Nat longe tyme after that this Grisild
Was wedded, she a doughter hath y-bore,
Al had hir lever have born a knave child.
Glad was this markis and the folk therfore; 445
For though a mayde child come al bifore, (390)
She may unto a knave child atteyne
By lyklihed, sin she nis nat bareyne.
=Explicit secunda pars. Incipit tercia pars.=
444. E. man; _rest_ knaue. 447. E. man; _the rest_ knaue. 448. Cm.
liklyhed; E. Hn. liklihede.
[403: T. 8325-8359.]
Ther fil, as it bifalleth tymes mo,
Whan that this child had souked but a throwe, 450
This markis in his herte longeth so
To tempte his wyf, hir sadnesse for to knowe,
That he ne mighte out of his herte throwe
This merveillous desyr, his wyf tassaye,
Needless, god woot, he thoughte hir for taffraye. 455
He hadde assayed hir y-nogh bifore, (400)
And fond hir ever good; what neded it
Hir for to tempte and alwey more and more?
Though som men preise it for a subtil wit,
But as for me, I seye that yvel it sit 460
Tassaye a wyf whan that it is no nede,
And putten her in anguish and in drede.