It may be wel, paraventure, yet to day.
Ye shul youre trouthe holden, by my fay!
For God so wisly have mercy upon me,
I hadde wel levere ystiked for to be
For verray love which that I to yow have,
But if ye sholde youre trouthe kepe and save.
– Geoffrey Chaucer
The Canterbury Tales, The Franklin’s Tale. Arveragus insists that his wife Dorigen must keep her pledge she made to Aurelius to love him. He would rather be stabbed for the true love he had for her, than she would not keep her word, he tells her. This is very courageous and noble of Arveragus, who like his wife is very virtuous.