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spake to her。 Woman； by concession sent me from the Pope； he hath
dispensed with me； to make choyce of another Wife； and to free my
selfe from thee。 And because my predecessors have beene Noblemen；
and great Lords in this Country； thou being the daughter of a poore
Countrey Clowne； and their blood and mine notoriously imbased； by my
marriage with thee： I intend to have thee no longer my Wife； but
will returne thee home to thy Fathers house； with all the rich Dowry
thou broughtest me； and then I wil take another Wife； with whom I am
already contracted； better beseeming my birth； and farre more
contenting and pleasing to my people。
The Lady hearing these words （not without much paine and difficulty）
restrayned her teares； quite contrary to the naturall inclination of
women； and thus answered。 Great Marquesse； I never was so empty of
discretion； but did alwayes acknowledge； that my base and humble
condition； could not in any manner sute with your high blood and
Nobility； and my being with you； I ever acknowledged； to proceed
from heaven and you； not any merit of mine； but onely as a favour lent
me； which you being now pleased to recall backe againe； I ought to
be pleased （and so am） that it bee restored。 Here is the Ring；
wherewith you Espoused me； here （in all humility） I deliver it to you。
You command me； to carry home the marriage Dowry which I brought
with me： there is no need of a Treasurer to repay it me； neither any
new purse to carry it in； much lesse any Sumpter to be laden with
it。 For （Noble Lord） it was never out of my memory； that you tooke
me starke naked； and if it shall seeme sightly to you； that this
body which hath borne two children； and begotten by you； must againe
be seene naked； willingly must I depart hence naked。 But I humbly
beg of your Excellency； in recompence of my Virginity； which I brought
you blamelesse； so much as in thought： that I may have but one of my
wedding Smocks； onely to conceale the shame of nakednesse； and then
I depart rich enough。
The Marquesse whose heart wept bloody teares； as his eyes would
likewise gladly have yeelded their naturall tribute； covered all
with a dissembled angry countenance； and starting up； said。 Goe；
give her a Smocke onely； and so send her gadding。 All there present
about him； entreated him to let her have a petticote； because it might
not be said； that she who had been his Wife thirteene yeares and more；
was sent away so poorely in her Smocke： but all their perswasions
prevailed not with him。 Naked in her Smocke； without hose or shoes；
bareheaded； and not so much as a Cloth about her necke； to the great
griefe and mourning of all that saw her； she went home to her old
fathers house。
And he （good man） never beleeving； that the Marquesse would long
keepe his daughter as his Wife； but rather expected dally； what now
had happened： safely laid up the garments； whereof the Marquesse
despoyled her； the same morning when he espoused her。 Wherefore he
delivered them to her； and she fell to her fathers houshold businesse；
according as formerly she had done； sustayning with a great and
unconquerable spirit； all the cruell assaults of her enemy Fortune。
About such time after； as suted with his owne disposition； the
Marquesse made publiquely knowne to his subjects； that he meant to
joyne in marriage again； with the daughter to one of the Counts of
Panago； and causing preparation to be made for a sumptuous wedding； he
sent for Grizelda； and she being come； thus he spake to her。 The
Wife that I have made the new election of； is to arrive here within
very few dayes； and at her first comming； I would have her to be
most honourably entertained。 Thou knowest I have no women in my house；
that can decke up the Chambers； and set all requisite things in due
order； befitting for so solemne a Feast： and therefore I sent for
thee； who knowing （better then any other） all the partes； provision
and goods in the house； set every thing in such order； as thou shalt
thinke necessary。
Invite such Ladies and Gentlewomen as thou wilt； and give them
welcome； even as if thou wert the Lady of the house： and when the
marriage is ended； returne then home to thy father againe。
Although these words pierced like wonding daggers； the heart of
poore （but Noble patient） Grizelda； as being unable to forget the
unequal'd love she bare to the Marquesse； though the dignitie of her
former fortune； more easily slipt out of her remembrance； yet
neverthelesse； thus she answered。
My Gracious Lord； I am glad I can doe you any service； wherein you
shall find mee both willing and ready。 In the same poore garments；
as she came from her fathers house； （although shee was turned out in
her Smocke） she began to sweep and make cleane the Chambers； rubbe the
stooles and benches in the Hall； and ordered every in the Kitchin；
as if she were the worst maide in all the house； never ceasing or
giving over； till all things were in due and decent order as best
beseemed in such a case。 After all which was done； the Marquesse；
having invited all the Ladies of the Countrey； to be present at so
great a Feast： when the marriage day came； Grizelda； in her gowne of
Countrey gray； gave them welcome； in honourable manner； and graced
them all with very cheerefull countenance。
Gualtiero the Marquesse； who had caused his two children to be nobly
nourished at Bologna； with a neere kinswoman of his； who had married
with one of the Counts of Panago； his daughter being now aged twelve
yeares old； and somewhat more； as also the Son about sixe or seven。 He
sent a Gentleman expresly to his kindred； to have them come and visite
him at Saluzza； bringing his daughter and Sonne with them； attended in
very honourable manner； and publishing every where as they came along；
that the young Virgin （knowne to none but himselfe and them） should be
the Wife to the Marquesse； and that onely was the cause of her
comming。 The Gentleman was not slacke； in the execution of the trust
reposed in him： but having made convenient preparation； with the
kindred； Sonne； daughter； and a worthy company attending on them；
arrived at Saluzza about dinner time； where wanted no resort； from all
neighbouring parts round about； to see the comming of the Lord
Marquesses new Spouse。
By the Lords and Ladies she was joyfully entertained； and comming
into the great Hall； where the tables were readily covered：
Grizelda； in her homely Country habite； humbled her selfe before
her； saying。 Gracious welcome； to the new elected Spouse of the Lord
Marquesse。
All the Ladies there present； who had very earnestly importuned
Gualtiero （but in vaine） that Grizelda； might better be shut up in
some Chamber； or else to lend her the wearing of any other garments；
which formerly had been her owne； because she should not be so poorely
seene among strangers： being seated at the Tables； she waited on
them very serviceably。 The yong Virgin was observed by every one；
who spared not to say； that the Marquesse had made an excellent
change： but above them all； Grizelda did most commend her； and so
did her brother likewise； as young as he was； yet not knowing her to
be his Sister。
Now was the Marquesse sufficiently satisfied in his soule； that he
had seene so much as he desired； concerning the patience of his
Wife； who in so many hart…grieving trials； was never noated so much as
to alter her countenance。 And being absolutely perswaded； that this
proceeded not from any want of understanding in her； because he knew
her to be singularly wise： he thought it high time now； to free her
from these afflicting oppressions； and give her such assurance as
she ought to have。 Wherefore； commanding her into his presence； openly
before all his assembled friends； smiling on her； he said。 What
thinkst thou Grizelda of our new chosen Spouse？ My Lord （quoth she）
I like her exceeding well； and if she be so wise； as she is faire
（which verely I thinke she is） I make no doubt but you shall live with
her； as the onely happy man of the world。 But I humbly entreat your
Honor （if I have any power in me to prevaile by） that you would not
give her such cutting and unkind language； as you did to your other