From Geoffrey Chaucer's "The Canterbury Tales", The Clerk's Tale, lines 288-315

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From The Clerk's Tale, lines 267-287:
On the wedding day, Walter goes to the village

From The Canterbury Tales:
The Clerk's Tale
lines 288-315: Walter stops at Janicula's house and asks him for the hand of Griselda

	And as she wolde over hir thresshfold gon
	The markys cam and gan hire for to calle,
290	And she set doun hir water pot anon
	Biside the thresshfold in an oxes stalle,
	And doun up-on hir knes she gan to falle,
	And with sad contenance kneleth stille,
	Til she had herd what was the lordes wille.

	And as across her threshold she'd have gone,
	The marquis came, and for her did he call;
290	And she set down her water jar anon
	Beside the threshold, in an ox's stall,
	And down upon her two knees did she fall
	And, kneeling, with grave countenance, was still
	Till she had heard what was the lordship's will.

295 This thoghtful markys spak unto this mayde

Ful sobrely, and seyde in this manere,

"Where is youre fader, O Grisildis?" he sayde,

And she with reverence in humble cheere

Answerde, "Lord, he is al redy heere."

300 And in she gooth, withouten lenger lette,

And to the markys she hir fader fette.

295 This thoughtful marquis spoke unto this maid

Full soberly, and said in this manner:

"Griselda, where's your father?" so he said.

And she, with reverence and with humble cheer,

Answered: "My lord, he is but inside here."

300 And in she went without more tarrying

And to the marquis did her father bring.

He by the hand thanne took this olde man,

And seyde thus, whan he hym hadde asyde,

"Janicula, I neither may ne kan

305 Lenger the plesance of myn herte hyde;

If that thou vouch sauf, what so bityde,

Thy doghter wol I take, er that I wende,

As for my wyf unto hir lyves ende.

He by the hand then took this ancient man

And said, when he had led him well aside:

"Janicula, I neither will nor can

305 Conceal my love, nor my heart's longing hide.

If you but acquiesce, whate'er betide,

Your daughter will I take, before I wend,

To be my wife until her life's dear end.

Thou lovest me, I woot it wel certeyn,

310 And art my feithful lige man ybore,

And all that liketh me, I dar wel seyn,

It liketh thee; and specially therfore

Tel me that poynt that I have seyd bifore,

If that thou wolt unto that purpos drawe,

315 To take me as for thy sone-in-lawe."

You love me, and I know it well today,

310 And are my faithful liege, and were of yore;

And all that pleases me, I dare well say,

Pleases you too; especially therefore

Assure me on the point I made before-

Can we together in this compact draw,

315 And will you take me as your son-in-law?"

Next:
From The Clerk's Tale, lines 316-322:
Janicula consents