And thus, by wit and sotil enquerynge, Ymagined was by whom this harm gan sprynge. The hand was knowe that the lettre wroot, And al the venym of this cursed dede, But in what wise, certeinly, I noot. Th' effect is this: that Alla, out of drede, His mooder slow - that may men pleynly rede - For that she traitour was to hire ligeance. Thus endeth olde Donegild, with meschance!

And thus, by wit and sotil enquerynge,
Ymagined was by whom this harm gan sprynge.
The hand was knowe that the lettre wroot,
And al the venym of this cursed dede,
But in what wise, certeinly, I noot.
Th’ effect is this: that Alla, out of drede,
His mooder slow – that may men pleynly rede –
For that she traitour was to hire ligeance.
Thus endeth olde Donegild, with meschance!

– Geoffrey Chaucer

The Canterbury Tales, The Man of Law’s Tale. After finding his wife and son gone on his return home King Alla, through wit and subtle questioning, learns the identify of the writer of the forged letters that had Constance banished – his mother Donegild! For her cruelty and for being a traitor, she pays the ultimate penalty – King Alla slays her.

Geoffrey Chaucer Quotes