Griselda :: :: University of Virginia Library

I have a cast of hawks for my lord, feathered and flecked with silver, fairer than the daintiest wrist they ever sat on. For my lady, a fancywork of jewels, but the birds are rare.

LENETTE.

Thou shouldst be hooded like them, to say so. But what of the fancy-work,—is it pearls? —pearls become my lady rarely.

BERTOLO.

I know not. How fareth she?

LENETTE.

Hast not heard? then have I a woman's joy,— news to tell!

BERTOLO.

And a woman's tongue to tell them, Lenette.

LENETTE.

Maybe; but my lady Griselda is in thy absence lighter by the sweetest boy and girl that ever mother welcomed.

BERTOLO.

Say'st thou? the bells have told it then?

LENETTE.

Aye, and the wine-skins bled for it: they have mortally wounded forty this past month.

BERTOLO.

I would I had been at their shriving! but, in truth, this is good hearing for Lord Walter and the Court.

LENETTE.

Nay, he hath been altered of late, and shows his joy strangely. To-day he is exceeding wroth, and the first of it is for Frederigo.

BERTOLO.

Why? what hath he done?

LENETTE.

Slandered my lady vilely. Thou dost remember how her father Janicola would not follow her fortunes hither, and so comes never nigh the palace. I dare tell thee, being discreet, that the lady Griselda hath ofttimes taken gifts and her love a-foot to him, and this with the praise and knowledge of Lord Walter. All which hidden goodness this fellow knew, and said ill things of her daughterly visits. But here comes my lord; thou wilt do well to say over thy sweeter phrases, for I know that he chafes horribly.

Enter Marquis, Nobles, &c.

MARQUIS.
Antonio! look these letters be obeyed.
The slanderous mouth, that good deeds cannot close,

Shall taint no air of ours.—Ah! Bertolo,
Whence comest thou?

BERTOLO.
My lord, from Genoa.

MARQUIS.
We'll hear thy news anon.
[Exit Bertolo.
Pietro, tell me,
Thou knowest the people:—Is it common with them
To say such slander as this villain said
Of ladies spotless as this lady is?

PIETRO MALA.
I thought no tongue could speak but it would praise her:
I think none other would. Greatness is sin
To envious low ones ever; but her crown
Hath better glory than its gems and gold,
And as much love as honour.

MARQUIS.
'Tis no less
Than she may claim. Go seek out Bertolo,
And take his tidings for me. Leave me, lords.
Lenette! bid here thy lady. (Solus)
They shall have
Stronger confirmment of her worthiness.
They joyed to see her smile,—she shall weep yet,
And own no higher title than her tears,
To make them sad with her. I will begin
Now while my purpose holds,—another day
Will kiss the purpose from me. Ah! she comes.
Sweet love, be strong for thy sake and for mine.

Enter Griselda.
GRISELDA.
How fares my lord?

MARQUIS.
Well pleased to see thee well.
Hadst thou my message?

GRISELDA.
Nay! I heard but now
That thou wert angered with you slanderer.
I pray thee let not such a fellow dwell
In my lord's thought—the more so that his sin
Toucheth not thee but me.

MARQUIS.
He is away
To mourn it at his leisure. By St. Paul!
Is not thine honour mine? I am right sad
He 'scaped so lightly.

GRISELDA.
I—I pity him.
Forget his folly, Walter, as I do;
'Tis slight as was the slanderer. Come and see
Our little ones asleep.

MARQUIS.
Is my boy well?

GRISELDA.
Ask that of both, love, and I'll answer thee;
They are so like they never should be named
But in a breath. The leaves of one red rose
Wear not so near a colour as their cheeks;
And river-ripples are not more the same
Than her light smile and his. Come and look on them!

MARQUIS.
I think more of thy little maid, my wife,
Than my words show.

GRISELDA.
Oh then! do I not know it?
Thou couldst not look upon her, and not love her,
Loving me so, and she so like to me:
Give me thy hand and come.

MARQUIS.
Nay, give me thine!

I meant another thing. That day, Griselda,
When from thy low estate I lifted thee
To high nobility,—hast thou forgot it?

GRISELDA.
Ah, no! Before I sleep I think on it,
That all my dreams may be a dream of that;
It comes first to my heart when daylight comes
First to mine eyes; and all day long it makes
Thy love a miracle.

MARQUIS.
Well,—very well!
Thou wottest then how that thou camest here
With no more queenship than a single hour
Had made thee mistress of.

GRISELDA.
I think it o'er,
The circumstance of thine exceeding love,
A thousand times a-day.

MARQUIS.
'Tis well! and when
The fine, fair ladies of the court had decked thee
And robed in gold, upon a steed of snow,
Past thy self-knowledge beautiful and bright,
Thou rodest to my house, what oath was it
Thy lips had spoken?

GRISELDA.
To be leal and true
For that thy love,—to be submiss and gentle
Unto thy love,—to recompense thy love
With the return of an unchanging faith
And loyalty and service.

MARQUIS.
Aye! it ran so,
And if that love changed—

GRISELDA.
So should never mine,

But wear a steadfast face and even look
Whatever chance or change in life betided:—
Thus did I swear.

MARQUIS.
And wilt thou keep the oath?

GRISELDA.
I do, and will until I die.—Alas!
Dost thou not love me then?

MARQUIS.
I said not that.
Look not so deadly pale; but listen now:
This matter of the malcontents goes farther
Than the poor lie of one. They love thee not,
They hold it shame to be o'erruled of thine,
And ask, what doth thy daughter in the court?
The boy will have a hand to guard his head;

But for his peace and mine the girl must go,
And that, too, presently. Wilt thou take well
What it is well to do?

GRISELDA.
Lord, as thou wilt.
My child and I, in all humility,
Are all—all thine, and thou mayest save or spill
What is thine own: needs must it please me well
If it please thee; for so God's Mother keep me,
I ask for nothing,—nothing dread to lose,
Save only thee; and this is in my heart
Ever and ever, nor shall time or trial
Change my firm courage to another place.

MARQUIS.
Aye! keep thee to that mind, and go thy ways.
I'll send anon to thee.
[Exit Griselda.

Oh, my brave wife!
I do my love more wrong than I do thine.
Be still as true, and I'll be still as cruel,
And when the end comes thou'lt have sweet revenge.