From Geoffrey Chaucer's "The Canterbury Tales", The Clerk's Tale, lines 645-672

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From The Clerk's Tale, lines 631-644:
Walter explains there are doubts about his son's nobleness

From The Canterbury Tales:
The Clerk's Tale
lines 645-672: Griselda again submits herself to Walter's will

645	"I have," quod she, "seyd thus, and evere shal,
	I wol no thyng, ne nyl no thyng, certayn,
	But as yow list. Naught greveth me at al
	Though that my doughter and my sone be slayn-
	At youre comandement, this is to sayn.
650	I have noght had no part of children tweyne
	But first siknesse, and after wo and peyne.

645	"I have," said she, I said thus, and ever shall:
	I'll have no thing, or not have, that's certain,
	Except as you wish; nothing grieves me at all,
	Even though my daughter and my son are slain
	At your command, and that, I think, is plain.
650	I have had no part in my children twain
	But sickness first, and after, woe and pain.

Ye been oure lord, dooth with your owene thyng

Right as yow list, axeth no reed at me;

For as I lefte at hoom al my clothyng,

655 Whan I first cam to yow, right so," quod she,

"Lefte I my wyl and al my libertee,

And took youre clothyng, wherfore I yow preye,

Dooth youre plesaunce; I wol youre lust obeye.

You are our master; do with your own thing

Just as you like; no counsel ask of me.

For, as I left at home all my clothing

655 When first I came to you, just so," said she,

"Left will and all my liberty,

And took your clothing; wherefore do I pray

You'll do your pleasure, I'll your wish obey.

And certes, if I hadde prescience

660 Youre wyl to knowe, er ye youre lust me tolde,

I wolde it doon withouten necligence.

But now I woot your lust and what ye wolde,

Al youre plesance ferme and stable I holde,

For wiste I that my deeth wolde do yow ese,

665 Right gladly wolde I dyen yow to plese.

For certainly, if I had prescience

660 Your will to know before you your wish had told,

I would perform it without negligence;

But now I know the wish that you unfold,

To do your pleasure firmly will I hold;

For knew I that my death would give you ease,

665 Right gladly would I die, lord, you to please.

Deth may noght make no comparisoun

Unto youre love!" and whan this markys say

The constance of his wyf, he caste adoun

His eyen two, and wondreth that she may

670 In pacience suffre al this array;

And forth he goth with drery contenance,

But ot his herte it was ful greet plesance.

For death can offer no loss that is known

Compared to your love's loss." And when, I say,

He saw his wife's great constancy, then down

He cast his eyes, and wondered at the way

670 She would in patience all his will obey;

And forth he went with dreary countenance,

But in his heart he knew a great pleasance.

Next:
From The Clerk's Tale, lines 673-686:
The sergeant takes the boy and secretly brings it to Bologna