O Januarie, what myghte it thee availle,
Thogh thou myghtest se as fer as shippes saille?
For as good is blynd deceyved be
As to be deceyved whan a man may se.
– Geoffrey Chaucer
The Canterbury Tales, The Merchant’s Tale. January’s physical blindness is not his big problem. The Merchant bemoans the fact that January is also blind to reality and the deception that is going on in his household. January’s sight was useless because when he had it he didn’t see.