O riche marchauntz, ful of wele been yee,
O noble, o prudent folk, as in this cas!
Youre bagges been nat fild with ambes as,
But with sys cynk, that renneth for youre chaunce;
At Cristemasse myrie may ye daunce!

– Geoffrey Chaucer

The Canterbury Tales, The Man of Law’s Prologue. The Man of Law speaks about rich merchants who are always happy and dance merrily at Christmas because they always prosper.