From Geoffrey Chaucer's "The Canterbury Tales", The Clerk's Tale, lines 351-364

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From The Clerk's Tale, lines 323-350:
Walter asks Griselda to marry him

From The Canterbury Tales:
The Clerk's Tale
lines 351-364: Griselda consents

	I seye this, be ye redy with good herte
	To al my lust, and that I frely may,
	As me best thynketh, do yow laughe or smerte,
	And nevere ye to grucche it nyght ne day,
355	And eek whan I sey ye, ne sey nat nay,
	Neither by word, ne frownyng contenance?
	Swere this, and heere I swere yow alliance."

	I say this: Are you ready with good heart
	To grant my wish, and that I freely may,
	As I shall think best, make you laugh or smart,
	And you to grumble never, night or day?
355	And too, when I say 'yea' you say not 'nay'
	By word or frown to what I have designed.
	Swear this, and here I will our contract bind."

Wondrynge upon this word, quakynge for drede,

She seyde, "Lord, undigne and unworthy

360 Am I to thilke honour, that ye me beede,

But as ye wole yourself, right so wol I.

And heere I swere, that nevere willyngly

In werk ne thoght I nyl yow disobeye,

For to be deed, though me were looth to deye."

Wondering upon this word, quaking for fear,

She said: "My lord, unsuited, unworthy

360 Am I to take the honour you give me here;

But what you'd have, that very thing would I.

And here I swear that never willingly,

In deed or thought, will I you disobey,

To save my life, and I love life, I say."

Next:
From The Clerk's Tale, lines 365-392:
The wedding of Walter and Griselda