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

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400        To every wight she woxen is so deere And worshipful, that folk ther she was bore And from hir birthe knewe hir yeer by yeere, Unnethe trowed they, - but dorste han swore - That she to Janicle, of which I spak bifore, 405 She doghter nere, for as by conjecture, Hem thoughte she was another creature.

400        To everyone she soon became so dear And worshipful, that folk where she had dwelt And from her birth had known her, year by year, Although they could have sworn it, scarcely felt That to Janicula, with whom I've dealt, 405 She really was a daughter, for she seemed Another creature now, or so they deemed.

For though that evere vertuous was she, She was encressed in swich excellence, Of thewes goode, yset in heigh bountee, 410 And so discreet and fair of eloquence, So benigne, and so digne of reverence, And koude so the peples herte embrace, That ech hir lovede, that looked on hir face.

For though she ever had been virtuous, She was augmented by such excellence Of manners based on noble goodness thus, 410 And so discreet and wise of eloquence, So gentle and so worthy reverence, And she could so the people's hearts embrace, That each her loved that looked upon her face.

Noght oonly of Saluces in the toun 415 Publiced was the bountee of hir name, But eek biside in many a regioun, If oon seide wel, another seyde the same; So spradde of hir heighe bountee the fame That men and wommen, as wel yonge as olde, 420 Goon to Saluce upon hir to biholde.

Not only in Saluzzo, in the town, 415 Was published wide the goodness of her name, But throughout many a land where she'd renown If one said well, another said the same; So widespread of her goodness was the fame That men and women came; the young and old 420 Went to Saluzzo, her but to behold.

Thus Walter lowely, nay! but roially Wedded with fortunat honestetee, In Goddes pees lyveth ful esily At hoom, and outward grace ynogh had he, 425 And for he saugh that under low degree Was ofte vertu hid, the peple hym heelde A prudent man, and that is seyn ful seelde.

Thus Walter lowly, nay, but royally, Wedded, by Fortune's grace, right honourably, In the good peace of God lived easily At home, and outward grace enough had he; 425 And since he saw that under low degree Is virtue often hid, the people fairly Held him a prudent man, and that's done rarely.

Nat oonly this Grisildis thurgh hir wit Koude al the feet of wyfly humblenesse, 430 But eek, whan that the cas required it, The commune profit koude she redresse. Ther nas discord, rancour, ne hevynesse In al that land, that she ne koude apese, And wisely brynge hem alle in reste and ese.

Not only this Griselda through her wit Knew how with wifely arts her home to bless, 430 But also, when there was a need for it, The people's wrongs she knew how to redress. There was no discord, rancour, heaviness In all that land that she could not appease, And wisely bring them all to rest and ease.

435 Though that hir housbonde absent were anon If gentil men, or othere of hir contree Were wrothe, she wolde bryngen hem aton. So wise and rype wordes hadde she, And juggementz of so greet equitee, 440 That she from hevene sent was, as men wende, Peple to save and every wrong tamende.

435        Although her husband from the court were gone, If gentlemen, or less, of her country Were angered, she would bring them all at one; So wise and so mature of speech was she, And judgments gave of so great equity, 440 Men felt that God from Heaven her did send People to save and every wrong to amend.

Next: From The Clerk's Tale, lines 442-448: Griselda gives birth to a daughter