Ful fetys was hir cloke, as I was war. Of smal coral aboute hire arm she bar A peire of bedes, gauded al with grene, And theron heng a brooch of gold ful sheene, On which ther was first write a crowned A, Amor Vincit Omnia.

Ful fetys was hir cloke, as I was war.
Of smal coral aboute hire arm she bar
A peire of bedes, gauded al with grene,
And theron heng a brooch of gold ful sheene,
On which ther was first write a crowned A,
Amor Vincit Omnia.

– Geoffrey Chaucer

The Canterbury Tales, General Prologue. In keeping with her desire to appear courtly, the Prioress is beautifully dressed in a well made cloak. On her arm she wore a string of coral beads from which hung a bright gold brooch engraved with a crowned "A" and the inscription "Amor Vincit Omnia," or "Love Conquers All." Coral beads and gold brooch? Not the usual attire for a nun, whom you would expect to be wearing rosary beads rather than a gold brooch with a romantic inscription. A little whiff of someone in this convent enjoying the good life, it seems. The Prioress’ character is ironically represented in complete contrast to how a prioress is usually expected to live and behave.

Geoffrey Chaucer Quotes