this, gave out to his people that he had chosen
a daughter of one of the Counts of Panago and letting make great
preparations for the nuptials, sent for Griselda to come to him and
said to her, 'I am about to bring home this lady, whom I have newly
taken to wife, and mean, at this her first coming, to do her honour.
Thou knowest I have no women about me who know how to array me the
rooms nor to do a multitude of things that behove unto such a
festival; wherefore do thou, who art better versed than any else in
these household matters, order that which is to do here and let bid
such ladies as it seemeth good to thee and receive them as thou wert
mistress here; then, when the nuptials are ended, thou mayst begone
back to thy house.' Albeit these words were all daggers to Griselda's
heart, who had been unable to lay down the love she bore him as she
had laid down her fair fortune, she replied, 'My lord, I am ready and
willing.' Then, in her coarse homespun clothes, entering the house,
whence she had a little before departed in her shift, she fell to
sweeping and ordering the chambers and letting place hangings and
cover-cloths about the saloons and make ready the viands, putting her
hand to everything, as she were some paltry serving-wench of the
house, nor ever gave over till she had arrayed and ordered everything
as it behoved. Thereafter, having let invite all the ladies of the
country on Gualtieri's part, she awaited the day of the festival,
which being come, with a cheerful countenance and the spirit and
bearing of a lady of high degree, for all she had mean clothes on her
back, she received all the ladies who came thither.

Meanwhile, Gualtieri, who had caused the two children be diligently
reared in Bologna by his kinswoman, (who was married to a gentleman of
the Panago family,) the girl being now twelve years old and the
fairest creature that ever was seen and the boy six, had sent to his
kinsman[482] at Bologna, praying him be pleased to come to Saluzzo
with his son and daughter and take order to bring with him a goodly
and honourable company and bidding him tell every one that he was
carrying him the young lady to his wife, without otherwise discovering
to any aught of who she was. The gentleman did as the marquess prayed
him and setting out, with the girl and boy and a goodly company of
gentlefolk, after some days' journey, arrived, about dinner-time, at
Saluzzo, where he found all the countryfolk and many others