This child I am comanded for to take’—
And spak na-more, but out the child he hente
Despitously, and gan a chere make 535
As though he wolde han slayn it er he wente. (480)
Grisildis mot al suffren and consente;
And as a lamb she sitteth meke and stille,
And leet this cruel sergeant doon his wille.
Suspecious was the diffame of this man, 540
Suspect his face, suspect his word also;
Suspect the tyme in which he this bigan.
Allas! hir doghter that she lovede so
She wende he wolde han slawen it right tho.
But natheles she neither weep ne syked, 545
Consenting hir to that the markis lyked. (490)
But atte laste speken she bigan,
And mekely she to the sergeant preyde,
So as he was a worthy gentil man,
That she moste kisse hir child er that it deyde; 550
And in her barm this litel child she leyde
With ful sad face, and gan the child to kisse
And lulled it, and after gan it blisse.
547. E. to speken; _rest omit_ to. 552, 3. E. kisse, blisse; _rest_
blisse, kisse; _see_ 678.
[406: T. 8430-8462.]
And thus she seyde in hir benigne voys,
‘Far weel, my child; I shal thee never see; 555
But, sith I thee have marked with the croys, (500)
Of thilke fader blessed mote thou be,
That for us deyde up-on a croys of tree.
Thy soule, litel child, I him bitake,
For this night shaltow dyen for my sake.’ 560