A man moot nedes love, maugree his heed;
He may nat fleen it, thogh he sholde be deed,
Al be she mayde, or wydwe, or elles wyf.
– Geoffrey Chaucer
The Canterbury Tales, The Knight’s Tale. Arcite tells his rival for Emily, Palamon, that a man is powerless against the force of love. He must of necessity love, and he cannot flee from it, whether she be maid, widow or wife.