Patient Grissel.
An Excellent BALLAD,
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A Noble Marquis, as he was hunting,
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Hard by a forest side,
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A fair and comely maiden as she did sit a spinning.
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His gentle eye espy'd.
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Most fair and lovely, and of a comely grace was she,
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Altho' in simple attire:
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She sung most sweetly, with a pleasant voice melodiously,
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Which set his heart on fire,
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The more he look'd the more he might, this beauty did his heart delight.
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So to her went with speed:
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God bless the famous flower, mistress of his bower,
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Thy beauty has caus'd my heart to bleed.
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With comely gesture, and modest kind behaviour,
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She bid him welcome then:
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She entertain'd him in a faithful friendly manner,
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And all his gentlemen.
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The noble Marquis, in his heart felt such a flame
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Which set his senses all at strife:
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Quoth he, fair maiden, shew me soon what is thy name,
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I mean to make thee my wife.
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Grissel is my name, said she, far unfit for thy degree,
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And of parents poor.
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Nay, Grissel, thou art rich, he said, a virtuous fair, and comely maid,
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Grant me thy love, I ask no more.
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At length she consented, and being both contented,
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They married were with speed:
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Her country russet was chang'd to silk and velvet,
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As to her state agreed.
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And when that she was attired in the same,
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Her beauty shin'd most bright,
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Far exceeding every other fair and princely dame
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That did appear in sight.
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Many envied her therefore, because she was of parents poor
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And 'twixt her Lord and she great strife did raise,
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Some said this and that, some call'd her beggar's brat:
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And to her Lord they would her oft dispraise.
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O noble Marquis, said they, why dost thou wrong us?
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Thus basely for to wed:
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Who might have gotten an honourable lady
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Unto thy princely bed.
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Who will now thy noble issue soon deride,
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Which shall hereafter be born,
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Which are of blood so base, born on the mother's side,
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Which will bring them to scorn.
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Put her therefore quite away, and take to you a lady gay
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Thereby your lineage may renowned be:
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Thus every day they seem'd to prate at fair Grissels good estate
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Who all this while took it patiently.
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When that the Marquis did see they were bent
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Against his bashful wife,
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Whom he most dearly, tender, and entirely
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Did love as his life.
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Minding in secret for to prove her patient heart,
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Thus her foes to disgrace,
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Thinking to shew her an inconstant act,
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That men might pity her disgrace.
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Big with child the lady was, and at last it came to pass
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Two godly children at one birth she had,
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A son and daughter God hath sent, which did them content
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And made both their hearts full glad.
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The Marquis sent a messenger for his young daughter, and son:
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Declaring they should murdered be,
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She wrung her hands and said no more,
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Only my Lord must be obey'd, said she,
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She took the babies from the nursing ladies,
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Between her tender arms:
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And said with weeping sorrowful kisses.
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That she might ease their harms.
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Farewell, farewell, a thousand times, my children dear,
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Never shall I see you again;
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'Tis long of me, you mournful mother dear,
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For whose sake you must me slain.
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Had I been born of royal race, you'd liv'd in happy case;
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But you must die for my unworthyness:
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Come messenger of death, said she, take my dear babes to thee,
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And to their father my complaints express.
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He took the children dear, and to his master
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He bore them hence with speed,
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Who in secret sent them unto a noble lady,
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To be brought up indeed.
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Then to fair Grissel with a heavey heart he goes,
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Where she sat mildly all alone.
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A pleasant gesture and a look she shows,
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As if no grief she had known,
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Said he, my children now are slain, what thinks Grissel of the same,
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Come shew thy mind to me
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For I no joy can have
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Till thou art banish'd from my court and presence,
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As they unjustly crave.
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Thou must be stript to thy best garments aid,
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And as thou cam'st to me
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In homely grey instead of silks and pearls,
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Thy cloathing all must be.
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My lady thou must be no more, (which grieves me sore,)
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The poorest life must now content thy mind;
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A groat I dare not give to maintain thee whilst I live.
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Against my Grissel such foes I find.
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When gentle Grissel did hear these tidings,
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The tears stood in her eyes,
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Nothing she answer'd, no words of discontent
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She from her mouth lets fly.
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Her velvet gown most patiently stripped off,
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Her kirtle was the same;
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Her russet gown was brought her down,
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And she put on the same again.
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With many tears, Let not offence be found in this,
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Unto my Lord, quoth she;
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To give my Lord a parting kiss with watery eyes,
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Farewell my dear, said she.
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From her princely palace to her father's cottage
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Poor Grissel she is gone:
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Full fifteen winters she lived there content,
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No wrongs she thought upon.
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And at this time through all the land news went,
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The Marquis should married be
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Unto a lady of high descent,
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And to the same did all agree,
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The Marquis bid Grissel the bride's chamber to prepare,
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That nothing therein might be found away
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And that in friendly sort she would attire
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The bride upon that day.
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Most willingly she gave consent to do the same,
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The bride in bravery was drest
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And presently the Marquis thither came,
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With all the Lords at his request.
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O Grissel, I will ask of thee, if to this match thou wilt agree
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Methinks thy looks are vexed wond'rous coy,
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With that they all began to smile, and Grissel she replied
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the while
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God send Lord Marquis many years of joy.
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The Marquis was moved to see his best beloved
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He then stept to her, and took her by the hand,
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These words he did express.
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Thou art my life, my joy, and only pride,
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Thus patient in distress.
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And all the brides I mean to have,
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The youthful lady, hearing of this
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Did on her knees her blessing crave;
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Her brother too as well as she. Then the Marquis said
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Blush you that envy her estate; for chronicles shall fame,
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Her patience; and prosterity shall praise.
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My virtuous, constant, patient Grissel's name.
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