From Geoffrey Chaucer's "The Canterbury Tales", The Man of Law's Tale, lines 190-203

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From The Man of Law's Tale, lines 169-189:
The merchants tell the sultan about Constance

From The Canterbury Tales:
The Man of Law's Tale
lines 190-203: The predictive power of the stars

190	Paraventure in thilke large book,
	Which that men clepe the hevene, ywriten was
	With sterres, whan that he his birthe took,
	That he for love sholde han his deeth, allas!
	For in the sterres clerer than is glas
195	Is writen, God woot, whoso koude it rede,
	The deeth of every man, withouten drede.

190	Now peradventure, in that mighty book
	Which men call heaven, it had come to pass,
	In stars, when first a living breath he took,
	That he for love should get his death, alas!
	For in the stars, far dearer than is glass,
195	Is written, God knows, read it he who can,-
	And truth it is - the death of every man.

In sterres many a wynter therbiforn

Was writen the deeth of Ector, Achilles,

Of Pompei, Julius, er they were born,

200 The strif of Thebes, and of Ercules,

Of Sampson, Turnus, and of Socrates

The deeth, but mennes wittes ben so dulle

That no wight kan wel rede it atte fulle.

In stars, full many a winter over-worn,

Was written the death of Hector, Achilles,

Of Pompey, Julius, long before they were born;

200 The strife at Thebes; and of great Hercules,

Of Samson, of Turnus, of Socrates,

The death to each; but men's wits are so dull

There is no man may read this to the full.

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From The Man of Law's Tale, lines 204-217:
The sultan wants Constance