from her wifely love and reverence for him. Yet his people were
amazed and angry that their lord should show such cruelty towards his
own children.

When the daughter was twelve years old, the duke's mind was again
filled with this strange desire to try Griselda still further. This
time he sent to the Pope, asking for letters to declare his marriage
with Griselda annulled, and when these came, he proclaimed to the
world that he was about to marry a fair young girl, the descendant of
a noble house. He spoke roughly of the matter to Griselda. "You
know," he said, "I may neither speak nor act as does a ploughman or a
peasant. My will must be that of my people, who now demand that I
take a high-born maid to wife, and leave you. I am sorry, but it must
needs be that we part. Therefore, I charge you, leave your fine robes
and your jewels, and with such possessions as you brought here,
return again to your father's house. Let's see now whether your fine
promises of meek obedience and patience hold." Griselda, though
grieved in heart, answered gently, "I well remember, my lord, that
from my father's house I brought you nothing except my true love and
faith. My poor clothes were all taken from me when fine women dressed
me for my wedding. Ah me! how kind you seemed to me that day! I will
obey you always, and go humbly and willingly. Your word is my law,
but grant that I may take my smock at least, to cover me when I go."
The duke assented gruffly, and away went poor Griselda, with bare
head and feet, clad only in one plain garment, till she came to her
father's house. Many followed her, weeping, for they loved her
dearly, but none except her poor old father dared help her or plead
for her.

She had lived in her lowly hovel for some days, tending her sheep and