He took the children, and to his noble master He brought them forth with speed; 100 Who secretly sent them unto a noble lady, To be nurst up indeed. Then to fair Grissel with a heavy heart he goes, Where she sat mildly all alone; A pleasant gesture and a lovely look she shows, 105 As if grief she had never known. Quoth he, "My children now are slain; What thinks fair Grissel of the same? Sweet Grissel, now declare thy mind to me." "Since you, my lord, are pleas'd with it, 110 Poor Grissel thinks the action fit; Both I and mine at your command will be." "The nobles murmur, fair Grissel, at thine honour, And I no joy can have Till thou be banisht from my court and presence, 115 As they unjustly crave. Thou must be stript out of thy stately garments; And as thou camest to me, In homely gray, instead of silk and purest pall, Now all thy cloathing must be. 120 My lady thou must be no more, Nor I thy lord, which grieves me sore; The poorest life must now content thy mind: A groat to thee I may not give, Thee to maintain, while I do live; 125 'Gainst my Grissel such great foes I find." When gentle Grissel heard these woful tidings, The tears stood in her eyes; She nothing said, no words of discontentment Did from her lips arise. 130 Her velvet gown most patiently she stript off, Her girdle of silk with the same; Her russet gown was brought again with many a scoff; To bear them all, herself [she] did frame. When she was drest in this array, 135 And ready was to part away, "God send long life unto my lord," quoth she; "Let no offence be found in this, To give my lord a parting kiss." With wat'ry eyes, "Farewel, my dear!" quoth he. 140 From stately palace, unto her father's cottage, Poor Grissel now is gone; Full fifteen winters she lived there contented, No wrong she thought upon; And at that time thro' all the land the speeches went, 145 The marquess should married be Unto a noble lady of high descent, And to the same all parties did agree. The marquess sent for Grissel fair The bride's bed-chamber to prepare, 150 That nothing should therein be found awry; The bride was with her brother come, Which was great joy to all and some; And Grissel took all this most patiently.