Desire in the Canterbury Tales

There is an old joke about a mother whose child refuses to speak. Year after year, as its playmates are becoming ever more loquacious, it remains stubbornly silent. She consults with doctors, psychologists, language therapists, all to no avail. Then, one day, after serving the child a meal, she hears it declare: “this soup is cold.” Amazed, she asks the child why it has not spoken before. “Well, everything has been all right until now,” it replies.