But all moot ben assayed, hoot and coold;
A man moot ben a fool, or yong or oold –
I woot it by myself ful yore agon,
For in my tyme a servant was I oon.
And therfore, syn I knowe of loves peyne
And woot hou soore it kan a man distreyne,
As he that hath ben caught ofte in his laas,
I yow foryeve al hoolly this trespaas.
– Geoffrey Chaucer
The Canterbury Tales, The Knight’s Tale. Theseus wholly forgives Palamon and Theseus for breaking his rules, saying he was a servant of love himself a long time ago. As one who has often been caught in its snare, he says he knows of love’s pain and how sorely it can afflict a man.