“Griselda,” he said, “my will is that the maiden whom I am to marry be received here as royally as it is possible in my house to be, and that everybody, according to his degree, shall be made thoroughly welcome and happy. I have no woman able to arrange my rooms fully to my liking, and therefore I want you to take everything in hand. You know of old my ways and my tastes; therefore, though your dress _is_ ragged and you look very bad, you must do your duties to the very best of your power.” Griselda answered, “Not only, lord, am I glad to do anything for you, but I love you enough to work all my days to please you.” And with that worde sche gan the hous to dighte, And tables for to sette, and beddes make: And with that word she ’gan the house to deck, To set the tables and to make the beds: begging all the chambermaids to hasten and hurry and shake and sweep smartly; and she, most serviceable of them all, got every chamber and the great hall garnished and adorned. Abouten undern gan this lord alighte, forenoon That with him broughte these noble children tweye; two For which the peple ran to se that sighte Of hir array, so richely biseye; rich to be seen And than at erst amonges hem thay seye at first That Walter was no fool, though that hem leste he pleased To chaunge his wyf; for it was for the beste. For sche is fairer, as thay demen alle, deem Than is Grisild, and more tendre of age. younger Somewhat ere noonday did this earl alight, Who with him brought the unknown children fair, And all the people ran to see the sight Of their array, resplendent as they were; And soon the common thought was whispered there, That Walter was no fool for being glad To change his wife--a good exchange he had! For she is fairer, as they notice all, Than is Griselda, tenderer of age. And the throngs of admiring serfs stood making their light remarks, forgetful of the victim of it all, and her undeserved disgrace. They watch the fair bride and the handsome boy beside her, and every moment the marquis seems to get more popular. O stormy poeple, unsad and ever untrewe, unsteady And undiscret and chaunging as a fane, indiscreet Delytyng ever in rombel that is newe, noise For lik the moone ay waxe ye and wane, Ay ful of clappyng, dere ynough a jane,[155] chattering Youre doom is fals, your constaunce yvil previth, judgment, ill proveth A ful gret fool is he that on yow leevith. believeth