|
Upon the morwe, whan that it was day, |
| To Britaigne tooke they the righte way, |
| Aurelius and this magicien bisyde, |
| And been descended ther they wolde abyde. |
| 535 | And this was, as thise bookes me remembre, |
| The colde, frosty sesoun of Decembre. |
| Phebus wax old, and hewed lyk latoun, |
| That in this hoote declynacioun |
| Shoon as the burned gold, and stremes brighte; |
| 540 | But now in Capricorn adoun he lighte, |
| Where as he shoon ful pale, I dar wel seyn. |
| The bittre frostes, with the sleet and reyn, |
| Destroyed hath the grene in every yerd; |
| Janus sit by the fyr, with double berd, |
| 545 | And drynketh of his bugle horn the wyn. |
| Biforn hym stant brawen of the tusked swyn, |
| And "Nowel" crieth every lusty man. |
|
| Upon the morrow, when it was full day, |
| To Brittany took they the nearest way, |
| Aurelius, with this wizard at his side, |
| And thus they came to where they would abide; |
| 535 | And that was, as the books say, I remember, |
| The cold and frosty season of December. |
| Phoebus was old and coloured like pale brass, |
| That in hot declination coloured was |
| And shone like burnished gold with streamers bright; |
| 540 | But now in Capricorn did he alight, |
| Wherein he palely shone, I dare explain. |
| The bitter frosts, with all the sleet and rain, |
| Had killed the green of every garden-yard. |
| Janus sat by the fire, with double beard, |
| 545 | And drained from out his bugle horn the wine. |
| Before him stood the brawn of tusked swine, |
| And "Noel!" cried then every lusty man. |
|
