From Geoffrey Chaucer's "The Canterbury Tales", The Clerk's Tale, lines 575-595

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From The Clerk's Tale, lines 540-574:
Griselda gives her child a goodbyekiss and the sergeant leaves with the child

From The Canterbury Tales:
The Clerk's Tale
lines 575-595: Walter orders the sergeant to bring the child secretly to Bologna

575	This sergeant cam unto his lord ageyn,
	And of Grisildis wordes and hire cheere
	He tolde hym point for point, in short and pleyn,
	And hym presenteth with his doghter deere.
	Somwhat this lord hath routhe in his manere,
580	But nathelees his purpos heeld he stille,
	As lordes doon whan they wol han hir wille;

575	This sergeant went unto his lord again
	And of Griselda's words and of her cheer
	He told him point by point, all short and plain,
	And so presented him his daughter dear.
	A little pity felt the marquis here;
580	Nevertheless, he held his purpose still,
	As great lords do when they will have their will;

And bad his sergeant, that he pryvely

Sholde this child ful softe wynde and wrappe,

With alle circumstances tendrely,

585 And carie it in a cofre or in a lappe,

But, upon peyne his heed of for to swappe

That no man sholde knowe of his entente,

Ne whenne he cam, ne whider that he wente.

And bade the sergeant that he privily

Should softly swaddle the young child and wrap

With all the necessaries, tenderly,

585 And in a coffer or some garment lap;

But upon pain his head should meet mishap

No man should know the least of his intent,

Nor whence he came, nor whither that he went;

But at Boloigne to his suster deere,

590 That thilke tyme of Panik was countesse,

He sholde it take, and shewe hir this mateere,

Bisekynge hir to doon hir bisynesse

This child to fostre in alle gentillesse,

And whos child that it was, he bad hire hyde

595 From every wight, for oght that may bityde.

But to Bologna, to his sister dear

590 Who then was of Panago the countess,

He should take it, and tell of matters here,

Asking of her she do her busyness

This child to foster in all nobleness;

And whose the child was, that he bade her hide

595 From everyone, for aught that might betide.

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From The Clerk's Tale, lines 596-609:
Despite the loss of her child, Griselda's mood and splendour have not changed