Geoffrey Chaucer

“ And rightwis god to every lover sende, That loveth trewely, more prosperitee Than ever hadde Piramus and Tisbe! And lat no gentil woman her assure To putten her in swiche an aventure. 910But god forbede but a woman can Been as trewe and loving as a man! ”

“ This yonge man was cleped Piramus, And Tisbe hight the maid, Naso seith thus; And thus by report was hir name y-shove That, as they wexe in age, wex hir love; And certein, as by reson of hir age, Ther mighte have been bitwix hem mariage, 730But that hir fadres nolde hit nat assente; And bothe in love y-lyke sore they brente, That noon of alle hir frendes mighte hit lette But prively somtyme yit they mette By sleighte, and speken som of hir desyr; As, wry the gleed, and hotter is the fyr; Forbede a love, and it is ten so wood. ”

“ And longe hem thoughte that the sonne laste, That hit nere goon under the see adoun. This Tisbe hath so greet affeccioun And so greet lyking Piramus to see, That, whan she seigh her tyme mighte be, At night she stal awey ful prively With her face y-wimpled subtiny; For alle her frendes -- for to save her trouthe -- She hath for-sake; allas! and that is routhe 800That ever woman wolde be so trewe To trusten man, but she the bet him knewe! And to the tree she goth a ful good pas, For love made her so hardy in this cas ”