From Geoffrey Chaucer's "The Canterbury Tales", The Clerk's Tale, lines 967-980

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From The Clerk's Tale, lines 939-966:
Walter tests Griselda once again and asks her to be a servant in order to receive his new wife according to her stature

From The Canterbury Tales:
The Clerk's Tale
lines 967-980: Griselda submits herself once again and cleans the house

	"Nat oonly lord, that I am glad," quod she,
	"To doon your lust, but I desire also
	Yow for to serve and plese in my degree
970	Withouten feyntyng, and shal everemo.
	Ne nevere, for no wele ne no wo,
	Ne shal the goost withinne myn herte stente
	To love yow best with al my trewe entente."

	"Not only am I glad, my lord," said she,
	"To do your wish, but I desire also
	To serve you and to please in my degree;
970	This without wearying I'll always do.
	And ever, lord, in happiness or woe,
	The soul within my heart shall not forgo
	To love you best with true intent, I know."

And with that word she gan the hous to dighte,

975 And tables for to sette, and beddes make,

And peyned hir to doon al that she myghte,

Preyynge the chambereres for Goddes sake

To hasten hem, and faste swepe and shake,

And she, the mooste servysable of alle,

980 Hath every chambre arrayed, and his halle.

Then she began to put the house aright,

975 To set the tables and the beds to make;

And was at pains to do all that she might,

Praying the chambermaids, for good God's sake,

To make all haste and sweep hard and to shake;

And she, who was most serviceable of all,

980 Did every room array, and his wide hall.

Next:
From The Clerk's Tale, lines 981-1008:
The new girl arrives in town