At last the new bride arrived.  Her rich dress, polished manners, and beautiful face won all men’s hearts at once.  “Indeed,” they said, “our master is no fool.  This maid is younger and fairer than Griselda, and she is, moreover, highly born.”  Yet no one knew from whence this maid had come, or who her parents were.  With her had come her younger brother, a gallant youth, as handsome as she.  The company entered the palace.  Griselda grew busier, for the feast must be prepared, and guests accommodated, and all must be prompt and fair to please the duke.

When all had taken their places for the feast, the duke called Griselda and said, “How do you like my new bride?  Is she not fair?” “I have never seen a fairer,” answered Griselda; “yet, my lord, she is young and tender too.  Treat her more gently than you have treated others; she, reared so richly, cannot endure hardness like one who has known no softness nor luxury in her life.”

When the duke heard her gentle and kindly answer, his heart relented at last.  “Enough of this, my wife,” he cried.  “Indeed I have proved your loyalty and patience to the uttermost!  Come now, my noble, true Griselda,” and he took her in his arms and kissed her before them all.  Griselda was amazed, but the duke went on:  “See now—­these are your two children.  This fair maid is your daughter and mine.  She was said to be my bride but to try and tempt you.  And this fine youth is your son and mine.”  Griselda could not speak for joy and surprise.  She seized her children and kissed them eagerly again and again.  “Thank God and your kind father you are safe,” she said; “how my heart has grieved for you!” And with pity and love and joy she swooned, still holding her children so tightly that only with difficulty could they disentwine her fingers from their hands.  The ladies of the court took her to her room, and there restored her, and arrayed her in a wonderful dress of gold, setting a crown on her head.  Thus she appeared again before the duke and his court, and all men said they had never seen her look so lovely before.

Never again did Duke Walter seek to try his wife, and for many years they lived happily together with their two children.  The pretty daughter married the most powerful prince in Italy, and the son succeeded his father when he died, and ruled Salucia well for many a long day.

Such is the story of Griselda.  The Wife of Bath looks as though she doesn’t believe that a wife would suffer so humbly, and indeed, I expect that if you sought through a whole town nowadays you wouldn’t find above two or three Griseldas:  but I tell my tale, not to suggest that men should copy the duke and seek, like him, to prove their wives’ patience, but to show you all how woes and trials should be borne.  For if a frail woman could bear with such meekness the rough assaults of a husband, should not we bear with resignation and meekness the sufferings sent by Almighty God to chasten us?