How we cite our quotes: (Line Number)
Quote #13
For out of doute this olde povre man
Was evere in suspect of hir marriage;
For evere he demed, sith that it bigan,
That whan the lord fulfild hadde his corage,
Him wolde thinke it were a disparage
To his estaat so lowe for t'alighte,
And voyden hire as sone as ever he mighte. (904-910)
Janicula's suspicions about Walter's intentions reflect the idea that like should wed like. They also show his acute understanding of the great disparity in status between Walter and his daughter. The fact that he allows the marriage to take place despite his reservations suggests that he is powerless to defy his lord.
Quote #14
This storie is seyd, nat for that wyves sholde
Folwen Grisilde as in humilitee,
For it were importable though they wolde. (1142-1144)
The narrator contradicts himself again by claiming that "it were importable," or insufferable, for wives to imitate Grisilde's example. Earlier, he had claimed that a wife should will nothing "but as her husband wolde" (721). So which is it, narrator? You're killing us here.