But thogh this mayde tendre were of age,
Yet in the brest of hir virginitee
Ther was enclosed rype and sad corage; 220
And in greet reverence and charitee
Hir olde povre fader fostred she;
A fewe sheep spinning on feeld she kepte,
She wolde noght been ydel til she slepte.
And whan she hoomward cam, she wolde bringe 225
Wortes or othere herbes tymes ofte, (170)
The whiche she shredde and seeth for hir livinge,
And made hir bed ful harde and no-thing softe;
And ay she kepte hir fadres lyf on-lofte
With everich obeisaunce and diligence 230
That child may doon to fadres reverence.
Up-on Grisilde, this povre creature,
Ful ofte sythe this markis sette his yë
As he on hunting rood paraventure;
And whan it fil that he mighte hir espye, 235
He noght with wantoun loking of folye (180)
His yën caste on hir, but in sad wyse
Up-on hir chere he wolde him ofte avyse,
233. E. caste; _rest_ sette (set). 235. E. that it; _rest omit_
that. 238. E. gan; _rest_ wolde. 238. E. chiere.
Commending in his herte hir wommanhede,
And eek hir vertu, passing any wight 240
Of so yong age, as wel in chere as dede.
For thogh the peple have no greet insight
In vertu, he considered ful right
Hir bountee, and disposed that he wolde
Wedde hir only, if ever he wedde sholde. 245