The Clerk's Tale

Patient Griselda

' My story is about a patient wife,' the clerk said. All the pilgrims listened carefully as he began his tale.

Walter, a great lord, lived in a beautiful part of Italy,. He was young, strong and handsome, and kind to all his people.

Walter wasn't married and this made his people very sad. One day, they went to see him. They asked him to listen to them. A wise old man spoke for all of them.

' Sir, we've come to talk to you because you're a good man. We want to tell you what's in our hearts. Don't be angry with us. Please get married, then we'll be happy. Your wife will love you and look after you, and you'll have children. We'll find a wife for you if you want. She'll be beautiful and rich!'

Walter laughed at the old man's words, but he was pleased.

' You know, my dear people, I like being free,' he answered.' I don't want a wife, but perhaps I need one. So, yes, I will get married very soon. But I'll choose my wife! And when I marry her, I want you all to talk to her like a princess.You must do this for me.'

Walter's people were very happy. 'Yes, of course we'll do that, sir,' they all said. And they went back to their homes and waited for the wedding day.

A very poor man lived near Walter's house. His name was Janicula. He had a beautiful daughter called Griselda. She was a

kind girl and she looked after her old father well. She worked hard in their little house, and in the fields with their animals. She worked outside in the wind and the rain. Walter often saw her when he was riding in the country.

'She's the most beautiful girl I've ever seen,' he thought to himself.' I'd like to marry her'. But he didn't tell anyone about Griselda and his love for her.

The day of the wedding arrived. Walter's great house was full of people. Everything was ready for the big day.

' Follow me,' Walter said to all the lords and ladies.

He went out to the fields where some of his people lived. The lords and ladies followed him. 'What's he going to do?' they asked in surprise.

That morning, Griselda finished her work early because she wanted to see Walter's new wife. She thought,' I'll stand with the other girls and watch Sir Walter with his beautiful lady. But first I must help my dear father to sit in the sun.'

She opened the door of the little house from inside — and there was Walter! He was standing outside in his rich clothes, like a king.

' Griselda,' he said,' where's your father?'

The old man came slowly out of the house and Walter took his hand.

'Janicula, I must tell you what's in my heart. I love your daughter, Griselda. I want to marry her if you'll agree.'

The old man was too surprised to speak at first. After some minutes he answered,' Yes, sir, of course. If Griselda agrees, she can be your wife.'

' I'd like to speak to her in your house, please,' Walter said quietly. ' I'll ask her to be my wife. But she must promise me something. She must always do what I ask.'

The people outside waited. They couldn't understand what was happening!

Inside the house, Walter spoke softly to Griselda.

' My dear Griselda, your father says that we can get married. Please take me as your husband. But first I must ask you this. Will you promise to do what I tell you — always?'

'My lord,' Griselda answered,' I'll marry you if I can look after my father in my new life. And I'll always do everything you tell me to do.'

' Thank you, my dear Griselda,' said Walter.

He asked some of the ladies to come inside and dress Griselda in beautiful clothes. Then he kissed her hand and took her outside.

' This is my new wife, everybody,' he said proudly.

When Griselda came out of the house, the people cried out, ' She's the most beautiful girl we've ever seen!'

Walter was very happy. They were married that day and there was music and dancing all night.

For a long time all Walter's people lived happily. Griselda helped poor and sick people and everyone loved her. People said,' Our great lord did a wise thing when he married Griselda.'

Then Walter and Griselda had a little girl and everyone said,' One day this little girl will be as kind and as beautiful as her mother.'

But from that time things started to go very wrong.

Every day Walter watched his wife with her baby and thought, ' My wife will change now because she's got a child. If I ask her to do something difficult for me, she won't do it.'

Then Walter did something very bad. He came to see Griselda one day with a hard look on his face.

' Griselda, when I married you, my people were unhappy,' he lied. 'You were a poor man's daughter. Now you've got a child, and it's even worse for them. I'm going to ask someone to take this child away from you. You must give her to him. Remember your words on your wedding day!'

Griselda was very sad, but she said,' My child is yours, my lord. You can do what you want with her.'

Walter was happy when he heard this. He quickly sent a man to take the child away. When Griselda saw the man, she said quietly,' I must kiss my daughter before she goes.'

Then she took her child in her arms and said, ' Goodbye, my dear daughter. I'll never see you again but God will look after you.'

Then the man took Griselda' s daughter away.

'Please put her little body in the ground,' she called out to him.' Then it will be safe from all the animals and birds.'

The man carried the child to Walter.' Take her to my sister in Bologna,' he said.' Tell her to look after her well. But don't tell her that she's my child.'

Walter watched Griselda closely after this. She seemed to love him in the same way, but she was very quiet and her face often looked sad.

After some months a little boy was born. Walter's people were very happy.' One day this child will be our prince. One day we shall be his people,' they said.

But after two years Walter had another plan. He wanted to be sure that his wife loved him. So he decided to test her again.

He went to Griselda and said,' Griselda, my people don't want Janicula's grandson to be their prince. Once again, you must give your child to my man.'

'My lord,' she answered, 'I'll always do everything that you want. Take our son. And if you'll be happier without me too, please tell me. I'll die if it will please you. I only want to keep your love.'

Nothing could change the feelings in Walter's heart. He sent the same man to take away her little boy. Again, she kissed her child before he left her for ever. And again she said to the man, 'Put his little body in the ground. Then no animal or bird can hurt him. 'Walter sent the little boy to Bologna to live with his sister.

Walter watched his wife carefully again. He saw that her patience and love for him never changed. But his people were angry with him. They talked about him all over the country.

' He's killed his two children!' they said.' He didn't want Lady Griselda to love them. She must only love him! And she never changes. She still loves him and looks after all of us.'

One day, Walter had another idea. He decided to send Griselda away and get a new wife. When Griselda heard about this, she thought,' This is the worst thing that's ever happened to me. I love my husband more than anything in the world. How can I ever live without him?' She felt very sad.

First, Walter wrote a letter to his sister in Bologna. It said:

Please bring the two children to me. Tell everyone, 'This little girl's going to be Walter's new wife.' But don't tell anyone who sent the children to you years ago.

When she received this letter, his sister left Bologna with the two children. The little boy and girl were very beautiful. They were dressed in rich clothes and rode on fine horses.

Walter then called for Griselda and, in a room full of people, said to her,' Griselda, you've been a good wife to me. But now I must change my way of life. My people want me to send you away and marry a new wife — a girl from a rich family. She's on her way here now.'

Griselda's answer moved the hearts of all the people who heard her. But it didn't move the hard heart of her husband.

' I'm not good enough for you, my lord,' she said sadly.' I've always known that. Thank you for the beautiful home that I've lived in for so long. I'll gladly go back to my father now if you and your people want me to do that. I'll always love you and I'll never marry again. I thought you loved me too. But the old words are very true: "As men grow old, love grows cold." I must leave everything behind me here. I'll just take my old clothes.'

Then she put on her poorest clothes and began the long walk home. Many people followed her with tears in their eyes. They were very sad that Griselda was leaving like this. When her father saw her, he ran out of his house. He took his poor daughter in his arms.

For a time Griselda lived quietly with her father. It was like the old days. She worked in the little house and looked after the animals in the fields. But one day Walter sent for her.

' Griselda,' he said,' I want to make my new wife as happy as possible. You must help me. You know my house and you looked after me well. You must leave your home and work for my new wife. Start now and make everything ready for her.'

'My lord, I'll be happy to help you and your new wife,' Griselda answered. And she began work immediately. She cleaned all the gold and silver, made the beds and washed the floors. She told the servants in the house to work hard. She worked harder than everyone.

Later that day, many people came to Walter's house to see his new wife. Griselda met them and led them to their places. Then Walter brought in a beautiful young girl. He turned to Griselda and asked her,' Do you like my new young wife?'

'I've never seen anyone who is more beautiful,' she answered. ' I hope you'll be very happy together. I only ask one thing — be kind to her. I was poor when I came here. But she's a lady and it will be harder for her. She'll be very unhappy if you're unkind to her.'

Walter finally realized that Griselda really loved him. He said to himself, ' I've been very bad. I've hurt Griselda but she still loves me.'

He turned to her and cried,' Griselda! Griselda! Please forgive me! I'll never hurt you again or make you sad. Now I know that you'll always be true to me.' And he took her in his arms and kissed her again and again.

Walter told Griselda everything and then he brought the children to her. ' This is your daughter, my dear. I'm not really going to marry her. And this is our son. I sent them both to Bologna, to live with my sister. She looked after them well, and they've been safe and happy all these years.'

When Griselda saw her children, she cried with happiness. She put her arms round them and kissed them.

'Oh, thank you, my lord!' she said to Walter, with tears in her eyes. ' I can die happily now. I have both my children and your love!'

Then her ladies took her to her rooms, took off her old clothes, and dressed her in her beautiful rich clothes. She was Walter's wife again.

Walter and Griselda lived happily together for many years. Janicula, Griselda's old father, came to live with them. Their daughter married a rich, handsome man. And when Walter died, their son became a lord and was loved by all his people.

Well, that's the end of my story,' said the clerk. 'But in my opinion, Griselda was too patient. Husbands, don't test the patience of your wives like Walter did. I'm sure they won't all be as patient as poor Griselda!

'And I want to say something to the wives too. Don't be afraid of your husband. Your words will always win a fight, even against a big, strong man!'