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From The Clerk's Tale, lines 1044-1078:
Walter is done testing Griselda and he reveals that his bride is actually her (and his) daughter		 Previous
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From The Canterbury Tales:
The Clerk's Tale
lines 1079-1106: Griselda swoons from emotions


       Whan she this herde, aswowne doun she falleth
1080For pitous joye, and after hir swownynge
She bothe hir yonge children unto hir calleth,
And in hir armes pitously wepynge
Embraceth hem, and tendrely kissynge
Ful lyk a mooder, with hir salte teeres
1085She bathed bothe hir visage and hir heeres.
       When she heard this, she swooned and down did fall
1080For pitiful joy, and after her swooning
Both her young children to her did she call,
And in her arms, full piteously weeping,
Embraced them, and ail tenderly kissing,
As any mother would, with many a tear
1085She bathed their faces and their sunny hair.

       O, which a pitous thyng it was to se
Hir swownyng, and hir humble voys to heere!
"Grauntmercy, lord, that thanke I yow," quod she,
"That ye han saved me my children deere!
1090Now rekke I nevere to been deed right heere.
Sith I stonde in your love and in your grace,
No fors of deeth, ne whan my spirit pace!
       Oh, what a pitiful thing it was to see
Her swooning, and her humble voice to hear!
"Thanks, lord, that I may thank you now," said she,
"That you have saved to me my children dear!
1090Now I am ready for death right here;
Since I stand in your love and in your grace,
Death matters not, nor what my soul may face!

       O tendre, O deere, O yonge children myne!
Your woful mooder wende stedfastly
1095That crueel houndes, or som foul vermyne
Hadde eten yow; but God of his mercy
And youre benyngne fader tendrely
Hath doon yow kept," - and in that same stounde
Al sodeynly she swapte adoun to grounde.
       O young, O dear, O tender children mine,
Your woeful mother thought for long, truly,
1095That cruel hounds, or birds, or foul vermin
Had eaten you; but God, of His mercy,
And your good father, all so tenderly,
Have kept you safely." And in swoon profound
Suddenly there she fell upon the ground.

1100        And in hir swough so sadly holdeth she
Hire children two, whan she gan hem t'embrace,
That with greet sleighte and greet difficultee
The children from hire arm they gonne arace.
O many a teere on many a pitous face
1105Doun ran, of hem that stooden hir bisyde;
Unnethe abouten hir myghte they abyde.
1100        And in her swoon so forcefully held she
Her children two, whom she'd had in embrace,
That it was hard from her to set them free,
Her arms about them gently to unlace.
Oh, many a tear on many a pitying face
1105Ran down, of those were standing there beside;
Scarcely, for sympathy, could they abide.





Next Next:
From The Clerk's Tale, lines 1107-1127:
A happy end and Griselda is again queenly dressed		 Next