For which this markis wroghte in this manere;
He cam alone a-night, ther as she lay,
With sterne face and with ful trouble chere, 465
And seyde thus, ‘Grisild,’ quod he, ‘that day (410)
That I yow took out of your povre array,
And putte yow in estaat of heigh noblesse,
Ye have nat that forgeten, as I gesse.
465. Cm. sterne; E. stierne. 466, 470. Hl. Grisild; E. Hn. Cm.
Grisilde.
I seye, Grisild, this present dignitee, 470
In which that I have put yow, as I trowe,
Maketh yow nat foryetful for to be
That I yow took in povre estaat ful lowe
For any wele ye moot your-selven knowe.
Tak hede of every word that I yow seye, 475
Ther is no wight that hereth it but we tweye. (420)
Ye woot your-self wel, how that ye cam here
In-to this hous, it is nat longe ago,
And though to me that ye be lief and dere,
Un-to my gentils ye be no-thing so; 480
They seyn, to hem it is greet shame and wo
For to be subgets and ben in servage
To thee, that born art of a smal village.
477. E. Hn. Cm. cam; Cp. Pt. come; Ln. com; Hl. comen. 482. E.
subgetz and to; _rest omit_ to.
[404: T. 8360-8394.]
And namely, sith thy doghter was y-bore,
Thise wordes han they spoken doutelees; 485
But I desyre, as I have doon bifore, (430)
To live my lyf with hem in reste and pees;
I may nat in this caas be recchelees.
I moot don with thy doghter for the beste,
Nat as I wolde, but as my peple leste. 490
And yet, god wot, this is ful looth to me;
But nathelees with-oute your witing
I wol nat doon, but this wol I,’ quod he,
‘That ye to me assente as in this thing.
Shewe now your pacience in your werking 495
That ye me highte and swore in your village (440)
That day that maked was our mariage.’
Whan she had herd al this, she noght ameved
Neither in word, or chere, or countenaunce;
For, as it semed, she was nat agreved: 500
She seyde, ‘lord, al lyth in your plesaunce,
My child and I with hertly obeisaunce
Ben youres al, and ye mowe save or spille
Your owene thing; werketh after your wille.