And wel ye woot that wommen naturelly
Desiren thynges sixe as wel as I:
They wolde that hir housbondes sholde be
Hardy and wise, and riche, and therto free,
And buxom unto his wyf and fressh abedde.
Modern English:
Women desire six things: They want their husbands to be brave, wise, rich, generous, obedient to wife, and lively in bed.
– Geoffrey Chaucer
The Canterbury Tales, The Shipman’s Tale. What do women desire in a husband? The merchant’s wife spells it out to the monk, and it is a pretty high bar for any man to reach. Unfortunately the merchant falls short of the requirements, but what upsets the wife most is his miserliness.