Th’ apostel, whan he speketh of maydenhede,
He seyde that precept therof hadde he noon.
Men may conseille a womman to been oon,
But conseillyng is no comandement.
He putte it in oure owene juggement.
– Geoffrey Chaucer
The Canterbury Tales, The Wife of Bath’s Prologue. When Paul the Apostle and others counsel women to be virgins, this is
advice and advice is not a commandment, says the Wife of Bath. It is left to women’s own judgment whether they follow that counsel on sexual morality.
advice and advice is not a commandment, says the Wife of Bath. It is left to women’s own judgment whether they follow that counsel on sexual morality.