She took the babies from the nursing-ladies,85
Between her tender arms;
She often wishes, with many sorrowful kisses,
That she might help their harms.
"Farewel," quoth she, "my children dear;
Never shall I see you again;90
'Tis long of me, your sad and woful mother dear,
For whose sake you must be slain.
Had I been born of royal race,
You might have liv'd in happy case;
But now you must die for my unworthiness.95
"Come, messenger of death," quoth she,
"Take my despised babes to thee,
And to their father my complaints express."
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.
And in the morning when that they should be wedded,155
Her patience now was try'd;
Grissel was charged in princely manner
For to attire the bride.
Most willingly she gave consent unto the same;
The bride in her bravery was drest,160
And presently the noble marquess thither came,
With all the ladies at his request.
"Oh Grissel, I would ask of thee
If to this match thou wouldst agree?
Methinks thy looks are waxed wondrous coy."165
With that they all began to smile,
And Grissel she replies the while,
"God send lord marquess many years of joy!"
The marquis was movèd to see his best belovèd
Thus patient in distress;170
He stept unto her, and by the hand he took her;
These words he did express:
"Thou art the bride, and all the brides I mean to have;