PATIENT GRISELDA.

Many years ago, in a lovely country of Italy, shut in by Alpine mountains, there lived a noble young duke, who was lord over all the land.  He was one of a long line of good princes, and his people loved him dearly.  They had only one fault to find with him, for he made good laws, and ruled them tenderly; but alas! he would not marry.  So his people feared he would not leave any son to inherit his dukedom.  Every morning his wise counsellors asked him if he had made up his mind on the subject of marriage, and every morning the young duke heard them patiently; and as soon as they had spoken, he answered, “I am thinking of marriage, my lords; but this is a matter which requires much thought.”

Then he called for his black hunting-steed and held up his gloved hand for his white falcon to come and alight upon his wrist, and off he galloped to the hunt, of which he was passionately fond, and which absorbed all the time that was not occupied with the cares of his government.

But after a while, his counsellors insisted on being answered more fully.

“Most dear prince,” urged they, “only fancy what a dreadful thing it would be if you should be taken from your loving people, and leave no one in your place.  What fighting, and confusion, and anarchy there would be over your grave!  All this could never happen, if you had a sweet wife, who would bring you, from God, a noble son, to grow up to be your successor.”

The morning on which they urged this so strongly, Duke Walter stood on the steps of his palace, in his hunting-suit of green velvet, with his beautiful falcon perched on his wrist, while a page in waiting stood by holding his horse.  Suddenly he faced about, and looked full at his advisers.

“What you say is very wise,” he answered.  “To-day I am going to follow your advice.  This is my wedding-day.”

Here all the counsellors stared at each other with round eyes.

“Only you must promise me one thing,” continued the duke.  “Whoever I marry, be she duchess or beggar, old or young, ugly or handsome, not one of you must find fault with her, but welcome her as my wife, and your honored lady.”

All the courtiers, recovering from their surprise, cried out, “We will; we promise.”

Thereupon, all the court who were standing about gave a loud cheer; and the little page, who held the horse’s bridle, tossed up his cap, and turned two double somersaults on the pavement of the court-yard.  Then the duke leaped into his saddle, humming a song of how King Cophetua wooed a beggar maid; tootle-te-tootle went the huntsmens’ bugles; clampety-clamp went the horses’ hoofs on the stones, and out into the green forest galloped the royal hunt.

Now, in the farther border of the wood was a little hut which the hunting-train passed by daily.  In this little cottage lived an old basketmaker named Janiculo, with his only daughter Griselda, the child of his old age.  He had also a son Laureo, who was a poor scholar in Padua, studying hard to get money enough to make himself a priest.  But Laureo was nearly always away, and Griselda took care of her father, kept the house, and wove baskets with her slender, nimble fingers, to sell in the town close by.