Bisechynge hym to doon hire that honour,
That she moste han the Cristen folk to feeste –
"To plesen hem I wol do my labour."
The Sowdan seith, "I wol doon at youre heeste,"
And knelynge thanketh hire of that requeste.
So glad he was, he nyste what to seye.
– Geoffrey Chaucer
The Canterbury Tales, The Man of Law’s Tale. There is not much worse than a deceiving, hypocritical mother. The Sultaness beseeches the Sultan to allow her the honor of putting on a feast for the Christians. The unfortunate son kneels to thank her, unaware that he was about to be hacked to pieces.