Upon that oother syde Damyan Bicomen is the sorwefulleste man That evere was, for neither nyght ne day Ne myghte he speke a word to fresshe May, As to his purpos, of no swich mateere, But if that Januarie moste it heere, That hadde an hand upon hire everemo. But nathelees, by writyng to and fro And privee signes wiste he what she mente, And she knew eek the fyn of his entente.

Upon that oother syde Damyan
Bicomen is the sorwefulleste man
That evere was, for neither nyght ne day
Ne myghte he speke a word to fresshe May,
As to his purpos, of no swich mateere,
But if that Januarie moste it heere,
That hadde an hand upon hire everemo.
But nathelees, by writyng to and fro
And privee signes wiste he what she mente,
And she knew eek the fyn of his entente.

– Geoffrey Chaucer

The Canterbury Tales, The Merchant’s Tale. Damian is very sad because he cannot spend time with May anymore, because physically blind January insists that she must be at arm’s reach of him. But they maintain secret communication by writing romantic letters to each other and using their own secret signs. So he knows of her plan to be with him.

Geoffrey Chaucer Quotes