“Enough, Griselda!” he said.

Then Lord Walter turned to the courtiers and the people of the village who had gathered round: 

“Behold my wife!  Let all show their love to me by the honor and love they bear to her.”

The ladies of the court were commanded to take off Griselda’s old clothes and to array her in the costly robes they had brought with them.  They did not like to touch the poor soiled clothes she wore, nor to move about in the little cottage with their sweeping gowns; but the gentleness of Griselda made it pleasant to help her.  They caught up Griselda’s royal robes with great clasps of gold set with gems, and put a crown on her beautiful hair.

She came out and stood in the low doorway, where she had so often stood before.  But now the people scarcely knew her:  she looked so fair in her new robes and with the love-light shining in her eyes.

Lord Walter did not wait till he reached the castle.  He was married to Griselda at her father’s cottage door.  The villagers gathered round and gazed at the simple wedding.  They saw Lord Walter put a great ring on Griselda’s finger, and lift her on to a milk-white steed.  Then they led her with joy towards the castle.  Wedding-bells rang out gladly across the plain, and ever as the wedding-party drew near to the white towers with their floating flags, happy bands of people came to meet and welcome Griselda.

Very soon the fame of Lord Walter’s beautiful wife spread through the land.  Nor was it only for her beauty that men praised her.  Gracious she was and wise, able to rule her home, and to bend fiery spirits to her will.

From all the countryside men came to her in trouble.  Every one rejoiced in the good fortune that had come to their land, and some even called her an angel from heaven come to right all wrong.

After some time a daughter was born to Griselda.  Then she thought she was the happiest woman in the world.  She thought of the care that she would give her child as she grew up, and of Lord Walter’s delight in his little daughter when the time should come that she could talk and ride with him.

But before the baby was a year old, all Griselda’s dreams were broken.  Lord Walter said to himself, “It is easy for Griselda to keep her promise when I ask of her nothing that is not just and right.  How can I trust her until I know that she will obey me in everything?  I wonder whether she would be patient still if I hurt our little daughter.”

These thoughts came back to his mind so often that at last he resolved to try Griselda’s patience by taking away her baby from her.

One evening Griselda was playing with her little child.  The baby laughed in her arms and looked sweeter than ever.  At that moment the curtain at the doorway was drawn aside and Lord Walter came into the room.  His face was sad and drawn, and as Griselda looked up at him she feared that some great blow had fallen on him, or that some enemy had entered the country.