Now will I speak of woeful Damian, That languisheth for love, as ye shall hear; Therefore I speak to him in this mannére. I say. “O silly Damian, alas! Answér to this demand, as in this case, How shalt thou to thy lady, freshë May, Tellë thy woe? She will alway say nay; Eke if thou speak, she will thy woe bewray; God be thine help, I can no better say. This sickë Damian in Venus’ fire So burned that he diëd for desire; For which he put his life in áventure, No longer might he in this wise endure; But privily a penner gan he borrow, And in a letter wrote he all his sorrow, In manner of a cómplaint or a lay, Unto his fairë freshë lady May. And in a purse of silk, hung on his shirt, He hath it put, and laid it at his heart.
The moonë, that at noon was thilkë day That January had wedded freshë May, In ten of Taure, was into Cancer glided; So long had Maius in her chamber abided, As custom is unto these nobles all. A bridë shall not eaten in the hall Till dayës four, or three days at the least, Y-passed be; then let her go to feast. The fourthë day complete from noon to noon, When that the highë massë was y-done, In hallë sat this January, and May, As fresh as is the brightë summer’s day. And so befell, how that this goodë man Remember’d him upon this Damian. And saidë; “Saint Marý, how may this be, That Damian attendeth not to me? Is he aye sick? or how may this betide?” His squiërs, which that stoodë there beside, Excused him, because of his sickness, Which letted him to do his business: None other causë mightë make him tarry. “That me forthinketh,” quoth this January, “He is a gentle squiër, by my truth; If that he died, it were great harm and ruth. He is as wise, as díscreet, and secré, As any man I know of his degree, And thereto manly and eke serviceáble, And for to be a thrifty man right able. But after meat, as soon as ever I may I will myself visit him, and eke May, To do him all the comfort that I can.” And for that word him blessed every man, That of his bounty and his gentleness He wouldë so comfórten in sickness His squiër, for it was a gentle deed.