and y-bore: **stock, race I trust in Godde’s bounte, and therefore My marriage, and mine estate and rest, I him betake; he may do as him lest. *commend to him
“Let me alone in choosing of my wife; That charge upon my back I will endure: But I you pray, and charge upon your life, That what wife that I take, ye me assure To worship* her, while that her life may dure, *honour In word and work both here and elleswhere, As she an emperore’s daughter were.
“And farthermore this shall ye swear, that ye Against my choice shall never grudge* nor strive. murmur For since I shall forego my liberty At your request, as ever may I thrive, Where as mine heart is set, there will I live And but ye will assent in such mannere, *unless I pray you speak no more of this mattere.”
With heartly will they sworen and assent To all this thing, there said not one wight nay: Beseeching him of grace, ere that they went, That he would grante them a certain day Of his espousal, soon as e’er he rnay, For yet always the people somewhat dread* *were in fear or doubt Lest that the marquis woulde no wife wed.
He granted them a day, such as him lest, On which he would be wedded sickerly,* certainly And said he did all this at their request; And they with humble heart full buxomly, *obediently <3> Kneeling upon their knees full reverently, Him thanked all; and thus they have an end Of their intent, and home again they wend.
And hereupon he to his officers Commanded for the feaste to purvey.* *provide And to his privy knightes and squiers Such charge he gave, as him list on them lay: And they to his commandement obey, And each of them doth all his diligence To do unto the feast all reverence.
Pars Secunda Second Part
Not far from thilke* palace honourable, that Where as this marquis shope his marriage, prepared; resolved on There stood a thorp, of sighte delectable, hamlet In which the poore folk of that village Hadde their beastes and their harbourage, *dwelling And of their labour took their sustenance, After the earthe gave them abundance.
Among this poore folk there dwelt a man Which that was holden poorest of them all; But highe God sometimes sende can His grace unto a little ox’s stall; Janicola men of that thorp him call. A daughter had he, fair enough to sight, And Griseldis this younge maiden hight.
But for to speak of virtuous beauty, Then was she one the fairest under sun: Full poorely y-foster’d up was she; No likerous lust was in her heart y-run; luxurious pleasure Well ofter of the well than of the tun She drank, <4> and, for* she woulde virtue please *because She knew well labour, but no idle ease.
But though this maiden tender were of age; Yet in the breast of her virginity There was inclos’d a sad and ripe corage; steadfast and mature And in great reverence and charity spirit Her olde poore father foster’d she. A few sheep, spinning, on the field she kept, She woulde not be idle till she slept.
And when she homeward came, she would bring Wortes,* and other herbes, times oft, plants, cabbages The which she shred and seeth’d for her living, And made her bed full hard, and nothing soft: And aye she kept her father’s life on loft *up, aloft With ev’ry obeisance and diligence, That child may do to father’s reverence.
Upon Griselda, this poor creature, Full often sithes* this marquis set his eye, times As he on hunting rode, paraventure: by chance And when it fell that he might her espy, He not with wanton looking of folly His eyen cast on her, but in sad wise serious Upon her cheer he would him oft advise;** *countenance **consider