From Geoffrey Chaucer's "The Canterbury Tales", The Clerk's Tale, lines 981-1008

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

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

	Abouten undren gan this Erl alighte,
	That with hym broghte thise noble children tweye,
	For which the peple ran to seen the sighte
	Of hire array, so richely biseye;
985	And thanne at erst amonges hem they seye,
	That Walter was no fool, thogh that hym leste
	To chaunge his wyf, for it was for the beste.

	About mid-morning did this count alight,
	Who brought with him these noble children two,
	Whereat the people ran to see the sight
	Of their array, so richly dressed and all thereto;
985	And for the first time did they not complain,
	But said that Walter was no fool, at least,
	To change his wife, for it was for the best.

"For she is fairer," as they deemen alle,

"Than is Grisilde, and moore tendre of age,

990 And fairer fruyt bitwene hem sholde falle,

And moore plesant for hir heigh lynage."

Hir brother eek so faire was of visage,

That hem to seen the peple hath caught plesaunce,

Commendynge now the markys governaunce.

For she was fairer far, so thought they all,

Than was Griselda, and of younger age,

990 And fairer fruit between the two should fall,

And pleasing more, for her high lineage;

Her brother, too, so fair was of visage,

That, seeing them, the people all were glad,

Commending now the sense the marquis had.

995 "O stormy peple, unsad and evere untrewe!

Ay undiscreet and chaungynge as a vane,

Delitynge evere in rumbul that is newe;

For lyk the moone ay wexe ye and wane,

Ay ful of clappyng, deere ynogh a jane,

1000 Youre doom is fals, youre constance yvele preeveth,

A ful greet fool is he that on yow leeveth!"

995 "O storm-torn people! Unstable and untrue!

Always indiscreet, and changing as a vane,

Delighting ever in rumour that is new,

For like the moon aye do you wax and wane;

Full of all chatter, dear at even a jane;

1000 Your judgment's false, your constancy deceives,

A full great fool is he that you believes!"

Thus seyden sadde folk in that citee,

Whan that the peple gazed up and doun,

For they were glad right for the noveltee

1005 To han a newe lady of hir toun.

Namoore of this make I now mencioun,

But to Grisilde agayn wol I me dresse,

And telle hir constance and hir bisynesse.

Thus said the sober folk of that city,

Seeing the people staring up and down,

For they were glad, just for the novelty,

1005 To have a young new lady of their town.

No more of this I'll mention or make known;

But to Griselda I'll myself address

To tell her constancy and busyness.

Next:
From The Clerk's Tale, lines 1009-1029:
Griselda works and receives Lord Walter's guests