Nat oonly this Grisildis thurgh hir wit
Koude al the feet of wyfly hoomlinesse,
But eek, whan that the cas required it,
The commune profit koude she redresse.
– Geoffrey Chaucer
The Canterbury Tales, The Clerk’s Tale. As the wife of the Marquis of Saluzzo, Griselda is blossoming and showing her talents. Not only has she all the skills of a dutiful housewife, but when required she is well able to promote the public good.