And whan this markys say
The constance of his wyf, he caste adoun
His eyen two, and wondreth that she may
In pacience suffre al this array;
And forth he goth with drery contenance,
But to his herte it was ful greet plesance.
– Geoffrey Chaucer
The Canterbury Tales, The Clerk’s Tale. The Marquis of Saluzzo is happy at how loyal his wife has shown herself in his series of tests. He wonders how she can suffer in patience the kind of treatment he has put her through.