#  8.1 The Second Nun's Prologue and Tale 

 



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## **The Second Nun's Prologue**

1 **The ministre and the norice unto vices,**  
 The minister and the nurse of vices,  
2 **Which that men clepe in Englissh Ydelnesse,**  
 Which men call in English Idleness,  
3 **That porter of the gate is of delices,**  
 Who is porter of the gate of pleasures  
4 **To eschue, and by hire contrarie hire oppresse --**  
 To shun, and by her contrary to overcome her --  
5 **That is to seyn, by leveful bisynesse --**  
 That is to say, by keeping busy in lawful good works --  
6 **Wel oghten we to doon al oure entente,**  
 Well ought we to do all our diligence  
7 **Lest that the feend thurgh ydelnesse us hente.**  
 Lest the fiend by means of idleness seize us.

8 **For he that with his thousand cordes slye**  
 For he that with his thousand sly snares  
9 **Continuelly us waiteth to biclappe,**  
 Continually lies in wait to seize us suddenly,  
10 **Whan he may man in ydelnesse espye,**  
 When he can espy a man in idleness,  
11 **He kan so lightly cache hym in his trappe,**  
 He can catch him in his trap so quickly,  
12 **Til that a man be hent right by the lappe,**  
 That until a man is seized right by the hem of his garment,  
13 **He nys nat war the feend hath hym in honde.**  
 He is not aware that the fiend has him in hand.  
14 **Wel oghte us werche and ydelnesse withstonde.**  
 Well ought we to work and resist idleness.

15 **And though men dradden nevere for to dye,**  
 And even though people never dreaded to die,  
16 **Yet seen men wel by resoun, doutelees,**  
 Yet they can well see by reason, doubtless,  
17 **That ydelnesse is roten slogardye,**  
 That idleness is rotten laziness,  
18 **Of which ther nevere comth no good n' encrees;**  
 From which there never comes any good or profit;  
19 **And syn that slouthe hire holdeth in a lees**  
 And since sloth holds her (Idleness) on a leash  
20 **Oonly to slepe, and for to ete and drynke,**  
 (Allowing her) only to sleep, and to eat and drink,  
21 **And to devouren al that othere swynke,**  
 And to devour all that others earn by working,

22 **And for to putte us fro swich ydelnesse,**  
 And in order to set us apart from such idleness,  
23 **That cause is of so greet confusioun,**  
 Which is the cause of such great ruin,  
24 **I have heer doon my feithful bisynesse**  
 I have here done my faithful efforts  
25 **After the legende in translacioun**  
 In translating the legend   
26 **Right of thy glorious lif and passioun,**  
 Correctly of thy glorious life and suffering,  
27 **Thou with thy gerland wroght with rose and lilie --**  
 Thou with thy garland made with rose and lily --  
28 **Thee meene I, mayde and martyr, Seint Cecilie.**  
 I mean thee, maid and martyr, Saint Cecilie.

 *Invocacio ad Mariam*  
 (Invocation to Mary)

29 **And thow that flour of virgines art alle,**  
 And thou who art the flower of all virgins,  
30 **Of whom that Bernard list so wel to write,**  
 Of whom it so well pleased Bernard to write,  
31 **To thee at my bigynnyng first I calle;**  
 To thee at my beginning first I call;  
32 **Thou confort of us wrecches, do me endite**  
 Thou comfort of us wretches, let me narrate  
33 **Thy maydens deeth, that wan thurgh hire merite**  
 Thy maiden's death, that won by means of her merit  
34 **The eterneel lyf and of the feend victorie,**  
 The eternal life and victory over the fiend,  
35 **As man may after reden in hire storie.**  
 As one may hereafter read in her story.

36 **Thow Mayde and Mooder, doghter of thy Sone,**  
 Thou Maid and Mother, daughter of thy Son,  
37 **Thow welle of mercy, synful soules cure,**  
 Thou well of mercy, sinful souls' cure,  
38 **In whom that God for bountee chees to wone,**  
 In whom God for goodness chose to dwell,  
39 **Thow humble, and heigh over every creature,**  
 Thou humble, and high over every creature,  
40 **Thow nobledest so ferforth oure nature,**  
 Thou so greatly enobled our nature,  
41 **That no desdeyn the Makere hadde of kynde**  
 That the Maker of humankind had no disdain   
42 **His Sone in blood and flessh to clothe and wynde.**  
 To clothe and wrap His Son in blood and flesh.

43 **Withinne the cloistre blisful of thy sydis**  
 Within the blissful cloister of thy sides  
44 **Took mannes shap the eterneel love and pees,**  
 The eternal love and peace took man's shape,  
45 **That of the tryne compas lord and gyde is,**  
 He who is lord and guide of the threefold universe,  
46 **Whom erthe and see and hevene out of relees**  
 Whom earth and sea and heaven unceasing   
47 **Ay heryen; and thou, Virgine wemmelees,**  
 Ever praise; and thou, Virgin without blemish,  
48 **Baar of thy body -- and dweltest mayden pure --**  
 Bore in thy body -- and remained maiden pure --  
49 **The Creatour of every creature.**  
 The Creator of every creature.

50 **Assembled is in thee magnificence**  
 Magnificence is in thee combined   
51 **With mercy, goodnesse, and with swich pitee**  
 With mercy, goodness, and with such pity  
52 **That thou, that art the sonne of excellence**  
 That thou, who art the sun of excellence  
53 **Nat oonly helpest hem that preyen thee,**  
 Not only helpest them that pray thee,  
54 **But often tyme of thy benygnytee**  
 But often of thy goodness   
55 **Ful frely, er that men thyn help biseche,**  
 Very willingly, before men beseech thine help,  
56 **Thou goost biforn and art hir lyves leche.**  
 Thou goest before and art their lives' physician.

57 **Now help, thow meeke and blisful faire mayde,**  
 Now, thou meek and blissful fair maid help  
58 **Me, flemed wrecche, in this desert of galle;**  
 Me, banished exile, in this desert of bitterness;  
59 **Thynk on the womman Cananee, that sayde**  
 Think on the Cananite woman, who said  
60 **That whelpes eten somme of the crommes alle**  
 That dogs eat some of all the crumbs  
61 **That from hir lordes table been yfalle;**  
 That from their lord's table are fallen;  
62 **And though that I, unworthy sone of Eve,**  
 And though that I, unworthy son of Eve,  
63 **Be synful, yet accepte my bileve.**  
 Be sinful, yet accept my faith.

64 **And, for that feith is deed withouten werkis,**  
 And, because faith is dead without works,  
65 **So for to werken yif me wit and space,**  
 Give me wit and opportunity to work so,  
66 **That I be quit fro thennes that most derk is!**  
 That I may be free from that place that is most dark!  
67 **O thou, that art so fair and ful of grace,**  
 O thou, that art so fair and full of grace,  
68 **Be myn advocat in that heighe place**  
 Be my advocate in that high place  
69 **Theras withouten ende is songe "Osanne,"**  
 Where unceasingly is sung "Hosanna,"  
70 **Thow Cristes mooder, doghter deere of Anne!**  
 Thou Christ's mother, daughter dear of Anne!

71 **And of thy light my soule in prison lighte,**  
 And of thy light enlighten in prison my soul,  
72 **That troubled is by the contagioun**  
 That is troubled by the contamination   
73 **Of my body, and also by the wighte**  
 Of my body, and also by the weight  
74 **Of erthely lust and fals affeccioun;**  
 Of earthly lust and false desires;  
75 **O havene of refut, O salvacioun**  
 O haven of refuge, O salvation  
76 **Of hem that been in sorwe and in distresse,**  
 Of those who are in sorrow and in distress,  
77 **Now help, for to my werk I wol me dresse.**  
 Now help, for to my work I will address myself.

78 **Yet preye I yow that reden that I write,**  
 Yet I pray you who read what I write,  
79 **Foryeve me that I do no diligence**  
 Forgive me that I make no effort  
80 **This ilke storie subtilly to endite,**  
 To narrate this same story elaborately,  
81 **For bothe have I the wordes and sentence**  
 For I have both the words and the meaning   
82 **Of hym that at the seintes reverence**  
 Of him who out of reverence for the saint  
83 **The storie wroot, and folwen hire legende,**  
 Wrote the story, and (I) follow her legend,  
84 **And pray yow that ye wole my werk amende.**  
 And pray you that you will correct (any errors in) my work.

 *Interpretacio nominis Cecile quam ponit Frater*  
 *Jacobus Januensis in Legenda*  
  
 \[The interpretation of the name of Cecilia which Brother   
 Jacob of Genoa put in the Legend.\]

85 **First wolde I yow the name of Seint Cecilie**  
 First the name of Saint Cecilie I would to you   
86 **Expowne, as men may in hir storie see.**  
 Explain, as one can see in her story.  
87 **It is to seye in Englissh "hevenes lilie,"**  
 It is to say in English "heaven's lily,"  
88 **For pure chaastnesse of virginitee;**  
 For pure chastity of virginity;  
89 **Or, for she whitnesse hadde of honestee,**  
 Or, because she had whiteness because of chastity,  
90 **And grene of conscience, and of good fame**  
 And green because of conscience and of good reputation  
91 **The soote savour, "lilie" was hir name.**  
 The sweet smell, "lily" was her name.

92 **Or Cecilie is to seye "the wey to blynde,"**  
 Or Cecilie is to mean "the way for the blind,"  
93 **For she ensample was by good techynge;**  
 Because she set an example by good teaching;  
94 **Or elles Cecile, as I writen fynde,**  
 Or else Cecile, as I written find,  
95 **Is joyned, by a manere conjoynynge**  
 Is joined, by a sort of combination  
96 **Of "hevene" and "Lia"; and heere, in figurynge,**  
 Of "heaven" and "Leah"; and here, symbolically,  
97 **The "hevene" is set for thoght of hoolynesse,**  
 The "heaven" is set for her holiness of thought,  
98 **And "Lia" for hire lastynge bisynesse.**  
 And "Leah" for her constant business.

99 **Cecile may eek be seyd in this manere,**  
 Cecile may also be explained in this manner,  
100 **"Wantynge of blyndnesse," for hir grete light**  
 "Lack of blindness," for her great light  
101 **Of sapience and for hire thewes cleere;**  
 Of wisdom and for her pure morals;  
102 **Or elles, loo, this maydens name bright**  
 Or else, lo, this maidens bright name   
103 **Of "hevene" and "leos" comth, for which by right**  
 Comes from "heaven" and "leos," for which rightly  
104 **Men myghte hire wel "the hevene of peple" calle,**  
 Men could well call her "the heaven of people,"  
105 **Ensample of goode and wise werkes alle.**  
 Exemplar of all good and wise works.

106 **For "leos" "peple" in Englissh is to seye,**  
 For "leos" in English means "people,"  
107 **And right as men may in the hevene see**  
 And just as men may in the heaven see  
108 **The sonne and moone and sterres every weye,**  
 The sun and moon and stars in every direction,  
109 **Right so men goostly in this mayden free**  
 Just so in this maiden men spiritually  
110 **Seyen of feith the magnanymytee,**  
 See the greatness of spirit of faith,  
111 **And eek the cleernesse hool of sapience,**  
 And also the complete clarity of wisdom,  
112 **And sondry werkes, brighte of excellence.**  
 And various works, bright because of their excellence.

113 **And right so as thise philosophres write**  
 And just as these scientists write  
114 **That hevene is swift and round and eek brennynge,**  
 That heaven is swift and round and also burning,  
115 **Right so was faire Cecilie the white**  
 Just so was fair Cecilie the white  
116 **Ful swift and bisy evere in good werkynge,**  
 Very swift and busy ever in good works,  
117 **And round and hool in good perseverynge,**  
 And round and whole in persevering in good (works),  
118 **And brennynge evere in charite ful brighte.**  
 And burning ever in very bright charity.  
119 **Now have I yow declared what she highte.**  
 Now have I declared to you what she was called.

 *Explicit*   
 (Here ends \[the Prologue\])

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**The Second Nun's Tale**

120 **This mayden bright Cecilie, as hir lif seith,**  
 This bright maiden Cecilie, as her Life says,  
122 **Was comen of Romayns and of noble kynde,**  
 Was descended from Romans and of noble birth,  
122 **And from hir cradel up fostred in the feith**  
 And from her cradle nurtured up in the faith  
123 **Of Crist, and bar his gospel in hir mynde.**  
 Of Christ, and bore his gospel in her mind.  
124 **She nevere cessed, as I writen fynde,**  
 She never ceased, as I written find,  
125 **Of hir preyere and God to love and drede,**  
 Of her prayer and God to love and dread,  
126 **Bisekynge hym to kepe hir maydenhede.**  
 Beseeching him to preserve her virginity.

127 **And whan this mayden sholde unto a man**  
 And when this maiden should unto a man  
128 **Ywedded be, that was ful yong of age,**  
 Wedded be, who was very young of age,  
129 **Which that ycleped was Valerian,**  
 Who was called Valerian,  
130 **And day was comen of hir marriage,**  
 And the day of her marriage was come,  
131 **She, ful devout and humble in hir corage,**  
 She, very devout and humble in her spirit,  
132 **Under hir robe of gold, that sat ful faire,**  
 Under her robe of gold, that became her very well,   
133 **Hadde next hire flessh yclad hire in an haire.**  
 Had next to her flesh clad herself in a hair shirt.

134 **And whil the organs maden melodie,**  
 And while the organs made melody,  
135 **To God allone in herte thus sang she:**  
 To God alone in heart thus sang she:  
136 **"O Lord, my soule and eek my body gye**  
 "O Lord, my soul and also my body preserve  
137 **Unwemmed, lest that I confounded be."**  
 Immaculate, lest that I be damned."  
138 **And for his love that dyde upon a tree**  
 And for his love who died upon the cross  
139 **Every seconde and thridde day she faste,**  
 Every second and third day she fasted,  
140 **Ay biddynge in hire orisons ful faste.**  
 Ever praying in her prayers very earnestly.

141 **The nyght cam, and to bedde moste she gon**  
 The night came, and to bed must she go  
142 **With hire housbonde, as ofte is the manere,**  
 With her husband, as often is the manner,  
143 **And pryvely to hym she seyde anon,**  
 And privately to him she said at once,  
144 **"O sweete and wel biloved spouse deere,**  
 "O sweet and well beloved spouse dear,  
145 **Ther is a conseil, and ye wolde it heere,**  
 There is a secret, if you want to hear it,  
146 **Which that right fayn I wolde unto yow seye,**  
 Which I am very eager to say to you,  
147 **So that ye swere ye shul it nat biwreye."**  
 Providing that you swear you shall not reveal it."

148 **Valerian gan faste unto hire swere**  
 Valerian did earnestly unto her swear  
149 **That for no cas ne thyng that myghte be,**  
 That for no occasion nor thing that might be,  
150 **He sholde nevere mo biwreyen here;**  
 He should never ever betray her;  
151 **And thanne at erst to hym thus seyde she:**  
 And then for the first time to him thus said she:  
152 **"I have an aungel which that loveth me,**  
 "I have an angel who loves me,  
153 **That with greet love, wher so I wake or sleepe,**  
 Who with great love, whether I wake or sleep,  
154 **Is redy ay my body for to kepe.**  
 Is always ready to guard my body.

155 **"And if that he may feelen, out of drede,**  
 "And if he may sense, withoubt doubt,  
156 **That ye me touche, or love in vileynye,**  
 That you touch me, or love me lecherously,  
157 **He right anon wol sle yow with the dede,**  
 He straightway will slay you in the act,  
158 **And in youre yowthe thus ye shullen dye;**  
 And in your youth thus you shall die;  
159 **And if that ye in clene love me gye,**  
 And if you preserve me in chaste love,  
160 **He wol yow loven as me, for youre clennesse,**  
 He will love you as (he loves) me, for your chastity,  
161 **And shewen yow his joye and his brightnesse."**  
 And show you his joy and his brightness."

162 **Valerian, corrected as God wolde,**  
 Valerian, corrected as God would (have it),  
163 **Answerde agayn, "If I shal trusten thee,**  
 Answered in reply, "If I must trust thee,  
164 **Lat me that aungel se and hym biholde;**  
 Let me see that angel and behold him;  
165 **And if that it a verray angel bee,**  
 And if it be a true angel,  
166 **Thanne wol I doon as thou hast prayed me;**  
 Then will I do as thou hast prayed me;  
167 **And if thou love another man, for sothe**  
 And if thou love another man, in truth  
168 **Right with this swerd thanne wol I sle yow bothe."**  
 Then truly with this sword will I slay you both."

169 **Cecile answerde anon-right in this wise:**  
 Cecile answered immediately in this manner:  
170 **"If that yow list, the angel shul ye see,**  
 "If you wish, you shall see the angel,  
171 **So that ye trowe on Crist and yow baptize.**  
 Provided that you believe in Christ and have yourself baptized.  
172 **Gooth forth to Via Apia," quod shee,**  
 Go forth to the Appian Way," said she,  
173 **"That fro this toun ne stant but miles three,**  
 "That from this town stands no more than three miles,  
174 **And to the povre folkes that ther dwelle,**  
 And to the poor folks that dwell there,  
175 **Sey hem right thus, as that I shal yow telle.**  
 Say to them exactly thus, which I shall tell you.

176 **"Telle hem that I, Cecile, yow to hem sente**  
 "Tell them that I, Cecile, sent you to them   
177 **To shewen yow the goode Urban the olde,**  
 To show you the good Urban the old,  
178 **For secree nedes and for good entente.**  
 For secret needs and for a good purpose.  
179 **And whan that ye Seint Urban han biholde,**  
 And when you have beheld Saint Urban,  
180 **Telle hym the wordes whiche I to yow tolde;**  
 Tell him the words which I told to you;  
181 **And whan that he hath purged yow fro synne,**  
 And when he has cleansed you of sin (by baptism),  
182 **Thanne shul ye se that angel, er ye twynne."**  
 Then you shall see that angel, ere you depart."

183 **Valerian is to the place ygon,**  
 Valerian has gone to the place,  
184 **And right as hym was taught by his lernynge,**  
 And just as he was taught by his learning (from Cecilie),  
185 **He foond this hooly olde Urban anon**  
 He immediately found this holy old Urban   
186 **Among the seintes buryeles lotynge.**  
 In hiding among the saints' burial places.  
187 **And he anon withouten tariynge**  
 And he immediately without delay  
188 **Dide his message; and whan that he it tolde,**  
 Said his message; and when he told it,  
189 **Urban for joye his handes gan up holde.**  
 Urban for joy did hold up his hands.

190 **The teeris from his eyen leet he falle.**  
 He let the tears fall from his eyes.  
191 **"Almyghty Lord, O Jhesu Crist," quod he,**  
 "Almighty Lord, O Jesus Christ," said he,  
192 **"Sower of chaast conseil, hierde of us alle,**  
 "Sower of chaste counsel, shepherd of us all,  
193 **The fruyt of thilke seed of chastitee**  
 The fruit of that same seed of chastity  
194 **That thou hast sowe in Cecile, taak to thee!**  
 That thou hast sown in Cecile, take to thee!  
195 **Lo, lyk a bisy bee, withouten gile,**  
 Lo, like a busy bee, without guile,  
196 **Thee serveth ay thyn owene thral Cecile.**  
 Always thine own servant Cecile serves Thee.

197 **"For thilke spouse that she took but now**  
 "For that same spouse that she took just now  
198 **Ful lyk a fiers leoun, she sendeth heere,**  
 Very like a fierce lion, she sends here,  
199 **As meke as evere was any lomb, to yow!"**  
 As meek as ever was any lamb, to you!"  
200 **And with that word anon ther gan appeere**  
 And with that word anon there did appear  
201 **An oold man, clad in white clothes cleere,**  
 An old man, clad in clear white clothes,  
202 **That hadde a book with lettre of gold in honde,**  
 Who had in hand a book with lettering of gold ,  
203 **And gan bifore Valerian to stonde.**  
 And did stand before Valerian.

204 **Valerian as deed fil doun for drede**  
 Valerian as if dead fell down for fear  
205 **Whan he hym saugh, and he up hente hym tho,**  
 When he saw him, and the old man picked him up then,  
206 **And on his book right thus he gan to rede:**  
 And from his book right thus he began to read:  
207 **"O Lord, o feith, o God, withouten mo,**  
 "One Lord, one faith, one God, without more,  
208 **O Cristendom, and Fader of alle also,**  
 One baptism, and Father of all also,  
209 **Aboven alle and over alle everywhere."**  
 Above all and over all everywhere."  
210 **Thise wordes al with gold ywriten were.**  
 These words were written all with gold.

211 **Whan this was rad, thanne seyde this olde man,**  
 When this was read, then said this old man,  
212 **"Leevestow this thyng or no? Sey ye or nay."**  
 "Dost thou believe this thing or not? Say yes or no."  
213 **"I leeve al this thyng," quod Valerian,**  
 "I believe all this thing," said Valerian,  
214 **"For sother thyng than this, I dar wel say,**  
 "For truer thing than this, I dare well say,  
215 **Under the hevene no wight thynke may."**  
 No person under the heaven can imagine."  
216 **Tho vanysshed this olde man, he nyste where,**  
 Then vanished this old man, he knew not where,  
217 **And Pope Urban hym cristned right there.**  
 And Pope Urban christened him right there.

218 **Valerian gooth hoom and fynt Cecilie**  
 Valerian goes home and finds Cecilie  
219 **Withinne his chambre with an angel stonde.**  
 Within his room standing with an angel.  
220 **This angel hadde of roses and of lilie**  
 This angel had of roses and of lily  
221 **Corones two, the which he bar in honde;**  
 Two crowns, which he bore in hand;  
222 **And first to Cecile, as I understonde,**  
 And first to Cecile, as I understand,  
223 **He yaf that oon, and after gan he take**  
 He gave that one, and after he did give  
224 **That oother to Valerian, hir make.**  
 That other to Valerian, her mate.

225 **"With body clene and with unwemmed thoght**  
 "With body clean and with unblemished thought  
226 **Kepeth ay wel thise corones," quod he;**  
 Always guard well these crowns," said he;  
227 **"Fro paradys to yow have I hem broght,**  
 "From paradise I have brought them to you,  
228 **Ne nevere mo ne shal they roten bee,**  
 Nor never ever shall they be rotten,  
229 **Ne lese hir soote savour, trusteth me;**  
 Nor lose their sweet fragrance, trust me;  
230 **Ne nevere wight shal seen hem with his ye,**  
 Nor never a person shall see them with his eye,  
231 **But he be chaast and hate vileynye.**  
 Unless he be chaste and hates villainy.

232 **"And thow, Valerian, for thow so soone**  
 "And thou, Valerian, because thou so soon  
233 **Assentedest to good conseil also,**  
 Assented to good counsel also,  
234 **Sey what thee list, and thou shalt han thy boone."**  
 Say what pleases thee, and thou shalt have thy request."  
235 **"I have a brother," quod Valerian tho,**  
 "I have a brother," said Valerian then,  
236 **"That in this world I love no man so.**  
 "And in this world I love no man so much.  
237 **I pray yow that my brother may han grace**  
 I pray you that my brother may have grace  
238 **To knowe the trouthe, as I do in this place."**  
 To know the truth, as I do in this place."

239 **The angel seyde, "God liketh thy requeste,**  
 The angel said, "God likes thy request,  
240 **And bothe with the palm of martirdom**  
 And both (of you) with the palm of martyrdom  
241 **Ye shullen come unto his blisful feste."**  
 You shall come unto his blissful feast."  
242 **And with that word Tiburce his brother coom.**  
 And with that word Tiburce his brother came.  
243 **And whan that he the savour undernoom,**  
 And when he perceived the fragrance,  
244 **Which that the roses and the lilies caste,**  
 Which the roses and the lilies cast forth  
245 **Withinne his herte he gan to wondre faste,**  
 Within his heart he began to wonder intently,

246 **And seyde, "I wondre, this tyme of the yeer,**  
 And said, "I wonder, this time of the year,  
247 **Whennes that soote savour cometh so**  
 Whence that sweet fragrance comes so (much)  
248 **Of rose and lilies that I smelle heer.**  
 Of rose and lilies that I smell here.  
249 **For though I hadde hem in myne handes two,**  
 For even if I had them in my two hands,  
250 **The savour myghte in me no depper go.**  
 The fragrance could go in me no deeper.  
251 **The sweete smel that in myn herte I fynde**  
 The sweet smell that in my heart I find  
252 **Hath chaunged me al in another kynde."**  
 Has changed me all into another nature."

253 **Valerian seyde: "Two corones han we,**  
 Valerian said: "Two crowns have we,  
254 **Snow white and rose reed, that shynen cleere,**  
 Snow white and rose red, that shine clear,  
255 **Whiche that thyne eyen han no myght to see;**  
 Which thine eyes have no power to see;  
256 **And as thou smellest hem thurgh my preyere,**  
 And as thou smellest them because of my prayer,  
257 **So shaltow seen hem, leeve brother deere,**  
 So shalt thou see them, beloved brother dear,  
258 **If it so be thou wolt, withouten slouthe,**  
 If it so be thou will, without delaying,  
259 **Bileve aright and knowen verray trouthe."**  
 Believe correctly and know real truth."

260 **Tiburce answerde, "Seistow this to me**  
 Tiburce answered, "Sayest thou this to me  
261 **In soothnesse, or in dreem I herkne this?"**  
 In actuality, or do I hear this in dream?"  
262 **"In dremes," quod Valerian, "han we be**  
 "In dreams," said Valerian, "have we been  
263 **Unto this tyme, brother myn, ywis.**  
 Until this time, my brother, indeed.  
264 **But now at erst in trouthe oure dwellyng is."**  
 But now for the first time our dwelling is in truth."  
265 **"How woostow this?" quod Tiburce, "and in what wyse?"**  
 "How knowest thou this?" said Tiburce, "and in what manner?"  
266 **Quod Valerian, "That shal I thee devyse.**  
 Said Valerian, "That I shall tell thee.

267 **"The aungel of God hath me the trouthe ytaught**  
 "The angel of God has taught me the truth  
268 **Which thou shalt seen, if that thou wolt reneye**  
 Which thou shalt see, if thou wilt renounce  
269 **The ydoles and be clene, and elles naught."**  
 The idols and be chaste, and otherwise nothing (will you see.)"  
270 **And of the myracle of thise corones tweye**  
 And of the miracle of these two crowns  
271 **Seint Ambrose in his preface list to seye;**  
 Saint Ambrose in his preface is pleased to speak;  
272 **Solempnely this noble doctour deere**  
 Solemnly this noble dear Doctor (of the Church)  
273 **Commendeth it, and seith in this manere:**  
 Commends it, and says in this manner:

274 **"The palm of martirdom for to receyve,**  
 "In order to receive the palm of martyrdom,  
275 **Seinte Cecile, fulfild of Goddes yifte,**  
 Saint Cecile, completely filled with God's gift,  
276 **The world and eek hire chambre gan she weyve;**  
 The world and also her bed-chamber did she give up;  
277 **Witnesse Tyburces and \[Valerians\] shrifte,**  
 Witness Tyburce's and Valerian's confession,  
278 **To whiche God of his bountee wolde shifte**  
 To which God of his goodness would provide  
279 **Corones two of floures wel smellynge,**  
 Two crowns of flowers well smelling,  
280 **And made his angel hem the corones brynge.**  
 And made his angel bring them the crowns.

281 **"The mayde hath broght thise men to blisse above;**  
 "The maid has brought these men to bliss above;  
282 **The world hath wist what it is worth, certeyn,**  
 The world has known what it is worth, certainly,  
283 **Devocioun of chastitee to love."**  
 To love a devotion to chastity."  
284 **Tho shewed hym Cecile al open and pleyn**  
 Then Cecile showed him all open and plain  
285 **That alle ydoles nys but a thyng in veyn,**  
 That all idols are but meaningless things,  
286 **For they been dombe, and therto they been deve,**  
 For they are dumb, and moreover they are deaf,  
287 **And charged hym his ydoles for to leve.**  
 And (she) ordered him to leave his idols.

288 **"Whoso that troweth nat this, a beest he is,"**  
 "Whoever believes not this, he is a beast,"  
289 **Quod tho Tiburce, "if that I shal nat lye."**  
 Tiburce then said, "if I shall not lie."  
290 **And she gan kisse his brest, that herde this,**  
 And she who heard this did kiss his breast,  
291 **And was ful glad he koude trouthe espye.**  
 And was very glad he could perceive truth.  
292 **"This day I take thee for myn allye,"**  
 "This day I take thee for my kinsman,"  
293 **Seyde this blisful faire mayde deere,**  
 Said this blissful fair maid dear,  
294 **And after that she seyde as ye may heere:**  
 And after that she said as you may hear:

295 **"Lo, right so as the love of Crist," quod she,**  
 "Lo, exactly as the love of Christ," said she,  
296 **"Made me thy brotheres wyf, right in that wise**  
 "Made me thy brother's wife, exactly in that manner  
297 **Anon for myn allye heer take I thee,**  
 Right now here I take thee for my kinsman,  
298 **Syn that thou wolt thyne ydoles despise.**  
 Since thou will despise thine idols.  
299 **Go with thy brother now, and thee baptise,**  
 Go with thy brother now, and get thyself baptized,  
300 **And make thee clene, so that thou mowe biholde**  
 And make thyself clean, so that thou can behold  
301 **The angels face of which thy brother tolde."**  
 The angel's face of which thy brother told."

302 **Tiburce answerde and seyde, "Brother deere,**  
 Tiburce answered and said, "Brother dear,  
303 **First tel me whider I shal, and to what man?"**  
 First tell me where I must go, and to what man?"  
304 **"To whom?" quod he, "com forth with right good cheere,**  
 "To whom?" said he, "come forth with right good cheer,   
305 **I wol thee lede unto the Pope Urban."**  
 I will lead thee unto the Pope Urban."  
306 **"Til Urban? Brother myn Valerian,"**  
 "To Urban? My brother Valerian,"  
307 **Quod tho Tiburce, "woltow me thider lede?**  
 Said then Tiburce, "wilt thou lead me there?  
308 **Me thynketh that it were a wonder dede.**  
 It seems to me that it would be a wonderful deed.

309 **"Ne menestow nat Urban," quod he tho,**  
 "Thou meanest not Urban," said he then,  
310 **"That is so ofte dampned to be deed,**  
 "That is so often condemned to be dead,  
311 **And woneth in halkes alwey to and fro,**  
 And dwells in hiding places always (going) from one to another,   
312 **And dar nat ones putte forth his heed?**  
 And dares not once put forth his head?  
313 **Men sholde hym brennen in a fyr so reed**  
 Men should burn him in a fire so red  
314 **If he were founde, or that men myghte hym spye,**  
 If he were found, or if men could catch sight of him,  
315 **And we also, to bere hym compaignye;**  
 And we too (would burn), to bear him company;

316 **"And whil we seken thilke divinitee**  
 "And while we seek that same divinity  
317 **That is yhid in hevene pryvely,**  
 That is hidden secretly in heaven,  
318 **Algate ybrend in this world shul we be!"**  
 Nevertheless we shall be burned in this world!"  
319 **To whom Cecile answerde boldely,**  
 To whom Cecile answered boldly,  
320 **"Men myghten dreden wel and skilfully**  
 "Men might well and reasonably fear  
321 **This lyf to lese, myn owene deere brother,**  
 To lose this life, my own dear brother,  
322 **If this were lyvynge oonly and noon oother.**  
 If this were the only life and (there were) none other.

323 **"But ther is bettre lif in oother place,**  
 "But there is a better life in another place,  
324 **That nevere shal be lost, ne drede thee noght,**  
 That never shall be lost, doubt thee not,  
325 **Which Goddes Sone us tolde thurgh his grace.**  
 Which God's Son told us by means of his grace.   
326 **That Fadres Sone hath alle thyng ywroght,**  
 That Father's Son has created all things,  
327 **And al that wroght is with a skilful thoght;**  
 And all that is created (and endowed) with the power of reason;  
328 **The Goost, that fro the Fader gan procede,**  
 The Holy Ghost, who from the Father did proceed,  
329 **Hath sowled hem, withouten any drede.**  
 Has given them souls, without any doubt.

330 **"By word and by myracle heigh Goddes Sone,**  
 "By word and by miracle high God's Son,  
331 **Whan he was in this world, declared heere**  
 When he was in this world, declared here  
332 **That ther was oother lyf ther men may wone."**  
 That there was another life where men may dwell."  
333 **To whom answerde Tiburce, "O suster deere,**  
 To whom answered Tiburce, "O sister dear,  
334 **Ne seydestow right now in this manere,**  
 Said thou not just now in this manner,  
335 **Ther nys but o God, lord in soothfastnesse?**  
 There is but one God, lord in truthfulness?  
336 **And now of three how maystow bere witnesse?"**  
 And now of three how canst thou bear witness?"

337 **"That shal I telle," quod she, "er I go.**  
 "That shall I tell," said she, "ere I go.  
338 **Right as a man hath sapiences three --**  
 Exactly as a man has three mental faculties --  
339 **Memorie, engyn, and intellect also --**  
 Memory, imagination, and judgement also --  
340 **So in o beynge of divinitee,**  
 So in one being of divinity,  
341 **Thre persones may ther right wel bee."**  
 Three persons may right well be there."  
342 **Tho gan she hym ful bisily to preche**  
 Then very zealously she did preach to him   
343 **Of Cristes come, and of his peynes teche,**  
 Of Christ's coming, and teach (him) of His pains,

344 **And manye pointes of his passioun;**  
 And many particulars of His passion;  
345 **How Goddes Sone in this world was withholde**  
 How God's Son was compelled to remain in this world   
346 **To doon mankynde pleyn remissioun,**  
 To provide full forgiveness for mankind,  
347 **That was ybounde in synne and cares colde;**  
 Which was bound in sin and painful cares;  
348 **Al this thyng she unto Tiburce tolde.**  
 All this thing she told unto Tiburce.  
349 **And after this Tiburce in good entente**  
 And after this Tiburce with a good will  
350 **With Valerian to Pope Urban he wente,**  
 With Valerian he went to Pope Urban,

351 **That thanked God, and with glad herte and light**  
 Who thanked God, and with glad and happy heart   
352 **He cristned hym and made hym in that place**  
 He christened him and made him in that place  
353 **Parfit in his lernynge, Goddes knyght.**  
 Perfect in his learning, God's knight.  
354 **And after this Tiburce gat swich grace**  
 And after this Tiburce got such grace  
355 **That every day he saugh in tyme and space**  
 That every day in real time and space he saw   
356 **The aungel of God; and every maner boone**  
 The angel of God; and every manner of gift  
357 **That he God axed, it was sped ful soone.**  
 That he asked of God was provided immediately.

358 **It were ful hard by ordre for to seyn**  
 It would be very hard in proper sequence to say  
359 **How manye wondres Jhesus for hem wroghte;**  
 How many wonders Jesus made for them;  
360 **But atte laste, to tellen short and pleyn,**  
 But at the last, to tell short and plain,  
361 **The sergeantz of the toun of Rome hem soghte,**  
 The officers of the law of the town of Rome sought them,  
362 **And hem biforn Almache, the prefect, broghte,**  
 And brought them before Almache, the prefect,  
363 **Which hem apposed, and knew al hire entente,**  
 Who questioned them, and knew all their thought,  
364 **And to the ymage of Juppiter hem sente,**  
 And sent them to the image of Jupiter,

365 **And seyde, "Whoso wol nat sacrifise,**  
 And said, "Whoever will not sacrifice,  
366 **Swape of his heed; this my sentence heer."**  
 Strike off his head; this is my sentence here."  
367 **Anon thise martirs that I yow devyse,**  
 Immediately these martyrs of whom I tell you,  
368 **Oon Maximus, that was an officer**  
 One Maximus, that was an officer  
369 **Of the prefectes, and his corniculer,**  
 Of the prefect's, and his chief assistant,  
370 **Hem hente, and whan he forth the seintes ladde,**  
 Seized them, and when he led forth the saints,  
371 **Hymself he weep for pitee that he hadde.**  
 He himself wept for pity that he had.

372 **Whan Maximus had herd the seintes loore,**  
 When Maximus had heard the saints' teaching,  
373 **He gat hym of the tormentoures leve,**  
 He got himself permission of the executioners,   
374 **And ladde hem to his hous withoute moore,**  
 And led them to his house without more delay,  
375 **And with hir prechyng, er that it were eve,**  
 And with their preaching, ere that it was evening,  
376 **They gonnen fro the tormentours to reve,**  
 They did take away from the executioners,  
377 **And fro Maxime, and fro his folk echone,**  
 And from Maxime, and from his folk each one of them,  
378 **The false feith, to trowe in God allone.**  
 The false faith, (and brought them) to believe in God alone.

379 **Cecile cam, whan it was woxen nyght,**  
 Cecile came, when it was grown night,  
380 **With preestes that hem cristned alle yfeere;**  
 With priests who christened them all together;  
381 **And afterward, whan day was woxen light,**  
 And afterward, when day was grown light,  
382 **Cecile hem seyde with a ful stedefast cheere,**  
 Cecile said to them with a full steadfast countenance,  
383 **"Now, Cristes owene knyghtes leeve and deere,**  
 "Now, Christ's own knights beloved and dear,  
384 **Cast alle awey the werkes of derknesse,**  
 Cast away all the works of darkness,  
385 **And armeth yow in armure of brightnesse.**  
 And arm yourselves in armor of brightness.

386 **"Ye han for sothe ydoon a greet bataille,**  
 "You have truly done a great battle,  
387 **Youre cours is doon, youre feith han ye conserved.**  
 Your race is done, your faith you have maintained.  
388 **Gooth to the corone of lif that may nat faille;**  
 Go to the crown of life that can not fail;  
389 **The rightful Juge, which that ye han served,**  
 The rightful Judge, whom you have served,  
390 **Shal yeve it yow, as ye han it deserved."**  
 Shall give it to you, as you have deserved it."  
391 **And whan this thyng was seyd as I devyse,**  
 And when this thing was said as I tell,  
392 **Men ledde hem forth to doon the sacrefise.**  
 Men led them forth to do the sacrifice.

393 **But whan they weren to the place broght**  
 But when they were brought to the place   
394 **To tellen shortly the conclusioun,**  
 To tell shortly the conclusion,  
395 **They nolde encense ne sacrifise right noght,**  
 They would not incense nor sacrifice in any way,  
396 **But on hir knees they setten hem adoun**  
 But on their knees they set themselves down  
397 **With humble herte and sad devocioun,**  
 With humble heart and steadfast devotion,  
398 **And losten bothe hir hevedes in the place.**  
 And lost both their heads in the place.  
399 **Hir soules wenten to the Kyng of grace.**  
 Their souls went to the King of grace.

400 **This Maximus, that saugh this thyng bityde,**  
 This Maximus, who saw this thing happen,  
401 **With pitous teeris tolde it anonright,**  
 With piteous tears told it right away,  
402 **That he hir soules saugh to hevene glyde**  
 That he saw their souls glide to heaven   
403 **With aungels ful of cleernesse and of light,**  
 With angels full of clearness and of light,  
404 **And with his word converted many a wight;**  
 And with his word converted many a person;  
405 **For which Almachius dide hym so bete**  
 For which Almachius had him so beaten  
406 **With whippe of leed til he his lif gan lete.**  
 With whip tipped with lead that he left his life.

407 **Cecile hym took and buryed hym anon**  
 Cecile took him and buried him straightway  
408 **By Tiburce and Valerian softely**  
 By Tiburce and Valerian tenderly  
409 **Withinne hire buriyng place, under the stoon;**  
 Within their burying place, under the tombstone;  
410 **And after this, Almachius hastily**  
 And after this, Almachius hastily  
411 **Bad his ministres fecchen openly**  
 Ordered his ministers to fetch publicly   
412 **Cecile, so that she myghte in his presence**  
 Cecile, so that she might in his presence  
413 **Doon sacrifice and Juppiter encense.**  
 Do sacrifice and burn incense to Jupiter.

414 **But they, converted at hir wise loore,**  
 But they, converted by her wise teaching,  
415 **Wepten ful soore, and yaven ful credence**  
 Wept very bitterly, and gave full credence  
416 **Unto hire word, and cryden moore and moore,**  
 Unto her word, and cried more and more,  
417 **"Crist, Goddes Sone, withouten difference,**  
 "Christ, God's Son, without difference \[between Father and Son\],  
418 **Is verray God -- this is al oure sentence --**  
 Is true God -- this is the belief of us all --   
419 **That hath so good a servant hym to serve.**  
 That has so good a servant to serve Him.  
420 **This with o voys we trowen, thogh we sterve!"**  
 This unanimously we believe, even if we should die!"

421 **Almachius, that herde of this doynge,**  
 Almachius, that heard of this business,  
422 **Bad fecchen Cecile, that he myghte hire see,**  
 Ordered (his men to) fetch Cecile, so that he might see her  
423 **And alderfirst, lo, this was his axynge.**  
 And first of all, lo, this was his quesation.  
424 **"What maner womman artow?" tho quod he.**  
 "What sort of woman art thou?" then said he.  
425 **"I am a gentil womman born," quod she.**  
 "I am a gentle woman born," said she.  
426 **"I axe thee," quod he, "though it thee greeve,**  
 "I ask thee," said he, "though it may grieve thee,  
427 **Of thy religioun and of thy bileeve."**  
 About thy religion and about thy belief."

428 **"Ye han bigonne youre questioun folily,"**  
 "You have begun your question foolishly,"  
429 **Quod she, "that wolden two answeres conclude**  
 Said she, "you who would include two answers   
430 **In o demande; ye axed lewedly."**  
 In one question; you asked ignorantly."  
431 **Almache answerde unto that similitude,**  
 Almache answered unto that refutation,  
432 **"Of whennes comth thyn answeryng so rude?"**  
 "Of whence comes thine answering so rude?"  
433 **"Of whennes?" quod she, whan that she was freyned,**  
 "Of whence?" said she, when she was asked,  
434 **"Of conscience and of good feith unfeyned."**  
 "Of conscience and of sincere good faith."

435 **Almachius seyde, "Ne takestow noon heede**  
 Almachius said, "Takest thou no heed  
436 **Of my power?" And she answerde hym this:**  
 Of my power?" And she answered him this:  
437 **"Youre myght," quod she, "ful litel is to dreede,**  
 "Your might," said she, "is very little to fear,  
438 **For every mortal mannes power nys**  
 For every mortal man's power is nothing   
439 **But lyk a bladdre ful of wynd, ywys.**  
 But only like a bladder full of wind, indeed.  
440 **For with a nedles poynt, whan it is blowe,**  
 For with a needle's point, when it is blown up,  
441 **May al the boost of it be leyd ful lowe."**  
 Can all the arrogance of it be laid full low."

442 **"Ful wrongfully bigonne thow," quod he,**  
 "Full wrongfully thou began," said he,  
443 **"And yet in wrong is thy perseveraunce.**  
 "And yet wrongful is thy perseverance.  
444 **Wostow nat how oure myghty princes free**  
 Dost thou not know how our mighty noble princes  
445 **Han thus comanded and maad ordinaunce**  
 Have thus commanded and made a law  
446 **That every Cristen wight shal han penaunce**  
 That every Christian person shall be punished  
447 **But if that he his Cristendom withseye,**  
 Unless he renounce his Christian faith,  
448 **And goon al quit, if he wole it reneye?"**  
 And go all free, if he will deny it?"

449 **"Yowre princes erren, as youre nobleye dooth,"**  
 "Your princes err, as your nobles do,"  
450 **Quod tho Cecile, "and with a wood sentence**  
 Said then Cecile, "and with a crazy verdict  
451 **Ye make us gilty, and it is nat sooth.**  
 You make us guilty, and it is not true.  
452 **For ye, that knowen wel oure innocence,**  
 For you, who know well our innocence,  
453 **For as muche as we doon a reverence**  
 Forasmuch as we do reverence  
454 **To Crist, and for we bere a Cristen name,**  
 To Christ, and because we bear a Christian name,  
455 **Ye putte on us a cryme and eek a blame.**  
 You accuse us of a crime and also (put on us) the blame for it.

456 **"But we that knowen thilke name so**  
 "But we who know that same name   
457 **For vertuous, we may it nat withseye."**  
 To be so virtuous, we can not deny it."  
458 **Almache answerde, "Chees oon of thise two:**  
 Almache answered, "Chose one of these two:  
459 **Do sacrifice, or Cristendom reneye,**  
 Do sacrifice, or renounce Christendom,  
460 **That thou mowe now escapen by that weye."**  
 So that thou can now escape by that means."  
461 **At which the hooly blisful faire mayde**  
 At which the holy blissful fair maid  
462 **Gan for to laughe, and to the juge sayde:**  
 Began to laugh, and to the judge said:

463 **"O juge, confus in thy nycetee,**  
 "O judge, confused in thy folly,  
464 **Woltow that I reneye innocence,**  
 Wilt thou that I renounce innocence,  
465 **To make me a wikked wight?" quod shee.**  
 To make myself a wicked person?" said she.  
466 **"Lo, he dissymuleth heere in audience;**  
 "Lo, he hides his true feelings here in open court;   
467 **He stareth, and woodeth in his advertence!"**  
 He stares, and goes mad in his mind!"  
468 **To whom Almachius, "Unsely wrecche,**  
 To whom Almachius, "Miserable wretch,  
469 **Ne woostow nat how fer my myght may strecche?**  
 Knowest thou not how far my power can stretch?

470 **"Han noght oure myghty princes to me yiven,**  
 "Have not our mighty princes to me given,  
471 **Ye, bothe power and auctoritee**  
 Yea, both power and authority  
472 **To maken folk to dyen or to lyven?**  
 To make folk to die or to live?  
473 **Why spekestow so proudly thanne to me?"**  
 Why speakest thou so proudly then to me?"  
474 **"I speke noght but stedfastly," quod she;**  
 "I speak only faithfully," said she;  
475 **"Nat proudly, for I seye, as for my syde,**  
 "Not proudly, for I say, as for my side,  
476 **We haten deedly thilke vice of pryde.**  
 We hate that same deadly sin of pride.

477 **"And if thou drede nat a sooth to heere,**  
 "And if thou dread not to hear a truth,  
478 **Thanne wol I shewe al openly, by right,**  
 Then will I show all openly, according to law,  
479 **That thou hast maad a ful gret lesyng heere.**  
 That thou hast made a very great lie here.  
480 **Thou seyst thy princes han thee yeven myght**  
 Thou sayest thy princes have given thee power  
481 **Bothe for to sleen and for to quyken a wight;**  
 Both to slay and to give life to a person;  
482 **Thou, that ne mayst but oonly lyf bireve,**  
 Thou, who can only take away life,  
483 **Thou hast noon oother power ne no leve.**  
 Thou hast no other power nor any authority.

484 **"But thou mayst seyn thy princes han thee maked**  
 "But thou can say thy princes have made thee  
485 **Ministre of deeth; for if thou speke of mo,**  
 Minister of death; for if thou speak of more,  
486 **Thou lyest, for thy power is ful naked."**  
 Thou liest, for thy power is strictly limited.  
487 **"Do wey thy booldnesse," seyde Almachius tho,**  
 "Do away thy boldness," said Almachius then,  
488 **"And sacrifice to oure goddes er thou go!**  
 "And sacrifice to our gods ere thou go!  
489 **I recche nat what wrong that thou me profre,**  
 I care not what wrong that thou may express to me,  
490 **For I kan suffre it as a philosophre;**  
 For I can suffer it as a philosopher;

491 **"But thilke wronges may I nat endure**  
 "But those same wrongs I can not endure  
492 **That thou spekest of oure goddes heere," quod he.**  
 Which thou spekest of our gods here," said he.  
493 **Cecile answerde, "O nyce creature!**  
 Cecile answered, "O foolish creature!  
494 **Thou seydest no word syn thou spak to me**  
 Thou saidest no word since thou spoke to me  
495 **That I ne knew therwith thy nycetee**  
 That I did not know therewith thy foolishness  
496 **And that thou were in every maner wise**  
 And that thou were in every sort of way  
497 **A lewed officer and a veyn justise.**  
 An ignorant officer and a foolish judge.

498 **"Ther lakketh no thyng to thyne outter yen**  
 "There lacks nothing to thine outer eyes  
499 **That thou n' art blynd; for thyng that we seen alle**  
 Except that thou art blind; for thing that we all see   
500 **That it is stoon -- that men may wel espyen --**  
 That it is stone -- that men can well see --  
501 **That ilke stoon a god thow wolt it calle.**  
 That same stone a god thou wilt call it.  
502 **I rede thee, lat thyn hand upon it falle**  
 I advise thee, let thine hand upon it fall  
503 **And taste it wel, and stoon thou shalt it fynde,**  
 And taste it well, and stone thou shalt find it,  
504 **Syn that thou seest nat with thyne eyen blynde.**  
 Since thou seest not with thy blind eyes.

505 **"It is a shame that the peple shal**  
 "It is a shame that the people shall  
506 **So scorne thee and laughe at thy folye,**  
 So scorn thee and laugh at thy folly,  
507 **For communly men woot it wel overal**  
 For without exception men know it well everywhere  
508 **That myghty God is in his hevenes hye;**  
 That mighty God is in his high heavens;  
509 **And thise ymages, wel thou mayst espye,**  
 And these images, thou canst well see,  
510 **To thee ne to hemself mowen noght profite,**  
 Can do no profit to thee nor to themselves,  
511 **For in effect they been nat worth a myte."**  
 For in fact they are not worth a penny."

512 **Thise wordes and swiche othere seyde she,**  
 These words and others such said she,  
513 **And he weex wroth, and bad men sholde hir lede**  
 And he grew angry, and ordered that men should lead her  
514 **Hom til hir hous, and "In hire hous," quod he,**  
 Home to her house, and "In her house," said he,  
515 **"Brenne hire right in a bath of flambes rede."**  
 "Burn her right in a bath of red flames."  
516 **And as he bad, right so was doon the dede;**  
 And as he ordered, exactly so the deed was done;  
517 **For in a bath they gonne hire faste shetten,**  
 For they did shut her fast in a cauldron,  
518 **And nyght and day greet fyr they under betten.**  
 And night and day they fed great fire under it.

519 **The longe nyght, and eek a day also,**  
 The long night, and also a day as well,  
520 **For al the fyr and eek the bathes heete**  
 Despite the fire and also the bath's heat   
521 **She sat al coold and feelede no wo.**  
 She sat all cool and felt no pain.  
522 **It made hire nat a drope for to sweete.**  
 It made her not a drop to sweat.  
523 **But in that bath hir lyf she moste lete,**  
 But in that bath her life she must leave,  
524 **For he Almachius, with ful wikke entente,**  
 For that Almachius, with completely wicked intent,  
525 **To sleen hire in the bath his sonde sente.**  
 Sent his messenger to slay her in the bath.

526 **Thre strokes in the nekke he smoot hire tho,**  
 Three strokes in the neck he smote her then,  
527 **The tormentour, but for no maner chaunce**  
 The executioner, but in no sort of way  
528 **He myghte noght smyte al hir nekke atwo;**  
 He could not smite all her neck in two;  
529 **And for ther was that tyme an ordinaunce**  
 And because there was that time an ordinance  
530 **That no man sholde doon man swich penaunce**  
 That no man should do any one such pain  
531 **The ferthe strook to smyten, softe or soore,**  
 The fourth stroke to smite, soft or sore,  
532 **This tormentour ne dorste do namoore,**  
 This executioner dared not do any more,

533 **But half deed, with hir nekke ycorven there,**  
 But half dead, with her neck carved there,  
534 **He lefte hir lye, and on his wey he went.**  
 He left her lie, and on his way he went.  
535 **The Cristen folk, which that aboute hire were,**  
 The Christian folk, who were about her,  
536 **With sheetes han the blood ful faire yhent.**  
 With sheets have very carefully taken up the blood.  
537 **Thre dayes lyved she in this torment,**  
 Three days she lived in this torment,  
538 **And nevere cessed hem the feith to teche**  
 And never ceased to teach them the faith   
539 **That she hadde fostred; hem she gan to preche,**  
 That she had fostered; to them she did preach,

540 **And hem she yaf hir moebles and hir thyng,**  
 And she gave them her personal property and her things,  
541 **And to the Pope Urban bitook hem tho,**  
 And to the Pope Urban (she) entrusted them then,  
542 **And seyde, "I axed this of hevene kyng,**  
 And said, "I asked this of heaven's king,  
543 **To han respit thre dayes and namo**  
 To have respite three days and no more  
544 **To recomende to yow, er that I go,**  
 To commend to you, ere I go,  
545 **Thise soules, lo, and that I myghte do werche**  
 These souls, lo, and that I might have made  
546 **Heere of myn hous perpetuelly a cherche."**  
 Here of my house perpetually a church."

547 **Seint Urban with his deknes prively**  
 Saint Urban with his deacons secretly  
548 **The body fette and buryed it by nyghte**  
 Fetched the body and buried it by night  
549 **Among his othere seintes honestly.**  
 Among his other saints decently.  
550 **Hir hous the chirche of Seint Cecilie highte;**  
 Her house is called the church of Saint Cecilie;  
551 **Seint Urban halwed it, as he wel myghte;**  
 Saint Urban consecrated it, as he well could;  
552 **In which, into this day, in noble wyse,**  
 In which, unto this day, in noble manner,  
553 **Men doon to Crist and to his seint servyse.**  
 People do service to Christ and to his saint.

*Heere is ended the Seconde Nonnes Tale*