The Clerk's Tale
Folio 106v
34 of 35 folios
1135
His sone succedith in his heritage
In rest and pees aftyr his fadres day
And fortunat was ek in mariage
Al put he nat his wyf in gret assay
This world is not so stronge it is no nay
1140
As it hath ben in olde tymes yore
And herkeneth what this auctor seith therfore.
This stori is seide nat for that wyues sholde
Folwe grisilde as in humilite
For it were importable though thei wolde
1145
But for that euery wyght in his degre
Shulde be constant in aduersite
As was grisilde therfore petrark wrytetħ
This stori which he wyth hie style enditeth
For syn a womman was so pacient
1150
Vnto a mortel man wel more vs ought
Receyuen al in gre that god vs sent
For gret skyle is he preue that he wroght
But he ne tempteth no man that he boght
As seith seint Iame if he his pistle rede
1155
He preueth folk al day it is no drede
And suffreth vs as for your excersise
Wyth sharpe scourges of aduersitee
Ful ofte to \be/ bete in sundry wyse
Nat for to know our wille for certes he
1160
Or we were born knew al our freletee
And for our best is al his gouernance
Lat vs then lyue in vertuous suffrance
But lordynges .o. word herkeneth or I go
It were ful hard to fynde now a dayes
1165
In al a toun Grisildis thre or two
For yif that thei were I put in swich assayes
The gold of hem hath new so badde alayes
Wyth bras that though the coygne be faire at eye
It wolde rather breste atwo than plie .