From Geoffrey Chaucer's "The Canterbury Tales", The Franklin's Tale, lines 21-52

From The Canterbury Tales:
The Franklin's Tale
lines 21-52: About a knight, his wife and their marriage

	In Armorik, that called is Britayne,
	Ther was a knyght that loved and dide his payne
	To serve a lady in his beste wise;
	And many a labour, many a greet emprise,
25	He for his lady wroghte, er she were wonne.
	For she was oon the faireste under sonne,
	And eek therto comen of so heigh kynrede
	That wel unnethes dorste this knyght for drede
	Telle hir his wo, his peyne, and his distresse.
30	But atte laste, she for his worthynesse,
	And namely for his meke obeysaunce,
	Hath swiche a pitee caught of his penaunce,
	That pryvely she fil of his accord
	To take hym for hir housbonde and hir lord,
35	Of swich lordshipe as men han over hir wyves-
	And for to lede the moore in blisse hir lyves,
	Of his free wyl he swoor hir as a knyght,
	That nevere in al his lyf he, day ne nyght,
	Ne sholde upon hym take no maistrie
40	Agayn hir wyl, ne kithe hir jalousie,
	But hir obeye and folwe hir wyl in al
	As any lovere to his lady shal,
	Save that the name of soveraynetee,
	That wolde he have, for shame of his degree.

	In old Armorica, now Brittany,
	There was a knight that loved and strove, did he
	To serve a lady in the highest wise;
	And many a labour, many a great emprise
25	He wrought for her, or ever she was won.
	For she was of the fairest under sun,
	And therewithal come of so high kindred
	That scarcely could this noble knight, for dread,
	Tell her his woe, his pain, and his distress.
30	But at the last she, for his worthiness,
	And specially for his meek obedience,
	Had so much pity that, in consequence,
	She secretly was come to his accord
	To take him for her husband and her lord,
35	Of such lordship as men have over wives;
	And that they might be happier in their lives,
	Of his free will he swore to her, as knight,
	That never in his life, by day or night,
	Would he assume a right of mastery
40	Against her will, nor show her jealousy,
	But would obey and do her will in all
	As any lover of his lady shall;
	Except the name and show of sovereignty,
	Those would he have, lest he shame his degree

45	She thanked hym, and with ful greet humblesse
	She seyde, "Sire, sith of youre gentillesse
	Ye profre me to have so large a reyne,
	Ne wolde nevere God bitwixe us tweyne,
	As in my gilt, were outher werre or stryf.
50	Sir, I wol be youre humble trewe wyf,
	Have heer my trouthe til that myn herte breste."
	Thus been they bothe in quiete and in reste.

45	She thanked him, and with a great humbleness
	She said: "Since, sir, of your own nobleness
	You proffer me to have so loose a rein
	Would God there never come between us twain,
	For any guilt of mine, a war or strife.
50	Sir, I will be your humble, faithful wife,
	Take this as truth till heart break in my breast."
	Thus were they both in quiet and in rest.