And many a mayde, yslayn hirself, allas,
Rather than with hir body doon trespas?
– Geoffrey Chaucer
The Canterbury Tales, The Franklin’s Tale. The loyal Dorigen considers suicide as a way out, rather than go through with her pledge to love Aurelius and be unfaithful to husband Arveragus. Many a maid has slain herself rather than do sin with her body, she tells herself.