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GRISELDA ALTER, Marquis of
SALUZZO, in Lombardy, was young, handsome, and well made; he was kind
to
everybody, granted all the requests of his subjects, and was always
upon the
watch to relieve their distress. No prince was more beloved than he
was. Yet he
had one fault: somebody had put into his head, when he was a boy, that
he
should take care to preserve his freedom, and that if he was not upon
his guard
he would lose it before he was aware, and not be able to rise and go to
bed, to
ride or to walk, to eat or to fast, to be in company, or alone, just
when and
how he liked. Walter was very fond of hunting and hawking. Of all
things in the
world he was most afraid of a wife, who, if she had a mind to talk,
would not
let him sleep; and if .she frowned, would be grieved at his being
happy. The
subjects of Walter were very sorry that he had got such a strange whim
into his
head. They loved him, for they and their fathers had lived contentedly
under
him and his family; but every now and then they said to each other: ‘If
any
thing should happen to our dear Marquis, what would become of us? we
shall
become slaves to a foreign lord, and people will no longer read of a
Marquis of
Saluzzo among the great princes of Europe.’ They thought so much about
this,
that at last they could not keep it to themselves; so they sent one
among them,
whom the Marquis liked, to tell him their grievance. ‘We love you,
sir,’ said
he, ‘no subjects love a prince so much; but why will you not make us
happy by
giving us a Marchioness, to bring you children who may reign after you?
if you
please, sir, we have fixed upon a lady, who we dare say will just suit
you: she
is of a very rich and noble family, and will make both you and us as
happy as
the day is long.’ Lord Walter looked very grave at this speech; he took
a
moment to think, and at last he spoke thus: ‘My friends, I did never
think to
wed; I have always thought that a rich and noble wife would have too
many
humours, to leave her husband free to act as he pleased. I have been
used to
have my own way, and I must have it; yet I see that your desire rises
out of
your love for me, and I will grant it,’ At these words they all set up
a loud
shout, and cried with one voice, ‘Long live Walter, Marquis of
Saluzzo!’ — ‘Yet
one thing,’ said the marquis, ‘I must add: I excuse you from your kind
offer of
choosing a wife for me; for if I must marry, I will choose with my own
eyes.
And besides, I desire you all to make a solemn promise, that whoever I
make
choice of, whether she be young or old, handsome or ugly, rich or poor,
you
shall obey her as your lady and mistress, and behave as lovingly to her
as you
have always done to me.’ They all said that they would, for they
thought in
their hearts, ‘to be sure, our lord Marquis, who is so young and hand.
some
himself, will never choose a wife that is ugly and old; and if she is
poor, or
of a noble family in decay, Yet he has fortune enough for them both.’
They
begged now
that they might make one more request, and the same person spoke for
them that
had spoken at first. ‘Ah! dear Lord Walter,’ said he, ‘the news you
tell us is
so joyful that we know not how to believe it. You have often said to
our
friends that you never would marry, and we are afraid you are not in
earnest
now: will you be so good as to fix the day of your marriage? and we
shall then
be easy and light of heart, and no one will doubt your goodness.’ Lord
Walter
replied, ‘I will be married this day month, the fourteenth of July.’
Not far
from the palace of the marquis, there was a very poor village, where
nobody
lived but shepherds and herdsmen. Of the people who lived here, there
was one
poorer than all the rest, and his name was Janicola. He had been a
herdsman,
but was now past his labour; for he was lame and almost blind. This
poor old
man had one daughter named Griselda. She was vastly beautiful, but the
goodness
of her mind was a thousand times greater than the beauty of her face.
She was
simple in her diet, constant in her labour, and never wanted to be idle
or to
be indulged. Her drink was water from the spring, and her bed was the
hardest
of any maiden in the village. But all her care was to attend upon her
father:
she got money to support him by her spinning; she used to gather and
prepare
the fruits and herbs that made his dinner; and many times when the old
man
would have died of weakness and age, Griselda by her kindness and care,
still
kept him alive. Lord Walter had often seen this poor girl as he went
hunting,
and had admired her; for he was pleased with her simple looks, her
industry,
and her love of her father; and he had no desire to disturb her in
these honest
pursuits. In the meantime the
fourteenth of July was near at hand; and as no man could see that the
marquis
had kept company more than usual with his rich neighbours, or had asked
any one
of their daughters in marriage, they began to fear that he would
deceive them. Lord
Walter stopped
just at Janicola’s door; he called to Griselda, and said,
‘Griselda, where is
your father?’ She replied, ‘My lord, I will go and
fetch him.’ — ‘No,’ said the
marquis, ‘I will come in and speak to him.’ Lord
Walter got off his horse, and
went in and spoke to Janicola alone; he told him that if he would
consent, he
would make Griselda his wife; and then the marquis called for Griselda.
‘Poor
maiden,’ said he, ‘you have heard that I am to be
married to-day; I and your
father have agreed that you shall be my bride, and marchioness of
Saluzzo; do
you consent to it? Do not deceive yourself, Griselda. Why do you think
I am
willing to marry you a poor herdsman’s daughter, and not one
of the daughters
of the lords, marquises and dukes, who are my neighbours? It is because
I will
have a wife that will obey me. When I say Yes, you must not say No; you
must
neither provoke me by words, nor cross me by frowning looks; and all
that I
shall think proper to do, you must be cheerful, and content with. Do
you
consent to this?’ Griselda said, ‘I will be
anything that you, the lord and
master of my native country, shall command; and rather than disobey you
in word
or thought, I will consent to die.’ ‘This is
enough, Griselda,’ said the
marquis. He then ordered that a chest which had been brought along with
him,
full of dresses and other things fit for a bride, should be taken into
Janicola’s house; and further, that the ladies of the palace
should go in to
dress Griselda, while he and his other people waited in the street.
Griselda
soon came out to them, but so changed by her fine clothes and jewels,
that instead
of a herdsman’s daughter, she seemed as if she had been born
a queen. Lord
Walter then placed her on a snow-white horse, with a saddle-cloth of
crimson
velvet edged with a broad gold fringe. In this state she and the
marquis rode
to the palace; where the priest waited in a chapel made ready for that
purpose,
and they were married. Nobody can
think
how well the new marchioness behaved in her high station. She took care
of
every thing that went on in the kitchen, the cellar, the storeroom, and
all
parts of the palace: she always obeyed her husband, and was always
good-humoured; and sometimes when the marquis went abroad for a few
days or a
week, she managed all the affairs of the state with the greatest skill,
settled
each grievance, made no quarrels, and relieved the wants of the poor;
so that
every body that had loved Lord Walter very much before, now cried out,
‘What a
wise man our lord is! How was it that he could find out this rare woman
in an
ox’s stall, and choose her before all the princesses of other
countries?’ A
short time after their marriage, Griselda brought the marquis a
daughter. The
marquis and all his people were very much pleased at this; for though
they
would rather it had been a son, they said, Perhaps the next child the
marchioness has may be a son-’Nobody was so happy as Lord Walter,
Marquis of
Saluzzo. He had a child, he had a very good wife, he had subjects that
loved
him, and that praised his choice of a marchioness. Yet Lord Walter
could not
forget the thoughts that had run in his head before he was married; and
how he
used to think that a single life was freedom, and marriage was nothing
but a
state of slavery. So, though he had indeed seen enough of Griselda’s
goodness,
he thought he must put her to a further trial; and this was the way he
set
about it. He came
into
Griselda’s room one summer evening, just when the sun was setting; and
looked
with a sad face, as if he had something very heavy on his mind. He then
said,
‘Griselda, I hope the pomp you now live in has not made you forget the
russet
gown and poor way of living out of which I have taken you; it is no
long time
ago, and it would he a sad disgrace if you were to forget what you so
lately
were. Griselda, there is no living creature that hears me but
ourselves, and I
must speak my mind to you freely. I love you very much; I have no fault
to find
with you; you have always been a good wife to me: but there are some
people in
Saluzzo who do not think so kindly of you as I do. The lords of my
court think
it a great shame that they should be subject to a poor herdsman’s
daughter, and
the ladies are still more vexed to be forced to attend upon a woman of
such low
birth: and now, since your daughter was born, they think of these
things more
than ever. Griselda, what shall I do? I do not wish to give you pain;
but I
must mind the speeches of my subjects, and please them. Can you submit
to the
consequences?’ Griselda meekly replied: ‘My lord, I and my child are
yours; do
with us as you please; there is nothing that you can command that I
will think
hard.’ — ‘Very well,’ said the marquis, and went away. A few minutes
after, one of Lord Walter’s servants came into Griselda’s chamber. He
was a
serjeant-at-arms; a very tall man, with a fierce look and rough voice.
As soon
as he saw her, he said: ‘Madam, I am very sorry for the errand that I
come
upon; but lords must be obeyed, and wives and subjects must not say
nay: I am
come to take your child from you.’ Saying this, he snatched the little
girl out
of the cradle, and made a gesture as if he was going to kill it in a
moment.
Griselda looked on, but uttered no sigh, and shed no tear; she said:
‘Do all
that my lord orders you to do; but let me kiss my child before it is
killed.’
He then gave it to her, and she put it to her bosom, almost stifled it
with
kisses, and said, ‘God bless you, my child! for you must die to-night.’
Griselda said, besides: ‘One thing I would beg of you; unless my lord
has given
orders against it, bury this child in a coffin and a grave, and do not
let the
birds and beasts tear it to pieces.’ The serjeant did not make any
answer, but
went away. Lord Walter told the serjeant to carry the child to his
sister, the
Countess of Pavia, and wrote a letter with it, begging her to bring it
up, and
be very tender to it; but not to tell any one whose child it was. Lord
Walter
went soon after into his wife’s room, and watched her then, and for
many days
after, to find whether she would show any revenge or anger for the loss
of her
child. But Griselda was always the same; she met him with smiles and
love, was
eager to do him service, and prepare everything for him that might give
him
pleasure; and never, either in jest or earnest, did her daughter’s name
drop
from her lips, or did she say a word about her sad fate. Lord Walter and Griselda
lived in this manner four years longer, and at the end of that time she
brought
him a son. This gave both him and his subjects the greatest pleasure;
and the
child was very handsome, and was every where gladly owned to be heir to
the
marquis. It thrived well, till it was two years old; and then it was
able to
walk and speak, and do fifty things that little children amuse their
friends
with. Lord Walter might now have been content; but still the same
thoughts ran
in his mind, and he would make another trial of Griselda. He said to
her: ‘I am
sorry to inform you, my dear, that since the birth of my son, the
people murmur
more than ever. They say that this is worst of all; and that they could
bear
anything, rather than that the grandson of Janicola, a poor herdsman,
should,
after my death, become their master and Marquis of Saluzzo. Griselda,
you must
submit; and must part with your son, this pretty little boy of two
years old,
as you parted with your daughter.’ What Lord Walter spoke, was no
sooner said than
done; and the child was taken away. Griselda thought it was to be
killed; but
it was sent to the Countess of Pavia, as the little girl had been.
After this,
Lord Walter and Griselda lived together for eight years more, very
happy, till
a certain time, when the marquis was keeping his birthday with all the
lords of
his court. After dinner, and when the tables were taken away, he said
to his
wife, before all the company: ‘Griselda, I have bad news to tell you;
you must
leave my house, and not be my wife any longer, for I am going to marry
a young
lady of noble birth, and of very great beauty. My people, you know,
have long
been vexed at my having married so much below my rank. They wish for an
heir to
my dignity; and they will not admit the grandson of a poor herdsman to
that
state. I am very sorry for this: I could have been content with you for
my wife
to my life’s end; but I may not do as common men may in this respect;
in short,
I have yielded to the prayers of my people; the Pope has granted me a
divorce,
and I expect my new wife to-morrow. Go you back to your father’s house;
he is
still living, and will still love you; and that you may have no reason
to
complain of my want of bounty, I allow you to carry back with you all
the
fortune you brought me in marriage.’ This was a cruel insult to
Griselda,
because she was nothing but a very poor girl when the marquis took her
for his
wife, so she had no fortune to bring him. Griselda, without changing
colour,
meekly replied, ‘My lord, I do not wonder at what you now say. I never
thought
myself worthy to be your wife, or even your maid-servant. I thank God
and you
for all the comfort I have enjoyed for fourteen years, and now am
willing to
submit to your pleasure, and will return to the cottage in which I was
born. As
for the fortune, my lord, that I brought, it was only the russet gown
and
coarse clothes that I had then on my back, and which now it would be
hard to
find. This one thing then I beg of you; I restore to you my robes and
my
jewels; I restore here on the spot my wedding ring; but do not send me
naked
out of your house. Let me keep the shift I have on; and pray give me
the mantle
in which I sometimes used to see you when you returned home late from a
day’s
sport; in that will I wrap myself, and then go bareheaded and
barefooted, as
you first saw me, to my father’s house.’ The day
after
Griselda went away, Lord Walter sent to desire to speak with her.
‘Griselda,’
said he, ‘tomorrow is my wedding-day; I expect the Count of Pavia, with
my
sister, his Countess, and the lovely maiden whom I have chosen for my
wife. I
wish to give her a costly welcome, and make my wedding the grandest
feast that
ever was seen in Lombardy; but I have no person, excepting yourself, to
whom I
can entrust the preparations necessary for this most happy day.’ — ‘My
lord,’
said Griselda, ‘there is nothing that can give me greater pleasure than
to find
that I can still do some small service to a nobleman to whom I owe more
than I
can ever repay.’ When she had said this, Griselda bustled about the
house, and
told the maids to make haste, and sweep, and shake, and put all things
in
order. She herself set out the tables, and put the beauffets and the
sideboards
into order, and placed all the dishes, and the jellies, and custards,
and sweetmeats,
for the feast. This took up all that evening and the next morning.
About noon
the new bride, with the Count of Pavia, and a royal train, came to
Saluzzo. The
young lady was only fourteen, and as fair as the day; and her little
brother,
who was only ten years old, rode by the side of her. As they passed
along the
streets that led to the palace, the people clapped their hands and
shouted;
saying, that Lord Walter was in the right to put away Griselda for the
sake of
this young lady, who was younger and more handsome, as well as of
higher birth.
When Griselda heard the shouting, she knew that the lady was arrived;
so she
went down into the hall, with the other servants, to receive her.
Before the
dinner was ready, Lord Walter showed his brother-in-law, the Count of
Pavia,
and all his company, the rooms of the palace; and he told Griselda to
attend
the rest. When they had seen all the grand things that were in such
plenty, the
marquis led his guests into the drawing. room, when they could not
think who this
Griselda was. She had on a russet gown, and was meanly dressed; yet
there was a
grace and ease in her manner, that were fitter for a princess than for
a
servant. The dinner was now almost ready, and Lord Walter was told that
in
half-an-hour the guests would be called to take their seats at the
table; so he
sent once more for Griselda. ‘Griselda,’ said he, ‘you are a woman of
great
judgment, and I want you to tell me your thoughts in this matter; what
do you
think of my new chosen bride, and of her beauty?’ ‘My lord,’ replied
Griselda, ‘a fairer creature, in my mind, never trod the face of the
earth; she
seems worthy of a throne. I hope you will be happy together; I hope you
will
consider her tender years, and seeming gentle temper; and God give you
many years
of peace, success, and comfort!’ Lord Walter had now seen the patience
and
constant sweetness of Griselda. She was at all times mild and cheerful,
and
obedient and kind; innocence was seen in her whole manner, and duty in
every
action of her life. ‘Griselda,’ said he, ‘it is enough: I have seen
your faith
and your love; I have tried you with royal grandeur, and with the
meanest
clothing: no woman was ever brought to such severe proofs as you have
been.
Griselda, you are my wife; I never had, and I never will have, any
other. This
young lady, whom you have looked upon as my new bride, though she looks
so
tall, and so much like a full-grown woman, is your daughter and mine.
This
young boy, ten years of age, is her brother, our son, and my heir: I
sent them
away to my sister, the Countess of Pavia, and charged her to bring them
up in a
tender and royal manner.’ When he had said this, Lord Walter kissed her
again
and again, and brought her children to her. She took them in her arms,
and wept
as if her heart would burst. ‘My lord,’ said she, may God reward you
for your
kindness! You have done me a thousand favours, but this is the greatest
of all.
I have always loved you above all the world; all my care has been, how
I could
please you; and now I possess your love again, I shall die content.’
She then
turned to her children: While she
talked in
this way, the whole company wept: there was not a dry eye in the place.
The
ladies then led her to her room, where they stripped her of her russet
gown,
and put on her a very fine robe of cloth of gold. They then went into
the
saloon, where the dinner was set, and this feast was a more grand and
happier
one than that of her marriage had been. Lord Walter never wanted to put
her to
any further proof, for he knew now that she was above every trial. She
was
happy in her son and daughter, who were always dutiful to her; and thus
her
patience, her meekness, and her good-temper met with their full reward.
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