"But God woot," quod this senatour also,
"So vertuous a lyvere in my lyf
Ne saugh I nevere as she, ne herde of mo,
Of worldly wommen, mayde, ne of wyf.
I dar wel seyn hir hadde levere a knyf
Thurghout hir brest, than ben a womman wikke;
There is no man koude brynge hire to that prikke."
– Geoffrey Chaucer
The Canterbury Tales, The Man of Law’s Tale. The Senator who picked up Constance at sea and not knowing who she was brought her home to Rome sings the praises of her goodness. He has never seen so virtuous a woman in his life. She would rather be stabbed through the breast than be a wicked woman, no man could bring her to that point.