"Youre myght," quod she, "ful litel is to dreede,
For every mortal mannes power nys
But lyk a bladdre ful of wynd, ywys.
For with a nedles poynt, whan it is blowe,
May al the boost of it be leyd ful lowe."
– Geoffrey Chaucer
The Canterbury Tales, The Second Nun’s Tale. When Cecilia is brought before the prefect Almachius she is unafraid and defiantly refuses to acknowledge men’s earthly authority. When he asks her does she not take heed of his power, she replies that his might is very little to fear. Every mortal man’s power is nothing but only like a bladder full of wind, she says using a simile. For with a needle’s point, when it is blown up, all the arrogance of it comes down.