In hire is heigh beautee, withoute pride,
Yowthe, withoute grenehede or folye;
To alle hire werkes vertu is hir gyde;
Humblesse hath slayn in hire al tirannye.
She is mirour of alle curteisye;
Hir herte is verray chambre of hoolynesse,
Hir hand, ministre of fredam for almesse.
– Geoffrey Chaucer
The Canterbury Tales, The Man of Law’s Tale. Visiting Syrian merchants hear the Emperor of Rome’s daughter Constance is the ideal woman. She is the epitome of beauty, goodness and innocence. As well as having great beauty, she is humble, virtuous in all her deeds, the mirror of all courtesy, her heart is a true chamber of holiness, and her hand a minister of generosity in giving alms. So it is not surprising that the Muslim Sultan of Syria falls for her when he learns of her.