but they tway, That in a morning to this May said he: “Rise up, my wife, my love, my lady free; The turtle’s voice is heard, mine owen sweet; The winter is gone, with all his rainës weet. Come forth now with thine eyen columbine. Well fairer be thy breasts than any wine. The garden is enclosed all about; Come forth, my whitë spouse; for, out of doubt, Thou hast me wounded in mine heart, O wife: No spot in thee was e’er in all thy life. Come forth, and let us taken our disport; I choose thee for my wife and my comfórt.” Such oldë lewëd wordës used he. On Damian a signë madë she, That he should go beforë with his cliket. This Damian then hath opened the wicket, And in he start, and that in such mannére That no wight might him either see or hear; And still he sat under a bush. Anon This January, as blind as is a stone, With Maius in his hand, and no wight mo’, Into this freshë garden is y-go, And clapped to the wicket suddenly. “Now, wife,” quoth he, “here is but thou and I; Thou art the creature that I bestë love: For, by that Lord that sits in heav’n above, Lever I had to dien on a knife, Than thee offendë, dearë truë wife. For Goddë’s sakë, think how I thee chees, Not for no covetisë doubtëless, But only for the love I had to thee. And though that I be old, and may not see, Be to me true, and I will tell you why. Certes three thingës shall ye win thereby: First, love of Christ, and to yourself honoúr, And all mine heritagë, town and tow’r. I give it you, make charters as you lest; This shall be done to-morrow ere sun rest, So wisly God my soulë bring to bliss! I pray you, on this covenant me kiss. And though that I be jealous, wite me not; Ye be so deep imprinted in my thought, That when that I consider your beautý, And therewithal th’ unlikely eld of me, I may not, certes, though I shouldë die, Forbear to be out of your company, For very love; this is withoutë doubt: Now kiss me, wife, and let us roam about.”
This freshë May, when she these wordës heard, Benignëly to January answér’d; But first and forward she began to weep: “I have,” quoth she, “a soulë for to keep As well as ye, and also mine honoúr, And of my wifehood thilkë tender flow’r Which that I have assured in your hond,