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 seyeat first
That Walter was no fool, though that hem lestehe 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
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.