He with a manly voys seide his message,
After the forme used in his langage,
Withouten vice of silable or of lettre;
And for his tale sholde seme the bettre.
– Geoffrey Chaucer
The Canterbury Tales, The Squire’s Tale. The Squire describes a foreign knight who arrives to interrupt the Tartar king Cambuskan’s party, to deliver gifts from the king of Araby, including a magic ring for the king’s caughter Canace. The knight speaks formally and delives his message with great authority and with an excellent command of language – unlike the Squire, who says he is a poor speaker.