106
" Certainly also, whosoever prides himself on the gifts of Fortune is a great fool. For, sometimes, a man who is a great Lord in the morrow is a captive and a wretch ere it be night. And, sometimes, the riches of a man is the cause of his Death. And, sometimes, the pleasures of a man are the cause of the grievous malady of which he dies. And, truly, the approval of the people is too fickle and too uncertain to be trusted. Today they praise, tomorrow they blame. And, God knows, the desire to gain the approval of the people has caused the Death of many an unfortunate man. "
― Geoffrey Chaucer , The Canterbury Tales
108
" I will do all my diligence, as far as it accords with propriety, to tell you a tale, or two, or three. And if you please to hearken, come hither, and I will tell you of the life of Saint Edward the Confessor. Or else, first, of tragedies will I relate, of which I have a hundred books in my Chamber. Tragedy is to say a certain kind of story, as ancient texts would have us remember, of those who stood in great prosperity, and are fallen out of high degree into misery, and end wretchedly. And they are commonly versified in six metrical feet, which men call hexameter. In prose also are inscribed many a one, and likewise in metre in many a sundry way. Lo, this elucidation ought to suffice enough. "
― Geoffrey Chaucer , The Canterbury Tales
110
" Also, there was a disciple of Plato who one time spoke to his Master, as the book by Senior Zadith will bear witness, and this was his demand, in all truthfulness: “Tell me the name of the Philosopher’s Stone.” And Plato answered unto him anon, “It is the stone that men call Titanos.” “What is that?” asked the disciple. “It is the same as Magnasia,” said Plato. “Yea, Sir, and is it thus?” said the disciple. “This is to explain one unknown by another unknown. What is Magnasia, good Sir? Pray tell me.” “It is a liquid that is made of four elements,” said Plato. “Tell me the source of that liquid, good Sir, if it be your will,” said the disciple. “Nay, nay,” said Plato, “that I certainly shall not. "
― Geoffrey Chaucer , The Canterbury Tales