He drynketh ypocras, clarree, and vernage
Of spices hoote t’ encreessen his corage;
And many a letuarie hath he ful fyn.
– Geoffrey Chaucer
The Canterbury Tales, The Merchant’s Tale. Old January has deceived himself into believing that he is as virile and sexually able as a young man. Yet on his wedding night he needs the medieval equivalent of Viagra to perform for his much younger wife. He drinks strong wines with hot spices and takes aphrodisiacs to increase his desire.