Patient Griselda
This tale is about a patient wife, Griselda. There is also a great lord Walter living in a beaUtiful part of Italy, who is strong, handsome, and kind to all his people. Walter isn’t yet married. As his wife, he chooses a beatiful poor girl living near Walter’s house called Griselda. She also agrees with the marriage. For a long time all Walter’s people live happily. Griselda helps poor and sick people and everyone loves her. Soon, Griselda and Walter has a baby, a little girl. Walter is afraid that Griselda won’t love him so much because of the baby and also afraid nothing will be ever the same, so he asks Griselda to get rid of the child. Griselda agrees because she loves him and also at her marriage she promised to obey him. Griselda tells the servant to put the daughter’s body underground – she would be safe from all the animals and birds. But the servant sends, at Walter’s request, the daughter to Bologna, the place where Walter’s sister lives.
After some months a little boy is born. But after two years Walter wants to be sure that his wife loves him, so he decides to test her again. He goes to Griselda and tells her that the people don't want Janicula’s grandson (Janicula is Griselda’s old father) to be their prince and that she has to give her child to him again. Griselda loves Walter so much that she agrees.
One day, Walter has another idea. He decides to send Griselda away and get a new wife.
Walter lets his two children, now living in Bologna, send to his place. He tells people he wants to marry his daughter (but no one knows it is his daughter) and asks Griselda to work at his palace and help to prepare for the new marriage. As Grisleda works there, Walter finally realizes that Griselda really loves him. He asks her to forgive him and be his wife again. Griselda is so patient and still loves him, that agrees. Walter tells the truth about his two children who lived in Bologna till he sent them to his palace. He tells the truth about the marriage with his daughter he seemed he wanted to marry (actually he only pretended).
Everyone is happy and after some years, when Walter dies, their son gets the throne instead of Walter. Janicula lives with them in the palace.
The lesson of this story is: Husbands, don’t test your wives like Walter did. They won’t be so patient as Griselda was.
Other lesson: Don’t be afraid of your husband.
My own opinion on the book: I liked this book. I like short tales. I also liked the lesson at the end of each story. The stories are interesting and it can be said that they try to solve problems fromthat timethat are relevant now.  |