Charles Cowden Clarke

“ But when you offer to restore such dowry as I first brought, too well do I bear in mind that it was my wretched clothes—Oh! good God! how gentle and kind you seemed by your speech and your countenance on the day of our marriage! True it is, and I find it so, for in myself I have proved the effect, that love when old is not the same as love when it is young. Yet, be sure, my Lord, that for no adversity, even were it to die upon this occasion, shall it ever be, that either in word or deed, I repent of having given you my whole heart, freely, and without reserve. ”

“ The fame of her high bounty had spread so far and wide, that all ranks, young and old, went to Saluzzo only to behold her.
Thus, Walter, not lowly, but royally wedded, lived in peace and honour; and because he had the sense to discern honest virtue in a mean estate, he enjoyed the rare credit of being esteemed by all a prudent man. Not only, however, was the understanding of Griselda equal to every wifely accomplishment, but when the case required it, she could dispose herself for the common benefit. ”

“ All strove to divert her thoughts by little courtesies and speeches of kindness, till she regained her benign and cheerful countenance. Walter, too, let slip no occasion of redeeming all his sternness and deeds of cruelty, by pleasant looks and cherishings; and as she was so sweet a creature to behold in her hours of adversity and trial, you may suppose how fair a sight was her face of content and happiness. ”

“ The Marquis listened to their petition with much kindness of manner, and answered, that although he had never thought to be restricted within the bonds of matrimony, yet, for the welfare and safe government of his people, that he would consent to choose for himself a wife upon the earliest occasion. 'And now,' he concluded, 'I charge you on your lives to assure me, that whoever I may think fit to wed, you will, during her whole life, bear her all honour and worship, both in word and work, as though she were the daughter of an Emperor. ”

“ I may not act like the meanest hind in my domains; but all my people, strengthened by this order from the Pope, daily require of me to take another wife; to which constraint I have so far yielded, that it has become necessary to inform you that my new bride, your successor, is now on her road to Saluzzo. Be therefore strong of heart, and void her place. All the dowry you brought me, I give back again—prosperity never flows in an unbroken current ”

“ One thing allow me, I beseech you; which is, to warn you against tormenting this tender maiden, as it has been your will to distress me; for she has been softly fostered, and cannot undergo the trials of adversity like one who, in early life, had striven with poverty and rude labour.'
At length, when Walter found that her patient and untroubled spirit triumphed over every offence that could be offered to her, and that she remained firm in her innocence, and unshaken as a wall, his sturdy heart began to melt, in thinking of all her wifely steadfastness ”

“ Fool, indeed, is he who places confidence in you. So it was with the poor gazing creatures of Saluzzo; the novelty of having another Marchioness—no matter the price of injustice at which she was purchased—changed at once their discontent to satisfaction. But I will turn to a pleasanter subject—the zeal and constancy of Griselda. ”

“ Nor did she even refrain from praising the beauty of the young maiden and her brother. At length, when the company had sat down to the feast, the Marquis sent for her, and in a sporting tone enquired how she approved of the beauty of his new wife.—'My Lord,' said she, 'I never beheld a fairer lady;— happiness and prosperity attend you both to the end of your lives. ”

“ Give us a lively history of adventures; and, as for your colouring and rhetorical nourishes, keep them by you snug and warm till you are called upon to indite some high style, as when men address the presence of royalty. ”

“ Our writers have praised Job above all men for his humility; but though they have said little in behalf of women for the steadiness of their truth, no man can acquit himself in humility like a woman; or show half a woman's constancy.
The Count di Panico having set out from Bologna, the report was spread abroad that he was bringing with him a new Marchioness in such pomp and splendour as had never been seen before in all West Lombardy. Before the arrival of the Count, the Marquis sent for poor Griselda ”

“ And so these two lived many years in prosperity and unbroken concord. The daughter was married to a Lord, of the greatest worth in all Italy; and poor Janicola was furnished with an asylum at Court, where he lived near his daughter in peace and honour, till his spirit gently crept from his body, and returned to Him who gave it. The son succeeded to a peaceful government after his father had left his place. He was fortunate in his marriage, although he did not prove his wife in imitation of his father. The people of this world are not so strong as they were in days of yore ”

“ Yet, though this young creature was of a tender age, within her virgin breast was enclosed a grave and mature spirit. Her poor old father she cherished with great love and reverence; she tended his sheep in the field, and her only hours of idleness were her hours of sleep. ”