Andreas the Chaplain sure knew a lot about the ladies. In The Art of Courtly Love, he gave tips and sample conversations between handsome plague-less couples on their first dates. Interested in dating a 12th century lady? A few suggestions before you start:

1. Try not to treat her like a whore. 

“First he should greet her in his usual way; this, however, should always be done, and all lovers must realize that after the salutation they should not immediately begin talking about love, for it is only with their concubines that men begin in that way.”

2. Let her talk! Ladies love talking.

“After the man has greeted the woman, he ought to let a little time elapse so that she may, if she wishes, speak first. If she does begin the conversation, you have good reason to rejoice, unless you are a fluent talker, because her remark will give you plenty to talk about.”

3. Try not to lose your mind around the ladies.

“There are men who in the presence of ladies so lose their power of speech that they forget the things they have carefully thought out and arranged in their minds; they cannot say anything coherent, and it seems proper to reprove their foolishness, for it is not fitting that any man, unless he is bold and well-instructed, should enter into a conversation with ladies.”

4. Ladies love compliments!

“First you should say things that have nothing to do with your subject—make her laugh at something, or else praise her home, or her family, or herself. Because women—particularly middle-class women from the country—commonly delight in being commended and readily believe every word that looks like praise.”

5. You’re almost there! Now try a sexy line. 

“When the Divine Being made you, there was nothing that He left undone.”

6. Snap! Give her your cred.

“Now if I, by my merits, might be worthy of such an honor, no lover in the world could really be compared with me.”

Now take your yearly bath, because you’ve just snagged a 12th century lady.