This sergeant cam un-to his lord ageyn, 575
And of Grisildis wordes and hir chere (520)
He tolde him point for point, in short and playn,
And him presenteth with his doghter dere.
Somwhat this lord hath rewthe in his manere;
But nathelees his purpos heeld he stille, 580
As lordes doon, whan they wol han hir wille;
And bad his sergeant that he prively
Sholde this child ful softe winde and wrappe
With alle circumstances tendrely,
And carie it in a cofre or in a lappe; 585
But, up-on peyne his heed of for to swappe, (530)
[407: T. 8463-8492.]
That no man sholde knowe of his entente,
Ne whenne he cam, ne whider that he wente;
583. Cp. Pt. Ln. ful; _rest omit._ 588. Hn. Cm. Cp. Pt. Hl. he cam
(com); E. Ln. _omit._
But at Boloigne to his suster dere,
That thilke tyme of Panik was countesse, 590
He sholde it take, and shewe hir this matere,
Bisekinge hir to don hir bisinesse
This child to fostre in alle gentilesse;
And whos child that it was he bad hir hyde
From every wight, for oght that may bityde. 595
590. Hl. panik; Cp. Panyke; _rest_ Pavik, Pauyk, Pavie. 594. E. him;
_rest_ hire, hir.
The sergeant gooth, and hath fulfild this thing; (540)
But to this markis now retourne we;
For now goth he ful faste imagining
If by his wyves chere he mighte see,
Or by hir word aperceyve that she 600
Were chaunged; but he never hir coude finde
But ever in oon y-lyke sad and kinde.
As glad, as humble, as bisy in servyse,
And eek in love as she was wont to be,
Was she to him in every maner wyse; 605
Ne of hir doghter noght a word spak she. (550)
Non accident for noon adversitee
Was seyn in hir, ne never hir doghter name
Ne nempned she, in ernest nor in game.
=Explicit tercia pars. Sequitur pars quarta.=
In this estaat ther passed been foure yeer 610
Er she with childe was; but, as god wolde,
A knave child she bar by this Walter,
Ful gracious and fair for to biholde.
And whan that folk it to his fader tolde,
Nat only he, but al his contree, merie 615
Was for this child, and god they thanke and herie. (560)