"I noot wher she be womman or goddesse,
But Venus is it soothly, as I gesse."
And therwithal on knees doun he fil,
And seyde, "Venus, if it be thy wil
Yow in this gardyn thus to transfigure
Bifore me, sorweful, wrecched creature,
Out of this prisoun help that we may scapen."

– Geoffrey Chaucer

The Canterbury Tales, The Knight’s Tale. At first the love-struck Palamon, speaking to fellow prisoner Arcite, says he does not know whether Emily is a woman or the goddess of love Venus herself. He then falls down on his knees and starts praying to Venus (Emily) to help him escape from his prison.