" Four burning embers have we, which I shall describe—boasting, lying, anger and covetousness. These four sparks linger well into old age. Our ancient limbs may be feeble, but yearning does not fail, and that is the truth. As yet I have still the desires of a youth, even though many a year has passed since first my Tap of Life began to flow. For, surely, when that I was born, did Death turn on the Tap of Life and let it run, and, ever since that day, has the Tap flowed, till almost empty is the cask. The stream of life has now but a few drops remaining. The foolish tongue may well ring out and chime of wickedness that passed long ago, but, for old folk, there is nothing save dotage. "

― Geoffrey Chaucer , The Canterbury Tales