I.
In the kalendies of Januarie,
When fresche Phoebus by moving circulair
From Capricorn was enter'd in Aquarie,
With blastis that the branches made full bare,
The snow and sleet perturbit all the air,
And flemit flora from everie bank and bus,
Throuch support of the austeir Eolus.
II.
Efter that I the lang wynteris night
Had lyne waking in my bed allone
Throw hevy thought, that na way sleep I micht,
Remembering of divers thingis gone;
Sa up I rois, and cleithit me anone
By this fair Titan with his lemis licht
O'er all the land had spred his banner bricht.
With cloke and hude I dressit me belive,
With dowbill schone, and myttains on my handis,
Howbeit the air was richt penetratyve,
Zet fure I forth lansing outhort the landis,
Towards the sea, to schort me on the sandis
Because unblomit was baith bank and bray,
And sa as I was passing by the way,
IV.
I met dame flora in dule weid disagysit,
Quilk into May was dulce and delectabill,
With stalwart stormis hir sweetness was surprisit,
Hir heavinlie hewis war turnit into sabill,
Quilkis umguile war to Luffaris amiabill,
Fled from the froist, the tender flouris I saw
Under dame Nature's mantill lurking law.
V.
The small fowlis in flockis saw I flee
To nature makand lamentatioun,
They lichtit down beside me on ane tree,
Of thair complaint I had compassioun,
And with ane piteous exclamation
They said "blyssit be somer with his flouris,
"And waryit be thou wynter with thy schowris.