Of man and womman seen we wel also That nedes, in oon of thise termes two - This is to seyn, in youthe or elles age - He moot be deed, the kyng as shal a page; Som in his bed, som in the depe see, Som in the large feeld, as men may see; Ther helpeth noght; al goth that ilke weye. Thanne may I seyn that al this thyng moot deye.

Of man and womman seen we wel also
That nedes, in oon of thise termes two –
This is to seyn, in youthe or elles age –
He moot be deed, the kyng as shal a page;
Som in his bed, som in the depe see,
Som in the large feeld, as men may see;
Ther helpeth noght; al goth that ilke weye.
Thanne may I seyn that al this thyng moot deye.

– Geoffrey Chaucer

The Canterbury Tales, The Knight’s Tale. Theseus says that the one thing which all human beings share is that they must die, be they a king or a servant boy.

Geoffrey Chaucer Quotes