There were only a few women among the pilgrims who were riding to Canterbury. One of them was the wife of bath.
she was a large women with a red face. she wore a big hat, and she had travelled far and wide in the world. she had had five husbands, but they all died. she liked talk and be happy. Her tale was about the round table.
Once there was a young knight. He had done a very bad thing : he had broken the laws which all knights must keep.
King Arthur heard what the young knight had done. "that is very bad" he said. "he must die"
The Queen and her ladies were sad because they liked the young knight very much " He is not really bad " they said to each other
"Please,please" the ask the king "please do not end this young man's life. he knows that he has done bad thing; he will never make such a mistake again"
the king said to the queen, "well, do whatever you like with him. but he must pay for breaking the law"
the queen thought for a little time; then she said to the knight,"you shall live, if you can tell me the answer to this question: what does a women want most of all? i will giver you a year and a day to find out the answer. if you can not find it you must die".