How we cite our quotes: (Line Number)
Quote #10
But o thing he him preyede outerly,
That he to no wight, though men wolde enquire,
Sholde nat telle whos children that they were. (768-770)
The secrecy surrounding Walter's children is necessary for his test of Grisilde to work, but it could also be symbolic of his refusal to claim them as his own before Grisilde. In effect, these are parentless children.
Quote #11
Ye coude nat doon so dishoneste a thing
That thilke wombe in which youre children leye
Sholde biforn the peple, in my walking,
Be seyn al bare. (876-879)
Why might it be "dishoneste" for Walter to expose the womb that bore his children to the public eye? One possibility might be that this exposure is symbolic of Walter's failure to "cover" his wife before the law, with "coverage" of a woman by a man being a common way of talking about marriage at this time period.
Quote #12
This is thy doghter which thou hast supposed
To be my wyf; that other feithfully
Shal be myn heir; as I have ay disposed,
Thou bare him in thy body trewely.
At Boloigne have I kept hem prively;
Tak hem agayn, for now maystow nat seye
That thou hast lorn noon of thy children tweye. (1065-1071)
Walter's statement of how Grisilde bore his intended heir in her body confirms not only the child's legitimacy and rightful place, but also Grisilde's legitimacy and rightful place. Walter reinstates Grisilde as his wife by affirming her most important function in that position.