"I have thy feith and thy benyngnytee,
As wel as evere womman was, assayed,
In greet estaat and povreliche arrayed.
Now knowe I, dere wyf, thy stedfastnesse" –
And hire in armes took and gan hire kesse.
– Geoffrey Chaucer
The Canterbury Tales, The Clerk’s Tale. Walter confesses to Griselda about the tests he put her through of her faith, goodness and steadfastness, both in high rank and in poverty. He now knows how steadfast she is, he reveals, and takes her in her arms and kisses her. Is there a glimmer of real love there for somebody else from this selfish and self-centered man?