O stormy people, light, and ever untrue, And undiscerning--changing as a fane, Delighting in new noise, because ’tis new, How like the moon do ye, too, wax and wane! Your empty praise, like worthless coin, is vain: False is your judgment, frail your constancy, Who trusts to you--a full great fool is he. That is what the graver people in the city said when the populace were gazing up and down, glad for the novelty, to have a new lady in the castle. Meanwhile Griselda was working busily at everything that was needed for the feast. She was nothing abashed at her clothing, though it was rude and coarse, and somewhat torn besides. She went to the gate with the rest to salute the bride, and hurried back at once to her work. She received every one cheerfully, and in such a manner that no one had a fault to find with her; but some of them wondered who this woman was, in such shabby clothes, but who behaved with so much grace and propriety; and many praised her diligence and wisdom. When all the great lords were about to sit down to supper, Walter called to Griselda, who was working in the hall. Grisyld, quod he, as it were in his play, How likith the my wif and hir beauté? do you like Right wel, my lord, quod sche, for in good fay faith A fairer saugh I never noon than sche. none I pray to God yive hir prosperité; And so hope I that he wol to yow sende Plesaunce ynough unto your lyves ende. pleasantness On thing biseke I yow, and warne also,[156] beseech That ye ne prike with no tormentynge prick This tendre mayden, as ye han doon mo: more (others) For she is fostrid in hir norischinge fostered, nourishing More tendrely, and to my supposyng: as I suppose Sche couthe not adversité endure, As couthe a pore fostrid creature. could, poorly And whan this Walter saugh hir pacience, Hir glade cheer, and no malice at al, And he so oft hadde doon to hir offence, And sche ay sad, and constant as a wal, steady Continuyng ever hir innocence overal: This sturdy marquis gan his herte dresse direct To rewen upon hir wyfly stedefastnesse. to pity This is ynough, Grisilde myn, quod he, Be now no more agast, ne yvel apayed, afraid, disappointed I have thy faith and thy benignité, goodness As wel as ever womman was, assayed essayed In gret estate, and pourliche[157] arrayed. poorly Now knowe I, dere wyf, thy stedefastnesse. And hir in armes took and gan hir kesse. kiss