Brewer's: Dorigen

A lady of high family, who married Arviragus out of pity for his love and meekness. She was greatly beloved by Aurelius, to whom she had been long known. Aurelius, during the absence of Arviragus, tried to win the heart of the young wife; but Dorigen made answer that she would never listen to him till the rocks that beset the coast of Britain are removed “and there n'is no stone yseen.” Aurelius, by the aid of a young magician of Orleans, caused all the rocks to disappear, and claimed his reward. Dorigen was very sad, but her husband insisted that she should keep her word, and she went to meet Aurelius. When Aurelius saw how sad she was, and heard what Arviragus had counselled, he said he would rather die than injure so true a wife and noble a gentleman. So she returned to her husband happy and untainted. (See Dianora.) (Chaucer: Franklines Tale.)

Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894
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