The Clerk's Tale
Folio 119v
7 of 32 folios
But þough þis mayden tender were of age
Ȝet in þe brest of hir virginite
220
Ther was enclosed rype and sad corage
And in gret reuerence and charite
Hir olde pore fader fostred sche /
A fewe scheep spynnyng on þe feld sche kept
Sche nolde not ben ydel til sche slept
225
And whan sche com hom sche wolde brynge
Wortis or oþer herbis tymes ofte
The which sche schred and seth for hir lyuyng
And made hir bed ful hard and no þing softe
And ay sche kept hir fadres lif on lofte
230
With euery obeissance and diligence
That child may do to fadres reuerence
Vpon Grisildes þe pore creature
Ful ofte sithes þis marquys set his ye
As he on huntyng rood par auenture
235
And whan it fel he mighte hir espye
He not with wantoun lokyng of folye
His eyȝen cast vpon hir but in sad wyse
Vpon hir cheer he wold him oft avise
Comendyng in his hert hir wōmanhede
240
And eek hir vertu passyng any oþer wigħt
Of so ȝong age as wel in cheer as dede
For þough þe poeple haue no gret insight
In vertu he considereth arigħt
Hir bounte and desposed þat he wolde
245
Wedde hir oonly if euer he wedde scholde /
The day of weddyng cam but no wight can
Telle what wōman it schulde be /
For which meruayle wondrith many a man
And sayden whan þay were in priuete
250
Wol nought our lord ȝit leue his vanite
Wol he not wedde allas allas þe while
Why wol he þus himself and vs bigyle
But natheles þis marquys haþ doon make
Of gemmes set in gold and in asure
255
Broches and rynges for Grisildes sake /