GRISELDA 127 



he said, ' put off those peasant clothes, there where you stand, 

 and don these robes. The ladies of your court will aid you.' 

 As they came to me, one laughed ; the Marquis struck her with 

 the back of his hand so that her mouth bled, and she wept, but 

 no man stirred. When my clothes had fallen from me, the 

 Marquis bade them pause, and asked me if I was ashamed. I 

 answered, l No ; I will never be ashamed to do what you 

 command. I trust in you.' And as I spoke a shout went up 

 from all the men, and my lord smiled. As the ladies robed me, 

 he took a necklace, and speaking to her who still wept, said, 

 1 Lady Florizel, this will last when your bruise is past, and as 

 you wear it remember to chafe no man when he is roused.' She 

 took the necklace with thanks, and then I better understood 

 why he had chosen me. 



Filo. He was well named the wild Marquis. 



Gris. I went with him to his court, and there with much 

 state was married ; and my lord heard willingly from me all the 

 sufferings of the poor ; and as he learnt the truth he was not 

 slack in doing justice. He was well pleased with me. No 

 happiness on earth could be greater than mine was then, and I 

 owed all to him. 



Filo. It did not last. 



Gris. I had years of happiness, and each year my blessings 

 grew, for I bore him children one boy one girl. They were 

 not with me long. 



Filo. Blessings soon leave us, and the blessings we have lost 

 are curses. 



Gris. I willingly pay all the pain my life can hold for the 

 joy my children gave me. They are my chief blessing now. 



Filo. And your Marquis killed them. He said, ' No peasant's 

 child shall sit on my throne.' 



Gris. He never said so in my hearing. 



Filo. You know he killed them. 



Gris. The world says so. 



Filo. And their father ? 



Gris. He sent them far away ; afterwards he told me they 

 were dead. 



Filo. Not that he had killed them ? What were his very 

 words ? 



