The Clerk's Tale
Folio 127r
22 of 32 folios
785
AMong al þis after his wikked vsage
This marquis ȝit his wif to tempte more
To þe uttrest proef of hir corrage
Fully to han experiens and lore
If þat sche were as stedefast as byfore
790
He on a day in open audience
Ful boystously haþ sayd hir þis sentence
Certes Grisildes I had ynough plesaunce
To haue ȝow to my wif for ȝour goodnesse
As for ȝoure trouþe and for ȝour obeissaunce
795
Nought for ȝour lignage ne for ȝour richesse
But now know I in verray sothfastnesse /
That in gret lordschip if I wel auyse /
Ther is gret seruise in sondry wyse /
I may not do as euery plough man may
800
My poeple me constreignith for to take
Anoþer wyf and certeyn day by day
And eek þe popes rancour for to slake
Consentith it þat dar I vndertake
And trewely þus moche I wol ȝow say
805
My newe wif is comyng by þe way
Be strong of hert and voyde anoon hir place
And þilke dower þat ȝe broughten me
Tak it agayn I graunt it of my grace
Retourneth to ȝour fadres hous quod he
810
No man may alway haue prosperite
With euen hert I rede ȝow endure
The strok of fortune or of aduenture
And sche agayn answerd in pacience
My lord quod sche I wot and wist alway
815
How þat bitwixe ȝour magnificence
And my pouerte no wight can ne may
Make comparisoū it is no nay
¶ I ne held me neuer digne in no manere
To ben ȝour wyf ne ȝit ȝour Chamberere
820
And in þis hous þer ȝe me lady made /
The highe god take I for my witnesse
And al so wisly he my soule glade