Ther I was fostred as a child ful smal, Til I be deed my lyf ther wil I lede, A widow clene in body, hert, and al: clean For sith I yaf to yow my maydenhede, since, maidenhood And am your trewe wyf, it is no drede, God schilde such a lordes wyf to take shield (forbid) Another man to housbond or to make. for, for mate And of your newe wif, God of his grace So graunte yow wele and prosperité, For I wol gladly yelden hir my place, yield In which that I was blisful wont to be. For sith it liketh yow, my lord, quod sche, That whilom were al myn hertes reste, once That I schal gon, I wol go whan yow leste. please But ther as ye profre me such dowayre proffer As I ferst brought, it is wel in my mynde, It were my wrecchid clothes, no thing faire, wretched The whiche to me were hard now for to fynde. O goode God! how gentil and how kynde Ye semede by your speche and your visage, speech That day that maked was our mariage! made “Tis true, Griselda, I was once content To marry you--because you were so good, And true, and faithful, and obedient-- Not for your wealth, nor for your noble blood; Still one thing must be clearly understood, That in this rank and riches men so praise There is great servitude in many ways. “I may not do as every ploughman may: My people urge me evermore to take Another wife, and clamour day by day. And now the Pope, their rancour swift to slake, Gives glad consent to any change I make; And more than that--I need not fear to say-- My new wife is already on her way. Make way for her, be brave, give up her place, And, see, the dowry that you brought to me I will restore--I grant it of my grace. Go back unto your father’s house,” quoth he, “No one can always have prosperity. With equal spirit suffer weal or woe, The gifts of chance or luck that come and go.” And she replied, with perfect patience: “My lord, I know, and knew alway,” quoth she, “Too well, that ’tween your own magnificence And my great poverty, there cannot be Comparison at all, and verily I held myself unworthy every way To be your wife--or servant--for a day. “And in this house wherein ye made me great (High God my witness, who shall haply set Some coming comfort in my altered state), Lady nor mistress never was I yet; But humble servant to the grace I get: This I shall be, with spirit ever strong, More than all others, yea, my whole life long.