Previous: From The Second Nun's Tale, lines 218-231: Valerian meets the angel

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The aungel seyde, "God liketh thy requeste, 240 And bothe with the palm of martirdom Ye shullen com unto his blisful feste." And with that word Tiburce his brother coom; And whan that he the savour undernoom, Which that the roses and the lilies caste, 245 Withinne his herte he gan to wondre faste,

The angel answered: "God likes your request, 240 And both of you, with palm of martyrdom, Shall come at last unto His blessed rest." Whereon his brother Tibertius was come. And when he smelled the sweet perfume that from The roses and the lilies filled the air, 245 In heart he wondered much how came it there,

And seyde, "I wondre, this tyme of the yeer, Whennes that soote savour cometh so Of rose and lilies that I smelle heer. For though I hadde hem in myne handes two, 250 The savour myghte in me no depper go, The sweete smel that in myn herte I fynde Hath chaunged me al in another kynde."

And said: "I wonder much, this time of year, Whence comes the sweetness that arises so, Of rose and lily, to my senses here? For though I held them in my two hands- no 250 The savour could in me no deeper go. The gentle scent that in my heart I find Has changed me to a man of other kind."

Valerian seyde, "Two corones han we, Snow white and rose reed that shynen cleere, 255 Whiche that thyne eyen han no myght to see, And as thou smellest hem thurgh my preyere, So shaltow seen hem, leeve brother deere, If it so be thou wolt, withouten slouthe, Bileve aright and knowen verray trouthe."

Valerian replied: "Two crowns have we, Snow white and rose red, and they're bright and fair, 255 The which your two eyes have no power to see; And as you smell them, brother, through my prayer, So shall you see them also, brother dear, If you but will, without delay forsooth, Rightly believe and know the very truth."

260        Tiburce answerde, "Seistow this to me? In soothnesse or in dreem I herkne this?" "In dremes," quod Valerian, "han we be Unto this tyme, brother myn, ywes; But now at erst in trouthe oure dwellyng is." 265 "How woostow this," quod Tiburce, "in what wyse?" Quod Valerian, "That shal I thee devyse.

260        Tibertius answered: "Say you this to me In truth? Or do I dream I hear all this?" "In dreams," replied Valerian, then, "have we Lived to this time, O brother mine, ywis. In truth now for the first time our life is." 265 "How know you?" asked Tibertius: "In what wise?" Valerian said: "You will I now apprise.

The aungel of God hath me the trouthe ytaught Which thou shalt seen, if that thou wolt reneye The ydoles and be clene, and elles naught." 270 And of the myracle of thise corones tweye Seint Ambrose in his preface list to seye. Solempnely this noble doctour deere Commendeth it, and seith in this manere:

God's angel unto me the truth has taught, Which you shall see, if only you'll put by All idols and be clean, else you'll learn naught." 270 And of these crowns miraculous, say I, Saint Ambrose of the two does testify In his Preface; this noble doctor dear Commends the story, making it all clear:

"The palm of martirdom for to receyve 275 Seinte Cecile, fulfild of Goddes yifte, The world and eek hire chambre gan she weyve, Witnesse Tyburces and Valerians shrifte, To whiche God of his bountee wolde shifte Corones two, of floures wel smellynge, 280 And made his aungel hem the corones brynge.

The palm of martyrdom, thus to receive, 275 This Saint Cecilia, filled with God's gift, The world and even her chamber did she leave; Witness Tibertius' and Valerian's shrift, To whom the good God sent by angel swift Two crowns of flowers fair and sweet smelling, 280 And bade the angel take them as fitting.

The mayde hath broght thise men to blisse above; The world hath wist what it is worth, certeyn, Devocioun of chastitee to love." Tho shewed hym Cecile, al open and pleyn, 285 That alle ydoles nys but a thyng in veyn, For they been dombe and therto they been deve, And charged hym hise ydoles for to leve.

The virgin brought these men to bliss above; The world has learned what it is worth, 'tis plain, Devotion to fair chastity to love." Then did Cecilia show him and explain 285 That every idol is a thing all vain; For they are dumb, and they are deaf also, And charged him that his idols he forgo.

Next: From The Second Nun's Tale, lines 288-357: Cecilia explains christianity and Tibertius meets the angel too