The Clerk's Tale
Folio 93r
7 of 35 folios
Among this pore folke ther dwelte a man
205
Which that was holden porest of hem alle
But hye god sum tyme sende can
His grace in to a litel oxes stalle
Ianicola men of that throop him calle
A doughter hadde he fair ynow to sight
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And grisildis this yonge mayden hight
But for to speke of vertous beautee
Than was she on the fairest vnder sonne
Ful poorely yfostred vp was she
No likours lust was in hir hert y ronne
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Wel ofter of the wel than the tonne
She drank and for she wold vertu plese
She knew wel labour but non ydel ese
But though this mayde tendre were of age
Yit in the brest of hir virginytee
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Ther was enclosid rip and sad corage
And in gret reuerence and charite
Hir olde poore fadre fostred she
A few sheep spynnyng on felde she kepte
She wolde nat ben ydel til she slepte
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And whan she whom ward come she wolde brynge
Wortes or other yerbes tymes ofte
The which she shred and seeth for hir lyuyng
And made hir bed ful hard and no thing softe
And ay she kepte hir fadres lif on lofte
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Wyth euery obeisance and diligence
That childe may do to fadres reuerence
Upon grisilde the poore creature
Ful often sithe the Marquys sette his eye
As he on huntyng rood perauenture
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And whan hit fel that he myght hir espye
He nat wyth wanton lokyng of folye
His eyen cast on hir but in sad wyse
Vpon hir chere he wolde him oft auyse