And when she homeward camë, she would bring Wortës, and other herbës, timës oft, The which she shred and seeth’d for her livíng, And made her bed full hard, and nothing soft: And aye she kept her father’s life on loft With ev’ry obeisánce and diligence, That child may do to father’s reverence.
Upon Griselda, this poor creatúre, Full often sithes this marquis set his eye, As he on hunting rode, paráventure: And when it fell that he might her espy, He not with wanton looking of follý His eyen cast on her, but in sad wise Upon her cheer he would him oft advise;
Commending in his heart her womanhead, And eke her virtue, passing any wight Of so young age, as well in cheer as deed. For though the people have no great insight In virtue, he considered full right Her bounté, and disposed that he would Wed only her, if ever wed he should.
The day of wedding came, but no wight can Tellë what woman that it shouldë be; For which marvail wonder’d many a man, And saidë, when they were in privity, “Will not our lord yet leave his vanity? Will he not wed? Alas, alas the while! Why will he thus himself and us beguile?”
But natheless this marquis had done make Of gemmës, set in gold and in azúre, Brooches and ringës, for Griselda’s sake, And of her clothing took he the measúre Of a maiden like unto her statúre, And eke of other ornamentës all That unto such a wedding shouldë fall.
The time of undern of the samë day Approached, that this wedding shouldë be, And all the palace put was in array, Both hall and chamber, each in its degree, Houses of office stuffed with plenty There may’st thou see of dainteous vitáille, That may be found, as far as lasts Itále.
This royal marquis, richëly array’d, Lordës and ladies in his company, The which unto the feastë werë pray’d, And of his retinue the bach’lerý, With many a sound of sundry melody, Unto the village, of the which I told, In this array the right way did they hold.