gold that brightly shone, And with a crown of many a richë stone Upon her head, they into hall her brought: And there she was honoúred as her ought.
Thus had this piteous day a blissful end; For every man and woman did his might This day in mirth and revel to dispend, Till on the welkin shone the starrës bright: For more solémn in every mannë’s sight This feastë was, and greater of costage, Than was the revel of her marriáge.
Full many a year in high prosperity Lived these two in concord and in rest; And richëly his daughter married he Unto a lord, one of the worthiest Of all Itále; and then in peace and rest His wifë’s father in his court he kept, Till that the soul out of his body crept.
His son succeeded in his heritage, In rest and peace, after his father’s day: And fortunate was eke in marriáge, All he put not his wife in great assay: This world is not so strong, it is no nay, As it hath been in oldë timës yore; And hearken what this author saith, therefore;
This story is said, not for that wivës should Follow Griselda in humility, For it were importáble though they would; But for that every wight in his degree Shouldë be constant in adversity, As was Griselda; therefore Petrarch writeth This story, which with high style he inditeth.
For, since a woman was so patient Unto a mortal man, well more we ought Receiven all in gree that God us sent. For great skill is he proved that he wrought: But he tempteth no man that he hath bought, As saith Saint James, if ye his ’pistle read; He proveth folk all day, it is no dread.
And suffereth us, for our exercise, With sharpë scourges of adversity Full often to be beat in sundry wise; Not for to know our will, for certes he, Ere we were born, knew all our fraïlty; And for our best is all his governance; Let us then live in virtuous sufferance.