat longe ago,
- And though to me that ye be lief and dere,
-
Un-to my gentils ye be no-thing so;
Skeat1900: 480
- They seyn, to hem it is greet shame and wo
-
For to be subgets and ben in servage
- To thee, that born art of a smal village.
- And namely, sith thy doghter was y-bore,
-
Thise wordes han they spoken doutelees;
Skeat1900: 485
-
But I desyre, as I have doon bifore,
Skeat1900: (430)
- To live my lyf with hem in reste and pees;
- I may nat in this caas be recchelees.
- I moot don with thy doghter for the beste,
-
Nat as I wolde, but as my peple leste.
Skeat1900: 490
-
- And yet, god wot, this is ful looth to me;
- But nathelees with-oute your witing
- I wol nat doon, but this wol I,’ quod he,
- ‘That ye to me assente as in this thing.
-
Shewe now your pacience in your werking
Skeat1900: 495
-
That ye me highte and swore in your village
Skeat1900: (440)
- That day that maked was our mariage.’
-
- Whan she had herd al this, she noght ameved
-
Neither in word, or chere
, or countenaunce;
-
For, as it semed, she was nat agreved:
Skeat1900: 500
- She seyde, ‘lord, al lyth in your plesaunce,
- My child and I with hertly obeisaunce
-
Ben youres al, and ye mowe save or spille
- Your owene thing; werketh after your wille.
-
-
Ther may no-thing, god so my soule save,
Skeat1900: 505
-
Lyken to yow that may displese me;
Skeat1900: (450)
-
Ne I desyre no-thing for to have,
-
Ne drede for to lese, save only ye;
- This wil is in myn herte and ay shal be.
-
No lengthe of tyme or deeth may this deface,
Skeat1900: 510
- Ne chaunge my corage to another place.’
-
- Glad was this markis of hir answering,
- But yet he feyned as he were nat so;
- Al drery was his chere and his loking
-
Whan that he sholde out of the chambre go.
Skeat1900: 515
-
Sone after this, a furlong wey or two,
Skeat1900: (460)
- He prively hath told al his entente
- Un-to a man, and to his wyf him sente.
- A maner sergeant was this privee man,
-
The which that feithful ofte he founden hadde
Skeat1900: 520
- In thinges grete, and eek swich folk wel can
- Don execucioun on thinges badde.
- The lord knew wel that he him loved and dradde;
-
And whan this sergeant wiste his lordes wille,
-
In-to the chambre he stalked him ful stille.
Skeat1900: 525
-
-
‘Madame,’ he seyde, ‘ye mote foryeve it me,
Skeat1900: (470)
- Thogh I do thing to which I am constreyned;
- Ye ben so wys that ful wel knowe ye
- That lordes hestes mowe nat been y-feyned;
-
They mowe wel been biwailled or compleyned,
Skeat1900: 530
- But men mot nede un-to her lust obeye,
- And so wol I; ther is na-more to seye.
-
- This child I am comanded for to take’—
- And spak na-more, but out the child he hente
-
Despitously, and gan a chere make
Skeat1900: 535
-
As though he wolde han slayn it er he wente.
Skeat1900: (480)
- Grisildis mot al suffren and consente;
- And as a lamb she sitteth meke and stille,
- And leet this cruel sergeant doon his wille.
-
-
Suspecious was the diffame of this man,
Skeat1900: 540
- Suspect his face, suspect his word also;
- Suspect the tyme in which he this bigan.
- Allas! hir doghter that she lovede so
- She wende he wolde han slawen it right tho.
-
But natheles she neither weep ne syked,
Skeat1900: 545
-
Consenting hir to that the markis lyked.
Skeat1900: (490)
-
-
But atte laste speken she bigan,
- And mekely she to the sergeant preyde,
- So as he was a worthy gentil man,
-
That she moste kisse hir child er that it deyde;
Skeat1900: 550
- And in her barm this litel child she leyde
-
With ful sad face, and gan the child to kisse
-
And lulled it, and after gan it blisse.
- And thus she seyde in hir benigne voys,
-
‘Far weel, my child; I shal thee never see;
Skeat1900: 555
-
But, sith I thee have marked with the croys,
Skeat1900: (500)
-
Of thilke fader blessed mote thou be,
- That for us deyde up-on a croys of tree.
- Thy soule, litel child, I him bitake,
-
For this night shaltow dyen for my sake.’
Skeat1900: 560
-
- I trowe that to a norice in this cas
- It had ben hard this rewthe for to se;
- Wel mighte a mooder than han cryed ‘allas!’
-
But nathelees so sad stedfast was she,
-
That she endured all adversitee,
Skeat1900: 565
-
And to the sergeant mekely she sayde,
Skeat1900: (510)
- ‘Have heer agayn your litel yonge mayde.
-
- Goth now,’ quod she, ‘and dooth my lordes heste,
-
But o thing wol I preye yow of your grace,
-
That, but my lord forbad yow, atte leste
Skeat1900: 570
- Burieth this litel body in som place
- That bestes ne no briddes it to-race.’
- But he no word wol to that purpos seye,
- But took the child and wente upon his weye.
-
-
This sergeant cam un-to his lord ageyn,
Skeat1900: 575
-
And of Grisildis wordes and hir chere
Skeat1900: (520)
- He tolde him point for point, in short and playn,
- And him presenteth with his doghter dere.
- Somwhat this lord hath rewthe in his manere;
-
But nathelees his purpos heeld he stille,
Skeat1900: 580
- As lordes doon, whan they wol han hir wille;
-
- And bad his sergeant that he prively
-
Sholde this child ful softe winde and wrappe
- With alle circumstances tendrely,
-
And carie it in a cofre or in a lappe;
Skeat1900: 585
-
But, up-on peyne his heed of for to swappe,
Skeat1900: (530)
- That no man sholde knowe of his entente,
-
Ne whenne he cam, ne whider that he wente;
-
- But at Boloigne to his suster dere,
-
That thilke tyme of Panik was countesse,
Skeat1900: 590
- He sholde it take, and shewe hir this matere,
- Bisekinge hir to don hir bisinesse
- This child to fostre in alle gentilesse;
-
And whos child that it was he bad hir hyde
-
From every wight, for oght that may bityde.
Skeat1900: 595
-
-
The sergeant gooth, and hath fulfild this thing;
Skeat1900: (540)
- But to this markis now retourne we;
- For now goth he ful faste imagining
- If by his wyves chere he mighte see,
-
Or by hir word aperceyve that she
Skeat1900: 600
- Were chaunged; but he never hir coude finde
- But ever in oon y-lyke sad and kinde.
-
- As glad, as humble, as bisy in servyse,
- And eek in love as she was wont to be,
-
Was she to him in every maner wyse;
Skeat1900: 605
-
Ne of hir doghter noght a word spak she.
Skeat1900: (550)
- Non accident for noon adversitee
- Was seyn in hir, ne never hir doghter name
- Ne nempned she, in ernest nor in game.
Explicit tercia pars. Sequitur pars quarta.
-
-
In this estaat ther passed been foure yeer
Skeat1900: 610
- Er she with childe was; but, as god wolde,
-
A knave child she bar by this Walter,
- Ful gracious and fair for to biholde.
- And whan that folk it to his fader tolde,
-
Nat only he, but al his contree, merie
Skeat1900: 615
-
Was for this child, and god they thanke and herie.
Skeat1900: (560)
-
- Whan it was two yeer old, and fro the brest
- Departed of his norice, on a day
- This markis caughte yet another lest
-
To tempte his wyf yet ofter, if he may.
Skeat1900: 620
- O needles was she tempted in assay!
- But wedded men ne knowe no mesure,
- Whan that they finde a pacient creature.
-
- ‘Wyf,’ quod this markis, ‘ye han herd er this,
-
My peple sikly berth our mariage,
Skeat1900: 625
-
And namely, sith my sone y-boren is,
Skeat1900: (570)
- Now is it worse than ever in al our age.
- The murmur sleeth myn herte and my corage;
- For to myne eres comth the voys so smerte,
-
That it wel ny destroyed hath myn herte.
Skeat1900: 630
-
- Now sey they thus, “whan Walter is agoon,
- Then shal the blood of Ianicle succede
- And been our lord, for other have we noon;”
- Swiche wordes seith my peple, out of drede.
-
Wel oughte I of swich murmur taken hede;
Skeat1900: 635
-
For certeinly I drede swich sentence,
Skeat1900: (580)
- Though they nat pleyn speke in myn audience.
-
- I wolde live in pees, if that I mighte;
- Wherfor I am disposed outerly,
-
As I his suster servede by nighte,
Skeat1900: 640
- Right so thenke I to serve him prively;
- This warne I yow, that ye nat sodeynly
-
Out of your-self for no wo sholde outraye;
- Beth pacient, and ther-of I yow preye.’
-
-
‘I have,’ quod she, ‘seyd thus, and ever shal,
Skeat1900: 645
-
I wol no thing, ne nil no thing, certayn,
Skeat1900: (590)
- But as yow list; noght greveth me at al,
- Thogh that my doghter and my sone by slayn,
- At your comandement, this is to sayn.
-
I have noght had no part of children tweyne
Skeat1900: 650
- But first siknesse, and after wo and peyne.
-
- Ye been our lord, doth with your owene thing
- Right as yow list; axeth no reed at me.
- For, as I lefte at hoom al my clothing,
-
Whan I first cam to yow, right so,’ quod she,
Skeat1900: 655
-
‘Left I my wil and al my libertee,
Skeat1900: (600)
- And took your clothing; wherfor I yow preye,
- Doth your plesaunce, I wol your lust obeye.
-
- And certes, if I hadde prescience
-
Your wil to knowe er ye your lust me tolde,
Skeat1900: 660
- I wolde it doon with-outen necligence;
- But now I woot your lust and what ye wolde,
- Al your plesaunce ferme and stable I holde;
- For wiste I that my deeth wolde do yow ese,
-
Right gladly wolde I dyen, yow to plese.
Skeat1900: 665
-
-
Deth may noght make no comparisoun
Skeat1900: (610)
-
Un-to your love:’ and, whan this markis sey
- The constance of his wyf, he caste adoun
- His yen two, and wondreth that she may
-
In pacience suffre al this array.
Skeat1900: 670
- And forth he gooth with drery contenaunce,
- But to his herte it was ful greet plesaunce.
-
- This ugly sergeant, in the same wyse
- That he hir doghter caughte, right so he,
-
Or worse, if men worse can devyse,
Skeat1900: 675
-
Hath hent hir sone, that ful was of beautee.
Skeat1900: (620)
- And ever in oon so pacient was she,
- That she no chere made of hevinesse,
- But kiste hir sone, and after gan it blesse;
-
-
Save this; she preyed him that, if he mighte,
Skeat1900: 680
- Hir litel sone he wolde in erthe grave,
- His tendre limes, delicat to sighte,
- Fro foules and fro bestes for to save.
- But she non answer of him mighte have.
-
He wente his wey, as him no-thing ne roghte;
Skeat1900: 685
-
But to Boloigne he tendrely it broghte.
Skeat1900: (630)
-
-
This markis wondreth ever lenger the more
- Up-on hir pacience, and if that he
- Ne hadde soothly knowen ther-bifore,
-
That parfitly hir children lovede she,
Skeat1900: 690
- He wolde have wend that of som subtiltee,
-
And of malice or for cruel
corage,
- That she had suffred this with sad visage.
-
- But wel he knew that next him-self, certayn,
-
She loved hir children best in every wyse.
Skeat1900: 695
-
But now of wommen wolde I axen fayn,
Skeat1900: (640)
- If thise assayes mighte nat suffyse?
- What coude a sturdy housbond more devyse
-
To preve hir wyfhod and hir stedfastnesse,
-
And he continuing ever in sturdinesse?
Skeat1900: 700
-
- But ther ben folk of swich condicioun,
- That, whan they have a certein purpos take,
- They can nat stinte of hir entencioun,
-
But, right as they were bounden to a stake,
-
They wol nat of that firste purpos slake.
Skeat1900: 705
-
Right so this markis fulliche hath purposed
Skeat1900: (650)
- To tempte his wyf, as he was first disposed.
-
- He waiteth, if by word or contenance
- That she to him was changed of corage;
-
But never coude he finde variance;
Skeat1900: 710
- She was ay oon in herte and in visage;
- And ay the forther that she was in age,
- The more trewe, if that it were possible,
- She was to him in love, and more penible.
-
-
For which it semed thus, that of hem two
Skeat1900: 715
-
Ther nas but o wil; for, as Walter leste,
Skeat1900: (660)
- The same lust was hir plesance also,
- And, god be thanked, al fil for the beste.
- She shewed wel, for no worldly unreste
-
A wyf, as of hir-self, no-thing ne sholde
Skeat1900: 720
- Wille in effect, but as hir housbond wolde.
-
- The sclaundre of Walter ofte and wyde spradde,
- That of a cruel herte he wikkedly,
- For he a povre womman wedded hadde,
-
Hath mordred bothe his children prively.
Skeat1900: 725
-
Swich murmur was among hem comunly.
Skeat1900: (670)
- No wonder is, for to the peples ere
- Ther cam no word but that they mordred were.
-
- For which, wher-as his peple ther-bifore
-
Had loved him wel, the sclaundre of his diffame
Skeat1900: 730
-
Made hem that they him hatede therfore;
- To been a mordrer is an hateful name.
- But natheles, for ernest ne for game
-
He of his cruel
purpos nolde stente;
-
To tempte his wyf was set al his entente.
Skeat1900: 735
-
-
Whan that his doghter twelf yeer was of age,
Skeat1900: (680)
- He to the court of Rome, in subtil wyse
- Enformed of his wil, sente his message,
- Comaunding hem swiche bulles to devyse
-
As to his cruel
purpos may suffyse,
Skeat1900: 740
- How that the pope, as for his peples reste,
- Bad him to wedde another, if him leste.
-
- I seye, he bad they sholde countrefete
- The popes bulles, making mencioun
-
That he hath leve his firste wyf to lete,
Skeat1900: 745
-
As by the popes dispensacioun,
Skeat1900: (690)
- To stinte rancour and dissencioun
- Bitwixe his peple and him; thus seyde the bulle,
-
The which they han publiced atte fulle.
-
-
The rude peple, as it no wonder is,
Skeat1900: 750
-
Wenden ful wel that it had been right so;
- But whan thise tydinges cam to Grisildis,
- I deme that hir herte was ful wo.
- But she, y-lyke sad for evermo,
-
Disposed was, this humble creature,
Skeat1900: 755
-
Thadversitee of fortune al tendure.
Skeat1900: (700)
-
- Abyding ever his lust and his plesaunce,
- To whom that she was yeven, herte and al,
- As to hir verray worldly suffisaunce;
-
But shortly if this storie I tellen shal,
Skeat1900: 760
- This markis writen hath in special
- A lettre in which he sheweth his entente,
- And secrely he to Boloigne it sente.
-
-
To the erl of Panik, which that hadde tho
-
Wedded his suster, preyde he specially
Skeat1900: 765
-
To bringen hoom agayn his children two
Skeat1900: (710)
- In honurable estaat al openly.
- But o thing he him preyede outerly,
- That he to no wight, though men wolde enquere,
-
Sholde nat telle, whos children that they were,
Skeat1900: 770
-
- But seye, the mayden sholde y-wedded be
- Un-to the markis of Saluce anon.
-
And as this erl was preyed, so dide he;
- For at day set he on his wey is goon
-
Toward Saluce, and lordes many oon,
Skeat1900: 775
-
In riche array, this mayden for to gyde;
Skeat1900: (720)
- Hir yonge brother ryding hir bisyde.
-
- Arrayed was toward hir mariage
- This fresshe mayde, ful of gemmes clere;
-
Hir brother, which that seven yeer was of age,
Skeat1900: 780
- Arrayed eek ful fresh in his manere.
- And thus in greet noblesse and with glad chere,
- Toward Saluces shaping hir Iourney,
- Fro day to day they ryden in hir wey.