Maius, that sat with so benign a cheer, Her to behold it seemed faërie; Queen Esther never look’d with such an eye On Assuere, so meek a look had she; I may you not devise all her beauty; But thus much of her beauty tell I may, That she was hike the bright morrow of May Full filled of all beauty and pleasánce. This January is ravish’d in a trance, At every time he looked in her face; But in his heart he gan her to menace, That he that night in armës would her strain Harder than ever Paris did Heléne. But natheless yet had he great pitý That thilkë night offendë her must he, And thought, “Alas, O tender creatúre, Now wouldë God ye mightë well endure All my couráge, it is so sharp and keen; I am aghast ye shall it not sustene. But God forbid that I did all my might. Now wouldë God that it were waxen night, And that the night would lasten evermo’. I would that all this people were y-go.” And finally he did all his laboúr, As he best mightë, saving his honoúr, To haste them from the meat in subtle wise.
The timë came that reason was to rise; And after that men dance, and drinkë fast, And spices all about the house they cast, And full of joy and bliss is every man, All but a squire, that hightë Damian, Who carv’d before the knight full many a day; He was so ravish’d on his lady May, That for the very pain he was nigh wood; Almost he swelt and swooned where he stood, So sore had Venus hurt him with her brand, As that she bare it dancing in her hand. And to his bed he went him hastily; No more of him as at this time speak I; But there I let him weep enough and plain, Till freshë May will rue upon his pain. O perilous fire, that in the bedstraw breedeth! O foe familiar, that his service bedeth! O servant traitor, O false homely hewe, Like to the adder in bosom shy untrue, God shield us allë from your acquaintánce! O January, drunken in pleasánce Of marriage, see how thy Damian, Thine owen squier and thy boren man, Intendeth for to do thee villainy: God grantë thee thine homely foe t’ espy. For in this world is no worse pestilence Than homely foe, all day in thy presénce.