The Story of Griselda

There was in olden days a certain Marquis of Saluzzo. Gualtieri by name, a young man, who having neither wife nor child, passed his time in hawking and hunting. Of taking a wife and begetting children he had no thought but his vassals, thinking this ill, often times entreated him to take a wife that he might not die without an heir and they be left without a lord so they offered to find him one of such a pattern, and or such parentage, that he might marry with good hope and be well content. However, as you are minded to get me married, I am content that so it be; and that I may have no cause to reproach any but myself should it turn out.

The worthy men replied that they were well content if he would marry without more ado. Wherefore he resolved to marry her, and having sent for her father, who was a very poor man, he contracted with him to take her to wife. You remember the promise you gave me that whosoever I would take; you would pay her what is due her as a lady. I have found nearby a maiden after my own heart whom I purpose to take to wife and bring hither to my house in the course of a few days.

The worthy men, one and all, answered that they were well content and that, whomsoever she might be, they would treat her as a lady and pay her all due honor as such.

The day that he appointed for the wedding came "Gentlemen", said he, this time to bring home the bride.

When Gualtieri saw her, he called her by her name, Griselda, and asked her where her father was. She modify answered: Whereupon Gualtieri dismounted and having bidden the rest await him outside entered the collage alone.

"I am come", said he, "to wed Griselda but first of all there are some matters. I wish to learn from her own lips in your presence. He then asked her whether she would study to comply with his wishes and be not angry no matter what he might say or do, and be obedient.

Whereupon Gualtieri took her by the hand. Led her forth, and before the eyes of all his company caused her to strip naked and let bring the garments that they had fashioned for her. Then, she standing astonished, he turned to her saying.

The wedding was well attended, and had he married a daughter of king of France, the feast could not have been more splendid. She was, as we have said, fair of form and features, and she was now grown so engaging and gracious that she showed no longer as she shepherdess but as the daughter of some noble lord in so much that she caused as many as had known her before to marvel. Moreover, she was so obedient and devoted to her husband that he deermed himself the happiest and luckiest man in the world.

She had not been long with Gualtieri before she gave birth to a girl, which made Gualtieri very happy. Where to Griselda, without the least change of countenance, answered. Afterward, he made her understand that the vassals could not endure her having a daughter.

So the servant came and said, "Madame, I must need to do my lord's bidding. He has bidden me to take your daughter and...

He could say no more, but the lady read his face, remembered her husband's words, and understood that he was bidden to put the child to death. See that thou leave nothing undone that my lord has charged you to do. His lord sent him with the child to Bologna to one of his kinswomen whom he besought to rear and educate the child with all care but never to let be known whose child she was.

Soon after, it be fell that the lady again conceived and was delivered of a son. Gualtieri was enjoyed. I cannot live in peace with my vassal's so bitterly they reproach me that a grandson of shepherds is to succeed me as their lord; and therefore I fear that I must even do as I did before, and in the end put thee away and take another wife.

The lady heard him patiently and answered only. "My lord, study how you may content yourself."

Not many days after this, Gualtieri, in like manner as he had done with the daughter sent for the son, and having made a show of putting him to death provided for his nurture as for the girls at Bologna. Gualtieri found this strange and only affirmed that there was never another woman in the world who would have so done. His vassals who believed that he had put the children to death blamed him for his cruelty and felt the utmost compassion for the lady.

Years passed and Gualtieri decided to put his wife's patience to the final proof. Many wise men objected to this, but he did not listen to them. The lady, on being told of this, realized that she must go back to her father's house and tend the sheep as before and see him to whom she was utterly devoted loving another woman.

Gualtieri by counterfeit letters which he caused to be sent to him from Rome made his vassals believe that the pope had given him a dispensation to put Griselda away and take another wife. Wife by license granted me by the pope, I am now free to put you away and take another wife. I want you to go back to your father's house, whereupon.

Deeply grieved as she heard this announced but suppressing here tears. This your pleasure to get this gift back and therefore it is my pleasure to render it up to you. I know that naked was I when I came with you.

This almost made Gualtieri weep, but yet setting his face as a flint, he made answer. I allow you a shift to your back, so get thee hence.

All who stood by besought him to give her a robe that she, who had been his wife for thirteen years and more, might not be seen to quit his house in so shameful a plight having nothing on her but a shift.

Not so sooner had Gualtieri dismissed Griselda than he gave his vassals to understand that he had taken to wife a daughter of one of the counts of panago. You know that I have few women in the house who know how to set chambers in good order or attend to the many other matters that so joyful a marriage festivity requires. Each of these words pierced Griselda's heart like a knife, for in resigning her good fortune, she had not been able to renounce the love she bore Gualtieri.

Nevertheless, "My lord." She made answer. "I am ready and prompt to do your pleasure. She set about her work as if she had been a servant nor did she rest until all was in such order as the occasion demanded.

Now Gaultieri, as we said, had caused his children to be carefully brought up by his kinswoman at Bologna and the girl being now twelve years old and the loveliest creature to be seen and the boy being six years old. He had sent words to his kinswoman's husband at Bologna asking him to be pleased to come with this girl and boy or to his saluzzo and to see that he brought a goodly and honorable company with him and to give all to understand that he brought the girl to be his wife and on no wise to disclose to anyone who she really was.

The gentlemen did as the marquis bade him and within a few days of his setting forth arrived at Saluzza about breakfast time with the girl and her brother and a noble company and found all the folks of those parts and many people besides, gathered in expectation of Gualtieri's new bride, who being received by the ladies, was no sooner come into the hall where the tables were set than Griselda's advanced to meet her, saying with hearty cheer; welcome, my dear lady.

The ladies who had in vain, asked Gualtieri either to let Griselda to stay in another room or at any rate to furnish her with one of the robes that had been hers that she might not present herself in such a sorry eyes of all were set on the girl.

Seeing that Griselda had no doubt the girl was to be his wife and yet spoke so sweetly. This now time that you see the reward of your long patience and those who have called me cruel and unjust should know that what I did was done on purpose. These are they whom you and others thought that I put to death and I am your husband who loves you most dearly. There is no other man so well content with his wife.

Which said he embraced and kissed her and then, while she wept for joy, they rose and went to their children and tenderly embraced them. They explained to them and to many others that stood by the whole mystery. All were overjoyed at the event they celebrated and made merry and prolonged the festivities for several days and very wise they pronounced Gualtieri, although they said that the probation to which he and subjected Griselda had been most harsh.

Some days after, Gualtieri took Griselda's father from his farm and established him in honor as his father-in-law, where in to his great solace he lived for the rest of his days. Gualtieri himself having wed his daughter to a husband of high degree, lived long and happily thereafter with Griselda to whom he ever paid all honor.

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