GRISELDA 105 



went barefoot to her old father in the forest. On that day, the 

 Marquis would have been toppled down into the mire, if she 

 had said the word ; but she was silent, for she loved him. As 

 we in Bologna reasoned on her story, each man's judgment 

 mirrored the man himself. By the crafty her straight simplicity 

 was wrested into crooked cunning, but the noble gave her back 

 a noble recognition of nobility. As for me, I held that she was 

 wrong in having patience with such wickedness, and yet I 

 worshipped her ; and, as I now learn, my faith was such that 

 she wrought miracles on me. Nay, the facts will fit the words. 

 When heat has prompted me to wrath, I have often heard a 

 voice that soothed me my mother's, as I then believed ; and 

 once, when folly would have had me enter a dark gate which led 

 to sin, I saw a vision on the open blackness barring me out with 

 light the Virgin Mary, as I thought. But now I know the 

 truth ; the saint's face was yours ; the saving light shone from 

 your eyes. I called your voice my mother's. Fancy could not 

 trick me, for until this hour Griselda's face and voice were both 

 unknown to me. Yet what I knew led me, with many othersj 

 to lay plans by which we hoped to draw you to us in Bologna, 

 when suddenly my guardians, giving no reason, sent me to the 

 Marquis of Saluce. I made no long stay with him, and this 

 day come from his court. 



Qris. Is he well ? 



Tanc. In body he is well. He received me kindly, saying 

 that my father had been his dear friend. He spoke much with 

 me, and showed so keen and sound a wit, that if I had not 

 borne in mind your wrongs I should have loved him. 



Gris. I understand . Did he ? 



Tanc. At times he spoke of you, and I was so foolish as to 

 hope that I, a boy, might turn his heart back to you. 



Gris. Hope may not always be wise ; yet we love hope, and 

 those who hope forgive me ; you see I am not very patient. 

 I spoke cruelly to you. 



Tanc. I told my errand with such want of skill as deserved 

 reproof. But now you believe me ? 



Gris. I do believe you. I think your nature noble ; 



your heart kind And when you spoke of me to the 



Marquis ? 



