This marquis hath her spoused with a ring
Brought for the samé cause, and then her set
Upon a horse, snow-white and well ambling,
And to his palace, ere he longer let,
With joyful people, that her led and met,
Conveyed her, and thus the day they spend
In revel til the sunné gan descend.

And shortly forth this talé for to chace,

I say, that to this newé marquisesse God hath such favour sent her of His grace, That it ne seemed not by likeliness That she was born and fed in rudeness,

As in a cot or in an oxé-stalle,

But nourished in an emperourés hall.

To every wight she woxen is so dear

And worshipful, that folk where she was born And from her birthé knew her year by year, Unethé trowéd they, but durst have sworn, That to Janicle, of which I spake beforn, She daughter nas," for, as by conjecture Them thought she was another creatúre. For though that ever virtuous was she,

She was increased in such excellence Of thewés 12 good, i-set in high bounté, And so discreet, and fair of eloquence, So benign, and so digne of reverence, And coudé so the peoples heart embrace, That each her loved that looked on her face.

Not only of Salucés in the town

Published was the bounté of her name,
But eke beside in many a regioún,

If one said well, another said the same.
So spread of hiré high bounté the fame,
That men and women, as well young as old,
Go to Saluce upon her to behold.

Thus Walter lowly, nay but royally,

Wedded with fortunate honesteté,

In Goddés peace lyveth ful easily

At home, and outward grace enough hath he;
And for he saw that under low degree
Was ofté virtue hid, the people him held
A prudent man, and that is seen full seld.

Not only this Grisildis through her wit

Coud all the feat of wifely homeliness,
But cke, when that the case required it,

The common profit coudé she redress;
There nas discórd, rancóur, nor heaviness
In all that land, that she ne coud appease,
And wisely bring them all in rest and ease.

Though that her husband absent were anon,

If gentlemen, or other of her contré,
Were wroth, she wouldé bringen them at one,
So wise and ripé wordés haddé she,
And judgéments of so great equité,

That she from heaven sent was, as men wende,13
People to save and every wrong to amende.

11 Nas, was not; negative of "was."

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12 Thewes, qualities. First English "theaw," a custom or quality. 13 Wende, weened, thought. First English "wén," a hope, expecta tion, thought; "wénan," to think, expect, or hope.

TO A.D. 1400.]

"And yet, God wot, this is full loth to me; But nathéles withouté your witting 9 Will I not doon; but this would I," quod he, "That ye to me assent as in this thing. Shew now your patiënce in your working, That ye me hight and swore in your village, That day that makéd was our mariage."

When she had heard all this, she not ameeved 10
Neither in word, or cheer, or countenance,
For, as it seeméd, she was not aggrieved:

She saidé, "Lord, all lieth in your pleasance;
My child and I, with heartly obeisance,
Ben yourés all, and ye may save or spill11
Your ownen thing; worketh after your will.

"There may no thing, so God my soulé save,
Liken to you that may displeasén me;
Nor I desiré no thing for to have,

Nor dreadé for to lose, save only ye.
This will is in mine heart, and aye shall be,
No length of time or death may this deface,
Nor changé my courage to other place."

Glad was this marquis of her answering,
But yet he feignéd as he were not so.
All dreary was his cheer and his looking,
When that he should out of the chamber go.
Soon after this, a furlong way or two,

He privily hath told all his intent
Unto a man, and to his wife him sent.

A manner sergeant was this privé man,

The which that faithful oft he founden had
In thingés great, and eke such folk well can
Doon execution in thingés bad;

The lord knew well that he him loved and drad;
And whan this sergeant wist his lordés will,
Into the chamber he stalkéd him full still.

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As though he would have slain it ere he went.
Grisildé mote all suffer and all consent;
And as a lamb she sitteth meek and still,
And let this cruel sergeant doon his will.

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I mote doon with thy daughter for the best, Not as I would, but as my people lest.8

He waiteth, if by word or countenance
That she to him was changéd of coráge.
But never could he findé variance,

She was aye one in heart and in visage;
And aye the farther that she was in age,
The moré true, if that it were possible,
She was to him in love, and more penible.4

For which it seemed thus, that of them two

Ther nas but one will; for as Walter lest, The samé lust was her pleasance also;

And, God be thankéd, all fell for the best. She shewéd well, for no worldly unrest A wife, as of herself, no thing ne should Will in effect but as her husband would. The slander of Walter oft and widé sprad, That of a cruel heart he wickedly, For he a pooré woman wedded had,

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Hath murdered both his children privily;
Such murmur was among them commonly.
No wonder is; for to the people's ear
There came no word but that they murdered were.

For which, where as his people therbefore

Had loved him well, the slander of his defame
Made them that they him hatedé therefore;
To ben a murd'rer is an hateful name.
But nathéles, for earnest nor for game,
He of his cruel purpose nolde stent;"
To tempt his wife was set all his intent.
When that his daughter twelve year was of age,
He to the court of Rome, in subtle wise
Informed of his will, sent his message

Commandyng them such bullés to devise
As to his cruel purpose may suffice,
How that the Pope, as for his people's rest,
Bade him to wed another, if him lest.

I say, he bade they shouldé counterfeit
The Popés bullés, making mentión
That he hath leave his firsté wife to lete,7
As by the Popés dispensatión,

To stinté rancour and dissensión
Betwixt his people and him; thus said the bull,
The which they han published at the full.

The rudé people, as it no wonder is,

Weened ful well that it had been right so. But when these tidings come to Grisildis, I deemé that her heart was full of wo; But she, aliké sad for evermo, Disposed was, this humble creatúre, Th' adversité of fortune all t' endure;

Abiding ever his lust and his pleasánce,

To whom that she was given, heart and all,

As to her very worldly suffisance.

But shortly if this story I tellen shall,
This marquis written hath in special

A letter in which he sheweth his intent,
And secretly he to Boloyne it sent.

Penible, painstaking.

5 For, because.

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Nolde, would not. First English "willan," to will; "nillan," not

to will.-Stent, stint.

7 Lete, leave.

"And in this house, there ye me lady made,

The highé God take I for my witness,
And all-so wisely he my soulé glad,—
I never held me lady ne mistress,

But humble servant to your worthiness,

And ever shall, while that my life may dure, Aboven every worldly creatúre.

"That ye so long of your benignité

Han holden me in honour and nobleye,
Whereas I was not worthy for to be,

That thank I God and you, to whom I pray
For-yeld it you; ther is no more to say.
Unto my father gladly will I wend,
And with him dwell unto my livés end.

"There I was fostered as a child full small,
Till I be dead my life there will I lead,
A widow clean in body, heart, and all;

For sith I gave to you my maidenhead,
And am your trué wife, it is no dread,
God shieldé such a lordés wife to take
Another man to husband or to make.

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First English "forgyldan;" German, "ver

3 To deyen in the case, though I die for it.

Out of drede, beyond doubt. See line 782.