on Griselda, and the priest
pronounced the wedding ceremony, and the bridal feast was eaten, and
patient Griselda became a great duchess.

For a time all went on happily in the country of Saluzzo, where Duke
Walter held reign. The people loved the meek duchess no less that she
was lowly born; and when two beautiful twin babes were born to the
duke, a boy and girl, the joy was unbounded all over the kingdom.
Walter, too, was very joyful; or, he would have been very happy, if a
demon of distrust had not been growing up in his heart ever since he
had married the beautiful Griselda. He saw how gentle she was, and how
obedient to him in all things, and he was all the time uncertain
whether this yielding spirit was caused by love of him, or by gratitude
at the high place to which he had lifted her, and the grandeur with
which he had surrounded her. He remembered the vow she had taken when
she looked into his eyes and said, "I will be my lord's faithful
servant, obedient in all things," and thinking of it, day by day, there
arose in his heart a desire to put her love and faith to the test.

The resolution to which he came was so cruel, that we can scarcely
believe he could have loved Griselda, and had the heart to attempt to
carry out his design. He took into his counsel only an old servant
named Furio, and to him he gave the execution of his plan.

One day Griselda sat in her chamber, caressing and playing with her two
babes. She had never intrusted their care and rearing to any but
herself, and her chief delight had been to tend them, to note their
pretty ways, to rock them asleep, and to watch their rosy slumbers. At
this moment, tired out with play, her noble boy, the younger Walter,
lay in his cradle at her foot; and the sweet girl, with her father's
dark eyes, lay on the mother's bosom, while she sang softly this cradle
song, to lull them to sleep:

"Golden slumbers kiss your eyes,
Smiles awake when you do rise;
Sleep, pretty wantons, do not cry,
And I will sing a lullaby;
Rock them, rock them, lullaby.

"Care is heavy, therefore sleep you,
You are care, and care must keep you;
Sleep, pretty wantons, do not cry,
And I will sing a lullaby;
Rock them, rock them, lullaby."

While the young duchess sang the last notes of her song, Furio appeared
on the threshold. Some remorse for what he was to do, made the water
for an instant dim his eyes, as he watched the group. But he had sworn