Previous: From The Second Nun's Tale, lines 232-287: Valerian's brother Tibertius is christianized too

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295        "Lo, right so as the love of Crist," quod she, "Made me thy brotheres wyf, right in that wise Anon for myn allyee heer take I thee, Syn that thou wolt thyne ydoles despise. Go with thy brother now, and thee baptise, 300 And make thee clene, so that thou mowe biholde The aungels face of which thy brother tolde."

295        "Lo, even as the love of Christ," said she, "Made me your brother's wife, just in that wise I take you now my close ally to be, Since you'll forgo your idols and despise. Go with your brother, let them you baptize 300 And make you clean; so that you may behold The angel's face whereof your brother told."

Tiburce answerde and seyde, "Brother deere, First tel me whider I shal, and to what man?" "To whom?" quod he, "com forth with right good cheere, 305 I wol thee lede unto the Pope Urban." "Til Urban? Brother myn Valerian," Quod tho Tiburce, "woltow me thider lede? Me thynketh that it were a wonder dede."

Tibertius answered, saying: "Brother dear, First tell me where to go and to what man." "To whom?" said he, "Come forth, and with good cheer, 305 For I will lead you unto Pope Urban." "To Urban? Brother mine, Valerian, Tibertius said, "and thither will you lead? I think this were a wondrous thing indeed.

"Ne menestow nat Urban," quod he tho, 310 "That is so ofte dampned to be deed, And woneth in halkes alwey to and fro, And dar nat ones putte forth his heed; Men sholde hym brennen in a fyr so reed, If he were founde, or that men myghte hym spye; 315 And we also, to bere hym compaignye,

"Surely you mean not Urban!" he cried out, 310 "Who's been so often ordered to be dead, And lives in corners, dodging ever about, And dares not once by day to show his head? Why, men would burn him in a fire right red If he were found, or any him could spy; 315 And us, if we should bear him company.

And whil we seken thilke divinitee, That is yhid in hevene pryvely, Algate ybrend in this world shul we be!" To whom Cecile answerde boldely, 320 "Men myghten dreden wel and skilfully This lyf to lese, myn owene deere brother, If this were lyvynge oonly and noon oother.

And while we seek for that Divinity Who is in Heaven where we may not see, Burned in this world to ashes shall we be!" To whom Cecilia answered, and boldly: 320 "Men might well dread, and very reasonably, This life on earth to lose, my own dear brother, If this alone were living, and no other.

But ther is bettre lyf in oother place, That nevere shal be lost, ne drede thee noght, 325 Which Goddes Sone us tolde thurgh his grace. That fadres sone hath alle thyng ywroght, And al that wroght is with a skilful thoght, The goost, that fro the Fader gan procede, Hath sowled hem, withouten any drede.

But there's a better life in other place, That never shall be lost, nay, fear you naught, 325 Whereof God's Son has told us, through his grace; That Father's Son all things that He has wrought, And all that is has made with reasoned thought, The Spirit which from Father did proceed Has given a soul to each, fear not indeed.

330 By word and by myracel Goddes Sone, Whan he was in this world, declared heere That ther was oother lyf ther men may wone." To whom answerde Tiburce, "O suster deere, Ne seydestow right now in this manere, 335 Ther nys but o God, lord in soothfastnesse, And now of thre how maystow bere witnesse?"

330 By word and miracle God's only Son, When He was in this world, declared us here There was another life that could be won." To whom replied Tibertius: "Sister dear, Did you not say, just now, in manner clear, 335 There's but one God, the Lord in truth, no less; And now to three, how can you bear witness?"

"That shal I telle," quod she, "er I go. Right as a man hath sapiences thre, Memorie, engyn, and intellect also, 340 So, in o beynge of divinitee Thre persones may ther right wel bee." Tho gan she hym ful bisily to preche Of Cristes come, and of hise peynes teche,

"That will I tell," said she, "before I go. Just as a man has kinds of wisdom three, Memory, genius, intellect also, 340 So in one Being of Divinity Three Persons, truly may there right well be." Then she to him full earnestly did preach Of Jesus' coming, and of his pain did teach,

And many pointes of his passioun; 345 How Goddes Sone in this world was withholde To doon mankynde pleyn remissioun, That was ybounde in synne and cares colde; Al this thyng she unto Tiburce tolde; And after this, Tiburce in good entente 350 With Valerian to Pope Urban he wente;

And many points his agony had shown: 345 How God's Son in this world a time did hold To man a full remission to make known, Who had been bound in sin and care of old: All these things to Tibertius first she told. And then Tibertius, with a good intent, 350 He with Valerian to Pope Urban went;

That thanked God, and with glad herte and light He cristned hym, and made hym in that place Parfit in his lernynge, Goddes knyght. And after this Tiburce gat swich grace 355 That every day he saugh in tyme and space The aungel of God, and every maner boone That he God axed, it was sped ful soone.

Who thanked God; and with a glad heart and light He christened him, and made him in that place Perfect in knowledge, and God's very knight. And after this Tibertius got such grace 355 That every day he saw, in time and space, God's angel; aye, and every kind of boon He asked of God, the same was granted soon.

Next: From The Second Nun's Tale, lines 358-399: The brothers are executed because they refuse to worship Jupiter