How It All Goes Down
A marquis named Walter lives a life of leisure in Salucia, beloved by his nobles and the people he rules. One day, however, his nobles come to him with a request: they want him to marry and produce an heir. Although Walter laments the loss of his freedom, he agrees to their request on the condition that he be able to choose whomever he wishes. No matter whom he picks, he says, his nobles must honor her without complaint. They agree, and Walter sets the date for his wedding.
As the date approaches, Walter's eye falls on a virtuous and beautiful young woman named Grisilde who lives in poverty with her father, Janicula. Walter decides that he will marry her, and he orders his staff to prepare for his bride. On the day of the wedding, he goes with his retinue to Janicula's house. He tells Janicula and Grisilde that he wants to marry her. First, however, Grisilde must promise to yield to Walter's authority in everything. She does so, marries Walter, and takes up a life of luxury in the palace, beloved by Walter's nobles and the people.
A little while after Grisilde has borne him a daughter, Walter decides to test Grisilde's loyalty. He tells her that since the birth of his daughter, his people have been complaining about how poor Grisilde is. He proposes to solve the problem by killing his daughter, because that is totally the logical thing to do. Grisilde responds only that Walter's will is hers, and she allows Walter's Sergeant to take the child from her. Walter secretly sends the child to his sister in Bologna for fostering. He seems satisfied with Grisilde's obedience.
Four years pass, and Grisilde bears Walter a son. Again, Walter decides to test her loyalty and obedience. He tells her that his people are again upset, this time because the blood of a poor family will rule them after his death. He again proposes to kill his child, and again Grisilde consents to the plan without complaint, allowing the Sergeant to take the child away to what she thinks is his death. This child, too, is secretly fostering in Bologna.
Rumors begin to spread throughout Salucia that Walter has cruelly murdered his own children. To test Grisilde again, Walter tells her that this discontent is the result of his people's unhappiness with her low-class lineage. He produces a counterfeit bull from the Pope that appears to give him permission to dismiss Grisilde and take a new wife. Grisilde agrees to Walter's order that she return to her father without protest, asking only for a shift to wear home as recompense for the virginity she gave him.
Meanwhile, Walter has sent for his children in Bologna. He makes it widely known that he intends to marry the maiden who's on her way to Salucia. On the day the children arrive, Walter sends for Grisilde. He tells her that he wishes her to make the palace ready for his new wife, and Grisilde readily agrees. When the children arrive, Walter asks Grisilde how she likes his new wife. Grisilde answers that she likes his wife very much, but she begs Walter not to torment the girl as he tormented her, for she is noble-born and could not withstand such suffering.
With this answer, Grisilde convinces Walter of her devotion and obedience to him. Walter reveals to Grisilde that these are actually her children. So shocked is Grisilde that she faints several times, all the while clutching the children to her, before she can be stripped and dressed in fancy clothing and re-instated as Walter's wife. Walter and Grisilde live happily ever after, their daughter and son marrying well, prosperously, and free of the torments their mother suffered.
The Clerk concludes the story by claiming that he does not mean for women to follow Grisilde's example; instead, his tale is an allegory about the proper relationship of humankind to God. He also mentions that it's difficult to find women of Grisilde's quality nowadays. Finally, in anticipation of the Wife of Bath's reaction to his tale, he sings a song in which he counsels women not to obey their husbands, but to strive to get mastery over them by any means possible.