I went out under the sky, Muse! and I was your vassal.
'By heaven, that thou art fair, is most infallible true, that thou art beauteous truth itself, that thou art lovely. More fairer than fair, beautiful than beauteous, truer than truth itself, have commiseration on thy heroical vassal.
That god forbid, that made me first your slave, I should in thought control your times of pleasure, Or at your hand th' account of hours to crave, Being your vassal bound to stay your leisure.
The mind's only perfect vassal.
In Africa, the woman was co-equal. In Europe, the woman was a vassal. To some extent, she still is.