And many a wydwe, for that they been wise, The queene hirself sittynge as a justise, Assembled been, his answere for to heere; And afterward this knyght was bode appeere.

And many a wydwe, for that they been wise,
The queene hirself sittynge as a justise,
Assembled been, his answere for to heere;
And afterward this knyght was bode appeere.

– Geoffrey Chaucer

The Canterbury Tales, The Wife of Bath’s Tale. The Knight is commanded to appear before the court of the queen sitting as a judge with her assembled ladies to give his answer to the queen’s riddle: what is it that women want?

Geoffrey Chaucer Quotes