E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
May.
A lovely girl who married January, an old Lombard baron, sixty years of age. She had a liaison with a young squire named Damyan, and was detected by January; but she persuaded the old fool that his eyes were to blame and that he was labouring under a great mistake, the effect of senseless jealousy. January believed her words, and “who is glad but he?” for what is better than “a fruitful wife, and a confiding spouse?” (Chaucer: The Marchaundes Tale. Pope: January and May,)
