- Guess what?
- Walter has decided to test Grisilde again. This time he's going all out. He wants the fullest, richest experience of wife-testing possible.
- One day, in open audience, Walter loudly proclaims:
- "Hey, Grisilde, it's been real,but I am a lord, after all.
- "It's been cool having you as my wife. You're good, faithful, and obedient—a real class act.
- "Oh, wait, did I mention class? Haha. Sometimes I forget that you're just a poor girl raised with the cows. But my people certainly haven't forgotten that: they totally want me to take another wife.
- "No, I'm serious: they're crying for it night and day.
- "Even the pope wants me to remarry in order to end all this strife.
- "I mean, the pope.
- "My new wife is on her way. Be strong. Let her take your place. Take your dowry back and return to your father's house.
- "Hey, you can't win 'em all, right? I encourage you to endure this stroke of fortune with steadfastness."
- Grisilde answers patiently (this is a long one):
- "My lord, I know and have always known that there's no comparison between your magnificence and my poverty.
- "I've never believed myself worthy to be your wife—not even your chambermaid.
- "In this house where you made me a lady, I never believed myself to be lady nor mistress, but only your humble servant—I take God as my witness—and always will, as long as my life lasts.'
- "Thanks for treating me so well, even though I didn't deserve it.
- "I'll gladly go back to my father and live with him until the end of my life.
- "Since you took my virginity, God forbid that another man will have me as a wife.
- "I hope you and your new squeeze will be happy and prosperous.
- "I was happy as your wife, but I'll yield up the position to this latest applicant.
- "I'll do whatever you want, but as for my dowry... it was just my old wretched clothes, and I'm not sure where they are now.
- "You seemed so nice and gentle the day we were married, but it looks like the bloom is off the rose.
- "Now I've found out that love is not in its old age the way it was when it was new.
- "Even if I die, though, I'll never in any way repent having given you my heart.
- "I'll give you back my clothing now, and my wedding ring. The rest of the jewels are in your chamber.
- "I came from my father's house naked, and naked I will return.
- "Even though I hope that you don't actually want me to walk naked out of your palace.
- "Like... you couldn't be that dishonorable, right? You wouldn't display the womb that bore your children bare before the people, right?
- "Do not let me go like a worm by the way! Remember that I was your wife, though I am unworthy.
- "Therefore, in exchange for my virginity, which I brought to you and cannot take home again, give me some old rags like I used to wear so I can cover the womb of the woman who was your wife.
- "I'm not one for long good-byes, so I guess I'll be off now."
- Walter tells Grisilde to take the smock that she is wearing right now with her. He speaks uneasily because he's overcome by sadness and pity.
- Before all the people, Grisilde strips herself. In her smock, with bare feet and head, she heads toward her father's house.
- The people follow Grisilde, weeping. They curse Fortune as they go.
- But Grisilde keeps her eyes dry. She says nothing.
- When Janicula hears the news, he curses the day he was born.
- Janicula has always been suspicious of Walter and Grisilde's marriage. Since the beginning, he's thought that once Walter has had his fill of Grisilde, he'll think the marriage is bad for his lineage and will try to get rid of her.
- Janicula goes to meet his daughter (from the noise of the people he knows that she is coming). Weeping, he covers her with her old coat.
- Janicula is unable to wrap the coat around Grisilde's body, because the cloth is so poor and Grisilde is so much older than she was on the day of her marriage.
- Grisilde lives with her father for a time. She never in any way suggests to anyone that she has been wronged. She doesn't even seem to remember her old life with Walter, maybe because she was so humble while she lived a life of nobility.
- Our clerk-narrator says that men speak of Job for his humility, and clerks often write about the humility of certain men. Though they praise women only a little, no man can match women for humility, and no man can be half so constant.