From Geoffrey Chaucer's "The Canterbury Tales", The Clerk's Tale, lines 1009-1029

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From The Clerk's Tale, lines 981-1008:
The new girl arrives in town

From The Canterbury Tales:
The Clerk's Tale
lines 1009-1029: Griselda works and receives Lord Walter's guests

	Ful bisy was Grisilde in every thyng
1010	That to the feeste was apertinent.
	Right noght was she abayst of hir clothyng,
	Thogh it were rude and somdeel eek torent,
	But with glad cheere to the yate is went
	With oother folk to greete the markysesse,
1015	And after that dooth forth hir bisynesse.

	Full busy Griselda was in everything
1010	That to the marquis' feast was pertinent;
	Nothing was she confused by her clothing,
	Though rude it was and somewhat badly rent
	But with a glad face to the gate she went,
	With other folk, to greet the marchioness,
1015	And afterward she did her busyness.

With so glad chiere hise gestes she receyveth,

And konnyngly everich in his degree,

That no defaute no man aperceyveth,

But ay they wondren what she myghte bee

1020 That in so povre array was for to see,

And koude swich honour and reverence;

And worthily they preisen hire prudence.

With so glad face his guests she did receive,

And with such tact, each one in his degree,

That no fault in it could a man perceive;

But all they wondered much who she might be

1020 That in so poor array, as they could see,

Yet knew so much of rank and reverence;

And worthily they praised her high prudence.

In al this meenewhile she ne stente

This mayde and eek hir brother to commende

1025 With al hir herte, in ful benyngne entente,

So wel that no man koude hir pris amende

But atte laste, whan that thise lordes wende

To sitten doun to mete, he gan to calle

Grisilde, as she was bisy in his halle.

In all this while she never once did cease

The maiden and her brother to commend

1025 With kindness of a heart that was at peace,

So well that no man could her praise amend.

But at the last, when all these lords did wend

To seat themselves to dine, then did he call

Griselda, who was busy in his hall.

Next:
From The Clerk's Tale, lines 1030-1036:
Walter asks Griselda how she likes his new wife