At the end of the clerk's story Chaucer wrote: "Patient Griselda is now dead, so I may say openly to all husbands: Do not try the patience of your wives and hope to find them like Griselda. They will certainly not be like her! And I will say something to all wives: Don't be afraid of your husbands. Even if you hus- band is big and strong, your words will always win in a battle.