Imprudent Emperour of Rome, allas!
Was ther no philosophre in al thy toun?
Is no tyme bet than oother in swich cas?
Of viage is ther noon eleccioun,
Namely to folk of heigh condicioun?
Noght whan a roote is of a burthe yknowe?
Allas, we been to lewed or to slowe!
– Geoffrey Chaucer
The Canterbury Tales, The Man of Law’s Tale. The Emperor of Rome is accused by the Man of Law of being imprudent in sending Constance on the voyage to Syria to get married when the planetary conditions were not right. Was there no astrologer in Rome that he could consult, so that a more favorable time could have been chosen, he demands?