The life of St. Cecilia from ms. Ashmole 43 and ms. Cotton Tiberius E. VII / [ed.] by Bertha Ellen Lovewell.

ASHMOLE MS. [fol. 185 back to 188 back].

SEyn Cecile of noble kunne; ibore was at rome. [1. L. seinte Cecilie, C. seint Cecelie (reg.); L. kynde, C. kunde; L. I-bore, C. bore] [MSS. Laud 108; Cmb. R. 3. 25.] Our lord crist heo louede wel; ar heo fram cradel come [2. L, oure, C. oure; L. louerd (reg.) L.ȝe (reg.); C. loued; C. or;] Heo lette hire baptise stilliche · as we fi[n]deþ iwrite. [3 L. let, C. lete; C. hure (reg.); L. baptiȝe, C. baptyse; L. C. Stilleliche (reg.); L. fynden; L. I-wryte, C. ywryte;] Ȝerne heo bed ihesu crist; hire maidenhod to wite. [4. L. bad, C. bade; C.-hode (reg.);] Þoru hire frendes strengþe; ispoused heo was to a man. [5. C. þorwe; L. pp. I-(reg.), C. spoused; C. suyþe (MS. suþþe?)] Line 5 Of gret nobleie & richesse; þat het valerian. [6. C. grete; L. nobleye, C. nob∣ley; L. his name was, C. hete;] Þis maide werede robe of pal; & cloþes swiþe riche. [7. C. wered; C. palle;] Gerlans & tresours al of golde; þe here next hire liche. [8. L. garlaundes, C. garlouns; L. tressoures, C. trassoures; C. nexte:] Wen þe menstrales songe hor song; of hor menstrasie. [f. 186.] [9. L. whane ȝe herde menstrales song, ȝe song in hire menstralcie, C. wan myn∣stralis songen of menstralcie] Þis maide stilliche song of god; & seynte marie. [10. C. L. stiliche; C. songe; L. moder marye;] Line 10 Of þe sauter heo song þis vers; þat mest was In hire þoȝt. [11. L. psalter; L. hire song was; C. fers; L. wer-on; L. mast, C. moste; L. þout;] 'Let lord myn herte vn-wemmed be; þat Ine be confounded noȝt.' [12. L. lat, C. late; C. hert; L. wiþout wem; L. it, C. ic; L. confundet; L. naut;] As heo was anyȝt in riche bedde; wiþ hire lord ibroȝt. [13. L. a-nyȝt, C. a nyȝt; L. bed; C. myd. L. i-brouth;] Sone hadde þis fole mon; of folie hire bisoȝt. [14. L. man; C. foly; L. be-sout;] "Suete heorte" quaþ þis maide; "uor loue þat þou hast to me. [15. L. C. swete herte (reg.); L. seyde, C. sede; C. haste;] Line 15 Grante þat ich þe mote telle a lute priuete. [16. L. y, C. ic (reg.); L. mowe (reg.); L. litel; | L. schryue, C. schryuen; L. þt þou it wille hele, C. conceil;] & þat ich me mote scryue to þe; as conseil priue" "Tristiliche þou miȝt" quaþ þis oþer; "to soþe ich bihote þe." [18. L. "certes lemman," þis ȝungman seyde, "noþing telle I nele," C. truliche;] "Suete heorte" quaþ þis maide; "In warde icham ido. [19. L. C. lemman; L. seyde, C. sede; C. ic am;] An angel is my wardeyn; & my lefmon also. [20. L. Aungel (reg.); L. of heuene; L. lemman, C. leman; L. þer-to, C. al so;] Line 20 Vaste he stont her by me; & ȝif he vnderȝete. [21. L. C. faste; L. stant, C. stante; C. here;] Þat þou by-nome my maidenhod; uor noþing he nolde lete. [22. L. be-nome; C. nold;] Þat he nolde harde smyte; & by-nyme þe þi miȝte [23. L. ne wolde, C. nold; L. be-nyme, C. bynym; L. myȝtte, C. myȝt;] Vor al þe nobleie þat þou hast; þe ne halt noȝt aȝen him fiȝte [24. L. C. of; L. ȝungness & of noble state, C. nobley; L. ne myȝth, C. ne myȝt; L. wiþ; L. fyȝtthe, C. fyȝt;] Ac ȝif he seoþ þat þou louest me; In good lif & clene. [25. L. wiste, C. sey; L. louedest, C. loue; L. gode, C. goud; L. C. loue;] Line 25

He wole þe wite as he doþ me; & ech vuel fram þe ȝe[m]e" [26. L. wolde; L. wytte, C. wyty; L. als; L. deþ, L. al; L. C. yuel; L. fro; L. ȝene, C. ȝeme;] "Ȝif þou wolt, lefmon; þat ich ileue þis. [27. L. wilt; L. seide V.; C. lemman sede he; C. leue;] Þe angel þou most scewe me; þat ich him ise iwis. [28. L. þen; L. angel; L. C. schewe; L. I (reg.); L. C. se; L. I-wis, C. ywys;] Ȝif ich mai þat soþe ise; þat þou hast þat soþe ised [29. L. wanne; C. so[y?]: L. i-se, C. yse; L. i-seyd, C. ysede;] In clannesse ichulle þi wille do; al after þi red. [30. L. clenesse; L. for-soþe, C. ic wole; C. alle; C. þy; C. rede;] Line 30 Ȝif ich ise þat In folie louest; an noþer þen me. [31. L. C. se; L. anoþer, C. & oþer; L. C. þan;] I nele bileue uor noþing; þat I nele him sle & þe." [32. L. no-þing ne schal ȝou helpe, C. nelle leue for; L. ne, C. nelle;] "Swete heorte" quaþ þis maide; "ȝif [(MS. þ ȝif)] þou wolt þen angel ise. [33. L. seyde, C. guod; L. & þou wile þe aungel se, C. þan;] Þou most byleue on ihesu crist; & icristned be. [34. L. bileuen, C. moste lyuen; C. ybaptiȝed;] Ȝif þou wolt so þou miȝt him ise; & wite he wole ous fram helle [35. L. wilt; L. C. schalt; L. sen, C. se; L. he wile wytte, C. wele wyten þe; L. fro;] Line 35 & so gret Ioie worþ of our loue; þat no tonge ne mai telle. [36. C. such; L. ioye; L. C. oure; L. tunge;] Ac þre mile henne þou most go; to þe wei of apie. [37. L. henne ouer; L. gon; L. C. wey;] Þou schalt þere vynde pouere men: on ihesu crist crie. [38. C. þer; L. C. fynde; L. [pore], C. poure; C. man; C. in; L. faste, L. ȝeme;] Sei þat ich þe to hem sende; þat hi þe teche anon. [39. C. hym; L. he, C. ic; C. tell;] To Seyn Vrban þe olde mon; vor þou most to him gon [40. L. Whar is; L. þe holi old man, C. þe holy man; C. moste;] Line 40 & priue conseil wiþ him speke; uor he þe schal baptise. [41. L. ffor, C. & in; L. counseil, C. conceyl; L. þou wilt; C. myd (reg.); L. ȝ, C. for; L. C. baptiȝe;] Þen angel þou schalt þenne ise; · & he schal ous boþe wise." [42. L. Þan C. þe; L. þanne, C. þan; L. & do as he þe wile wise, C. boþ;] Valerian aros anon; as our lord him ȝef wille. [43. L. a-ros; L. a-non; L. oure louerd, C. god; L. C. ȝaf;] To þe stude þat þis maide bad; uorþ he wende wel stille. [44. L. C. stede; L. þe, C. as heo sede; L. forþ; C. welle;] Þis pouere men him teiȝte anon; to þe olde mon Seyn Vrban. [45. L. pore, C. poure; L. taute, C. teyten; C. man;] Line 45 In an old stude uor-let; þer as ne com no man. [46. L. C. stede; L. for-late, C. forlete; L. þat wonede neuere man;] Among olde puttes & burles; as me cristene men þreu. [47. C. amonge; C. old; L. burieles, C. buryeles; L. as, C. þer as; L. men, C. cristen; C. yrew;] After þat hi Imartred were; ware me eny [(MS. meeny.)] ikneu. [48. L. he, C. hÿ; L. martired, C. martred; L. men anye kneu, C. wan me any knew;] To is fet he vel adoun; anon so he to him com. [49. L. feet, C. fete; L. ful, C. felle; L. a-doun, C. adoune; L. als-sone as [he], C. þo he; L. C. come;] & sede þat cicile him sende þuder; to esce cristendom. [50. L. seyde; L. cesilie, C. cecele; L. send; L. þider, C. þude [Þ?]; L. asken, C. habbe; L. dome;] Line 50 "Louerd Ihered be þi miȝte"; sede Seyn Vrban. [51. C. lord; L. I-herd, C. yheryed; L. myȝtte, C. myȝt; L. C. seyde;] "Is þis þe luþer werreour; þat me clepeþ valerian. [52. L. Weþer þis be þat, C. ne ys þis þe; L. Luþere; L. werreor, C. werreoure; L. men; L. clepuþ, C. clypeþ;]

War cicile habbe Imad him; þat was er so wilde. [53. L. were. C. where; L. haue y-mad, C. made;] & more tiraunt þen eny wolf; as a lomb þus milde." [54. L. tyrant, C. tyraunt; L. C. þan; L. C. any; L. als; C. lombe; L. now;] Þo com þer go a suyþe old mon; & aliȝte fram heuene þer. [55. L. swiþe; C. olde; L. C. man; L. a lyȝtthe, C. þat a lyȝt; L. fro;] Line 55 Hor wiþ wite vestemens · a suyþe uair writ he ber [56. L. whyte, C. whyt; C. vestymens; L. swiþe; L. fair, C. faire; L. wryt, C. wryte; C. bere;] Þo valerian him isei · adoun he vel uor drede. [57. L. it; L. I-sey, C. sey; L. a-doun, C. a doune; L. fel, C. felle; L. C. for;] Seyn Vrban him nom vp; & gan him uorþ lede. [58. C. nome; L. aȝen; L. C. forþ;] Þis halwe of heuene him tok þis writ; & bed him uorte rede. [59. L. halewe, C. angel; C. toke; L. þat, C. þe; C. wryte; L. bad, C. bade; L. forto, C. þeron;] Valerian radde þis writ; þat þes wordes sede. [60. L. tok it anon, C. þe wryte; L. & þus þe;] Line 60 'O lord is & on bileue; & on baptisinge. [61. L. on; C. o; L. bi∣leue; C. o; L. baptiȝingge, C. baptyȝyng;] O god & fader of alle þat beþ; þat ouer al is in eche þinge' [62. L. on; C. & al; C. þat is; L. oueral; L. þingge, C. þyng;] "Ileuestou" quaþ Seyn vrban; "þat þou dest her ise" [63. L. I-leuestou þis; C. my leue sone; C. sede; L. C. dost, C. here; L. I-se, C. se;] "Þer nys noþing" quaþ þis oþer; "þat bet to leue be." [64. C. is noȝt; C. sede; C. louyng;] After þis wite mon he bihuld; he nuste war he bicom. [65. L. whyte, C. þe whyt; L. beheld, C. byheld; L. wher, C. ware, L. be-cam; C. by-come;] Line 65 Seyn Vrban him nom anon & ȝaf him cristendom [66. L. a-non; C. nome;] To Seyn Cicile he wende aȝen; þo he hadde ibe þer [(MS. is.)] i-fulle [67. L. sein Cecilie; L. was þare (reg.) is fulle, C. be þer his fulle;] He vond hire chambre liȝt wiþþinne; & swiþe suote smulle. [68. L. fond, C. founde; C. Schaumbre; L. lyȝth; L. wiþ-inne, C. with In; C. ful of swete smylle;] He uond Cecile his gode spouse; & an angel bi hire stonde. [69. C. fonde;] Briȝtore þen eny leome; to gerlans he huld an honde. [70. L. bryȝttere, C. bryȝtur; L. C. þan; L. C. any; L. lome; C. lyȝt; L. twey, C. two; L. gar∣londes, C. garlauns; L. hadde, C. held; L. on;] Line 70 Of rosen & of lylion suote; þat on cicile he toke. [71. L. rose, C. swete ros; L. lilie, C. lyly; L. tok;] & þat oþer ualerian; as we fi[n]deþ in boke. [72. C. þe; L. fynden; L. bok;] "Witeþ þis" he sede "In trewe loue; wiþ chast bodi & clene [73. L. in, C. myd chaste loue; L. chaste body;] Ich hem habbe fram heuene ibroȝt; our lord it doþ ȝou lene. [74. L. i-brouȝth, C. broȝt; L. C. oure; L. C. hem;] Vor welluwe ne olde neuer hi nelleþ; ac euer ilaste [75. L. ffor-falewe, C. falewy; C. olden; L. wille þei nat; L. euere he willeþ laste, C. more laste;] Line 75 Þe two maner floures þat þer beþ; nelleþ neuer hor heu caste. [76. L. manere; L. beþ on, C. beþ here on; L. nelle; L. neuere; L. hor; C. hewe;] Þe lilie tokeneþ ȝoure maidenhod; þat is so wit & suote. [77. L. be-tokneþ, C. bytokneþ; L. whyt, C. whit; L. C. swote;] Þe rose bitokeneþ ȝoure martirdom · uor þeron deie ȝe mote. [78. C. marterdom; L. for (reg.); C. deyȝe;] & vor þou dest valerian cecilie red sone. [79. C. dyst; C. Cecilijs; C. rede; L. C.so sone;] Wat þou of my lord bist; he wole grante þi bone." [80. L. what; C. oure; L. be-sekest, C. beste; L. wille; L. þe; L. C. graunte; L. sone;] Line 80

"I ne wilny noþing so muche"; sede ualerian. [81. L. wille, C. wylne; C. no þyng; L. miche; L. seyde, C. seide;] "As þat tybors my broþer; were cristeneman." [82. L. Bote, C. but; L. Tiburst; L. wiþ me; C. cristen man;] "My lord wole" quaþ þis angel; "ȝeue him þulke grace. [83. C. sede; L. aungel, C. þe a.; L. wile ȝiuen þat ilke, C. ȝyue hym suche;] Þat boþe ȝe scholleþ at one tyme be; Imartred In one place." [84. L. C. & C. boþ; L. schulle, C. schullen; L. C. o; L. I∣martired, C. martred; L. o, C. a;] Þe angel wende wiþ þis word; me nuste war he bicom. [85 L. aungel, C. angle; C. þat; L. he, C. hÿ nust; L. wher, C. ware; L. be-com, C. bycome;] Line 85 Þis two clene þinges wiþ Ioie Inou; hor eiþer to oþer nom [86. C. þes twey; L. þingges, C——; L. ech of oþer; C. nome;] Tibors com to þe chambre; to speke wiþ is broþer þere [87. L. C. Tiburs; C. come; L. spak, C. spake; C. with; L. C. his; C. þer;] He stod stille & bihuld aboute; as he nuste war he were. [88 C. stode; L. beheld, C. byhelde. L. al-a∣boute; L. als.; L. wher, C. ware;] "Broþer" he sede "hou geþ þis; þis tyme of þe ȝere. [89. L. seyde; L. goþ, C. "þis is" (the þis is in a different hand); C. þat; C. in;] So suote smul ne smulde ich neuere; me þencþ as ich do here [90. C. suche smel; L, smelde, C. smelled; L. I, C. ic; C. neuer; L. þinkeþ (reg.); C. now;] Line 90 Þei þis hous were vol of rede rosen; & of wite lilion also [91. C. wer; L. ful, C. fulle (reg.); L. of newe roses; L. of lylie, C. of lylyen;] I ne miȝte hem verisore smul: me þencþ þen ich nou do. [92. L. myȝtteþ, C. myȝt; L. versschere, C. swettur; L. smelle, C. smellen; L. C. now;] So vol icham of þis smul; & so muche it is In my þoȝt. [f. 187.] [93. L. C. þe; C. smelle; C. so is þer on; L. þout;] Þat I not hou icham sodenliche; In oþer witte ibroȝt." [94. L. for-soþe, L. C. in an-oþer; L. wytte, C. wyt; L. I-brouth, C. ybroȝt;] "Leue broþer" quaþ valerian; "gerlans we habbeþ here. [95. C. he sede; L. garlandes, C. garlauns; C. habeþ;] Line 95 Of floures þat þou ne miȝt ise; bote þou were our Iuere [96. C. noȝt; L. i-se, C. se; C. but; L. C. oure; L. C. fere;] Ac so as þou hast þem suote smul; þer-of þoru our bone. [97. L. als, C. &; L. þane swote smel, þis smylle; L. þar-of, C. þer for; L. for, C. þorw; L. C. oure;] Ȝif þou wolt bileue as we doþ; þou miȝt hem ise sone." [98. C. If; L. be-leue, C. lyue; L. sen, C. se;] "Leue broþer" quaþ þis oþer; "weþer is it soþ þis [99. L. seyde, C. sede; C. tyburs; L. wheþur, C. ys hit soþ oþer hit nys; L. be] Oþer ich stonde in metynge; & mete þat it so is." [100. L. matyngge, C. metyng; C. ys;] Line 100 "In metynge" quaþ valerian; "we habbeþ euer ibe. [101. L. metyngge, C. metyng; C. sede;] Nou we beþ verst of slepe awaked; nou we mowe uerst ise." [102. C. & now; L. ben; L. ferst; L. a-waked; L. ferst, C. furst; C. se;] "Suxtou bet nou" quaþ þis oþer; "þen þou hast er ido." [103. L. sestow, C. syxte; C. bete; C. sede tyburs; L. C. þan; C. ar; C. þis do;] "Ȝe" sede valerian; "wel me bi-houeþ so [104. L. seyde; L. sone; L. be-, C. by;] Vor my lordes angel of heuene; haþ iȝeue me siȝt [105. L. ffor, C. for; L. aungel; L. I-ȝoue, C. yȝyue; L. syȝth, C. lyȝt;] Line 105 & vor our loue he wole þe also; ȝif þou wolt bileue ariȝt" [106. L. for oure; L. schal; L. wile; L. leue, C. lyue; L. a-ryȝth;]

Þo sede þis holi maide "tybors leue broþer. [107. L. seyde;] Wat beþ þis maumetes bote wrechede; þou suxt non oþer. [108. L. what; L. ben; L. maumettes, C. maumes; C. bot; L. wreched∣hede, C. wrecches; L. sest, C. syxt; C. ne; L. on hem;] Ne suxtou hou it is monnes werc · Imad of old tre. [109. L. sestou; þat þese maumets, C. beþ hÿ of maumes werke; L. ben mad, C. & ymaked;] Þing þet ne mai him sulue helpe; hou mai it helpe þe" [110 L. C. sulf; C. helpen; L. myȝte, C. scholde; C. hÿ;] Line 110 "Noþing nys soþer" quaþ tibors; "þen þat þou hast ised. [111. L. soþere; C. sede; L. þanne, C. þan; L. i-seyd, C. ysede;] Woder he weþer þen eny best; þat nolde do þi rede" [112. L. gydiere, C. gydier; L. C. were þan; L. any beste, C. a best; C. nold; L. don; L. red;] Seyn Cecile him custe anon; "leue tybors" heo sede [113. C. swete c.; L. tiburs, C. broþer; L. he seyde;] "To dai þou schalt my broþer be; vor þou wolt do bi rede. [114. L. to-day; L. wilt don; L. be, C. by;] Þoru clene loue of good bileue; þi broþer my spouse is [115. C. þorwe; L. C. and; C. goud; C. spous ys;] Line 115 Þer-þoru þou schalt bicome also; my broþer wan þou art his [116. C. þer þorwe; L. when; C. b. ben ywys;] Myd valerian þou most go to þe biscop vrban [117. L. C. mid;] & be icristned & do also; as he þe rede can." "Is þat vrban" quaþ tybours; "þat so ȝerne haþ ibe isoȝt. [119. C. sede; L. be souȝth; C. be soȝt;] Þat ȝare haþ ibe fleme & ihud; & ȝif he were uorþ ibroȝt. [120. C. yflemed be; C. ȝef; L. forþ brouþth, C. forþ broȝt;] Line 120 Vorberne he scholde & we also; ȝif we wiþ him were [121. L. ffor-berne; C. for; C. schold; C. ek; C. myd;] & so þe wole we heuene soȝte; vorberne we miȝte here." [122. L. while, C. wyle, L. souȝthen, C. soȝt; L. for-barnd, C. brende; L. scholde, C. schold; L. ben here, C. ben þer;] "& ȝif þer nere" quaþ þis maide: "soulement bote þis lif. [123. C. sede cecile; L. onliche; C. bot;] Fol he were þat it wolde lese; vor eny strif. [124. C. hit; L. any-maner;] An wen þer is so muri lif; þat we schulleþ her-after auonge. [125. C. omits line; L. seþe; L. schulle after a-fonge;] Line 125 Fol is þat nele an wule be wo; to be In Ioie so longe." [126. C. omits line; L. nelle a whyle ben;] "Leue broþer" quaþ tybours; "ich biseche þe [127. C. sede; L. þou; L. C. haue mercy of me;] Lede me to þulke gode monne; & haue mercy of me." [128. L. led; L. C. þat; C. goud; L. C. man; L. Ich be-; C. i^c byseche;] Þat o broþer ladde þat oþer; to þe biscop Vrban [129. C. þe; C. lad þe o.; L. bisschop, C. byschop;] & let him vorsake is fole bileue; & bicom cristene man. [130. L. þar he for-sok, C. To forsake; L. C. his foule lawe; L. becam, C. bycome; C. cristen;] Line 130 Tibours þo he com aȝen; þen angel he sei anon. [131. C. come; L. þan, C. þe; L. C. sey;] Þat Cecile him hadde bihote; In þe chambre wiþ hire gon. [132. C. byhete;]

Cecile, vor heo womman was; atom heo moste abide. [133. L. ȝe; L. wyfman, C. wymman; L. at hom, C. a com; C. most;] Ac þis breþeren þat were men; aboute wende wide. [134. L. ak þese; C. þe broþeren; L. whane, C. wan; L. martyreden; L. cristenemen; L. þider; L. he wolden, C. hÿ wold;] & wen me martred cristenmen; þuder hi wolde gon. [f. 187b.] Line 135 & stele to wen hi miȝte best; & burie hem anon. [[don.] [136. L. to whan, C. to wan; L. he myȝtte, C. hÿ myȝt, C. beste; L. burien, C. bured; C. be a.;] bi-uore þe Iustice hi were ibroȝt; me lefte hem wat hi wolde [137. ll. 139, 140 tr. 137, 138 in L. and C.; L. to-fore, C. to; L. C. iustise, L. he weren, C. hÿ were; L. i-brouth; L. þei askede, C. me eschete; L. C. hem anon;] Ho made hem so hardi; to ben þe emperours fon. [138. L. who, C. wo; L. C. ȝou; L. burie, C. bury; L. C. emperoures; L. foon;] As hi burede twei gode men; þat Imartred were. [139. L. þei: C. hÿ; L. burieden, C. bured; L. y-martired;] Come þe emperours men; & nome hem riȝt þere. [140. C. comen; L. C. -es; L. C. nomen; C. anon þer;] Line 140 Þe misbileued trechhours; þat were aȝen our lawe. [141. L. trichours, C. traytoures; C. aȝens; L. C. oure;] Þat wiþ riȝt Iugement of londe; were ibroȝt of dawe. [142. L. ryȝth; C. Iuggement; L. of þe lond; L. i-brout;] "Sire, we wolde," queþe þis oþer: "þat we wurþi were [143. C. wolde god sede þes oþer, L. oþere seyde; L. worþi, C. so;] Hor knaues uorte habbe ibe; þat ȝe lette quelle þere. [144. L. C. here; L. forto; C. knaues ... þat; L. þou let; C. ȝe aquelden; L. þare;] Hi bileuede þing þat noȝt nas þei [it] [(MS. omits.)] semblaunce hadde [145. L. he, C. hÿ; L. C. leften; L. nawt, C. naȝt; L. þei it; C. þey hit; C. semblant;] Line 145 & toke þat was aworþ; & no semblance nadde. [146. L. good þing C. to þe þyng; C. semblant;] Vor þei worldes wele habbe semblance · uor soþe noȝt it nys. [147. L. þe worldes ioye þat haþ semblant; L. so nawt, C. wors þan n. ys;] & þei þe blisse of heuene þenche lute; uor soþe muche it is." [148. L. and, C. ac þe Ioie; L. heuen; L. þinke, C. semeþ; L. lite, C. luyte; L. mechul and swete it is, C. ac much hit ys ywys;] "Belamys," þe Iustices seden; "ȝe me þencþ wode. [149. L. beaus, C. bens; L. a. ... me, C. sede þis iustice; L. þat ȝe ben; L. þynkþ, C. þyncheþ;] Wurþe he i[s [(MS. it.)] ] to habbe wo; hose kepeþ noȝt of gode." [150. L. worþe, C. worþ; L. who-so, C. þat: L. keput; L. nat; C. no goude;] Line 150 "In wynter," quaþ valerian; "idelmen sitteþ & drinkeþ. [151. C. sede; L. sitten; C. stille; L. drynkun;] To busemar hi liȝeþ erþetilien; þat aboute gode swynkeþ. [152. L. bismere, C. a scorn; L. leyen; L. here; C. in þe felde, L. sowynge;] In heruest wen hi mowe; vair corn repe. [[grepe] [153. L. whan, C. wan; L. C. þe swynkeres; L. moweþ, C. rypeþ; L. fair schef, C. corne; L. and good and rype, C. goud and rype;] In meseise hi mowe go vp & doun; vor hi nabbeþ neuer a [154. L. ȝe mowen gon, C. þe drynkeres goþ; L. he, C. and; L. neuere agripe, C. a gripe;] & we scholleþ uor our trauail; þi blisse repe atenende. [155. L. als, C. so; L. C. schulle; L. C. oure; C. trauaile; L. C. rype; L. atte ende, C. at nende;] Line 155 Wen ȝe schulleþ uor our Ioie; wepynge to helle wende" [156. L. whanne, C. wan; L. C. schulle; L. for ȝoure; L. wepynde, C. to pyne of h.;] "Eke we," quaþ þe Iustice; "þat lordes scholde be. [157. L. ek he, C. ek we; L. seyde, C. sede; C. schold lordis;] Beþ lasse worþ þen suche wreches; þat nelleþ neuer iþe." [158. L. C. þan; L. swiche: C. drynkeres; L. nolde neuere þe, C. yþe;]

"Certes" quaþ ualerian "þou art lasse itold [159. C. sede; C.ert; C. of tolde;] Þen a beggare aȝen god; ne be þou ne so bold" [160. L. þan is a saly beggere; C. aȝens; C. goud; L. neuere, C. neuer, C. bolde;] Line 160 "Belamy," quaþ þe Iustice; "I ne kepe noȝt of þi Ianglinge. [161. C. sede; L. yne, C i^c ne; L. nat, C. no; L. ianglyngge;] Doþ ȝoure sacrifice anon; oþer me schal ȝou to deþe bringe" [162. C. oure godes; L. sacrefise; L. bringge;] "Certes" queþe þis gode men; "þou ne bringest ous noȝt þerto." [163 L. quaþ þis godeman, C. hÿ sede; C. þo; L. ne bringgest me neuere, C. bringest hit noȝt;] Þe Iustice hem let anon; In strong prison do; [164. C. stronge; L. prisone; C. to do;] Maxime þe gailer het; þat hem In warde nom. [165. C. leylere hete; C. in ward nome;] Line 165 So þat he & alle his; þoru hem cristene bicom [166. C. al; L. þorw, C. þorwe; C. fongen; C. cristendom; L. come; L. ȝe; C. to g.;] Seyn Cecile com bi þe prison; loude heo gan grede. "Wat doþ ȝe, stalwarde knyȝtes; cuþeþ ȝoure stalward hede. [168. L. what; L. C. do; L. C. godes; L. knytes; L. kuþeþ; C. kepeþ; L. ȝour; L. stalewort, C. Stalword;] Fiȝteþ nou stalwardliche; to bileue þis derkhede. [169. C. wyteþ ȝoure strongnesse, L. staleworþliche; C. now in;] Þat ȝe were In þe weie ibroȝt; þat to cler liȝt ȝou wole lede" [170. L. i-brouth;] Line 170 Amorwe to þe maumet þis gode men were ibroȝt. [171. L. opon þe morue; L. maumets, C. þis maunes; C. þe goud; L. brouth;] Þe Iustice hem het do sacrifice; ac þo hi nolde noȝt. [172. C. hete; L. don; L. þei ne wolde nat, hÿ nold;] Hor heden he het boþe of smyte; & maxime isei [173. L. C. here; L. heued, C. heuedes; L. let, C. lete; L. it I-sey, C. anon sey;] War angles hor soulen nome; & to heuene bere an hei. [174. L. whare aungles here soules, C. foure angles here saule nyme; L. baren;] To þe Iustice he eode anon; "cristene icham" he sede [175. L. ȝede, C. wende aȝen;] Line 175 "Ich isei þe gode menne soulen; angles to heuene lede." [176. L. godemannes soule, C. sey angles now here saules;] Þe Iustice him let nyme anon; naked he let him bete. [177. C. lete²; L. C. nymen;] Wiþ stronge scourgen vaste ibounde; vorte he gan þat lif lete. [178. L. skourgen; L. faste, C. fast; C. bounden; L. forto, C. fort; C. his l.;] Þat bodi hi caste wiþ-þoute toun; þo gon Cecile uorþ gon. [f. 188.] [179. L. C. þe; L. þei, C. hÿ; L. C. casten; L. wiþoute, C. withþoute; L. þet.; C. toune; L. gan, C. com; L. C. forþ;] Þis þre holi martirs; to-gadere heo burede anon. [180. L. þese, C. þo; L. C. martires; L. ȝe.; C. bured; L. to-gydere, C. togadre;] Line 180 Heo was sone Inome & ilad; byuore þe Iustice þo. [181. L. omits; C. nome; ladde; to;] "Wat" he sede "hou geþ þis; beþ þer ȝut screwen mo. [182. L. what; C. how; L. C. goþ; L. ȝet; L. C. schrewen;] Artou valerianes wif; bi þe fei ich owe mahon. [183. C. þou; L. Vallerianus; C. fay; L. mahoun, C. to M.;]

Bote þou oþer do, þi wite heu; worþ sone ibroȝt adon [184. C. an oþer; L. wyth, C. þy whyte hewe; L. I-brouth, C. broȝt; L. -doun, C. adoune;] Of wat kun artou icome; þat so folliche þe doþ lere." [185. L. what; L. kynne, C. kunde; C. þou comen; L. þus foleliche wilt, C. þe wole þus;] Line 185 "Of betere kunne" quaþ þis maide "þen þou euer were [186. C. beter kunde; L. quaþ C., C. sede C.; L. C. þan; L. euere;] In wuch maner lif quaþ þis oþer; þencstou þi lif lyue. [[ȝiue] [187. L. wich, C. wuche l.; C. sede þe i.; L. C. þenkest; L. tou, C. þou; L. to lyue;] Þou axst as a fol quaþ þis maide; & such vnsuere me schal þe [188. L. ffor-soþe; L. axest, C. eschete; C. heo sede; C. foule; L. swich, C. suche; L. ansuere; L. schul;] Vor al þi poer þou schalt ise; wen þou wost þen ende. [189. C. powere; C. se; L. C. by þat þou; C. þe;] Þat þou ne schalt fram ihesu crist; enes myn herte wende." [190. L. ones, C. enys; C. my þoȝt;] Line 190 "Hou com it to þe" quaþ þis oþer; "to be so hardi her. [191. L. comeþ, C. how come þou; L. seyde, C. sede; L. C. þe iustise; | C. to ben; C. here;] To clepe me fol þat am þi maister; ne suxstou my poer." [192. C. clype; C. foul and; L. ne sixte nower my per, C. ne syxt þou my powere;] "Þi poer wreche" quaþ þis maide; "worþ sone ibroȝt bi-hinde [193. L. per, C. powere; C. wrecche; C. sede heo; L. i-brouȝth, C. broȝt; C. þe; L. be-, C. by-;] Vor it nys bote as a bleddore; iblowe uol of wynde [194. C. hit; C. bot; L. bladre, C. bladere; C. yblowen; C. ful, L. fol of a wreche w.;] Þat be ipriked wiþ a pricke; awei it scrynkeþ al. [195. L. be it, C. be hit; C. priked myd; L. a litel prikke, C. a prike; C. hit; C. schrynkeþ;] Line 195 Also wiþ a lute sekenesse; þi wreche caroine schal. [196. L. als þi cariogne wiþ siknesse, wreche, a-dwyne schal, C. with a lyte sykenesse þy wrecche careyn schal;] Þi poer þat þou ȝelpest of; worþ þenne suyþe lute." [197. C, powere; L. boþe is þenne & lite, C. swyþe lyte;] "Hou geþ þis" quaþ þe Iustice; "dame, wenne comeþ þi prute. [198 L. goþ; C. how is; L. sey de, C. sede; L. whenne, C. wannes; L.al þis, C. þy prite;] Ne mai ich þe ȝeue deþ & lif; ne suxtou wiþ þin eie" [199. L. I may þe ȝiue, C. ȝyue; L. as þou sixt myd, C. syxt þou myd þy neye;] "Certes sire" quaþ þis maide; "þou luxt þer of wel heie. [200. L. þo; C. sede; L. lixt, C. lyxt;] Line 200 A wreche caroine þou miȝte ȝeue deþ þat wel schort is. [201. C. a body; L. myȝth, C. myȝt, L. ȝiue; C. ȝyue (reg); L. and;] Ac of lyue þou miȝte noþing ȝeue; þi sulue noȝt iwis. [202. L ak; L. C. lyf; L. myȝtte, C. myȝt; L. nat, C. ywys (reg.);] Wen þou miȝt deþ ȝeue; me þencþ bi pur riȝt. [203. L. seþe, C. wan; L. myȝth; L. & no lif; L. þinkþ, C. þinkeþ; L. ryȝtte;] Þat þou art deþes sergant; & of lif nastou no miȝt [204. C. ert; L. seriant, C. seriaunt; L. for; L. hasto, C. ne hast þou; L. myȝtte, C. wyȝt myȝt;] & wen þou deþes sergaunt art; deþ þi lord is. [205. L. ffor whan, C. & wan; L. sergeant, C. seriant; C. ert; L. louerd;] Line 205 & In deþ wiþþoute ende; þou wolt be iwis." [206. L. wiþ-outen, C. with oute; L. wilt, C. schalt ben;]

"Dame" quaþ þe Iustice; "of þi godhede ne kepe ich noȝt. [207. C. sede þis i.; L. gydihede, C. wod∣hed; C. kep; L. ryȝth nowth;] Do sacrifice to oure godes; oþer þou worst to deþe ibroȝt" [208. C. þy; C. schalt be; C. deþ; L. i-brouth, C. broȝt;] "Þou seist þat ich gidi am"; Seyn Cecili sede. [209. C. wode; C. & ysene is on þy rede;] "Ac þou art gidi & eke blynd; I sene on þi rede. [210. L. i-sene; C. forto lete to do wel; & suyþe to do quede;] Line 210 Scholde ich honoure þine godes; þat beþ of ston & tre [211. C. schoulde; L. honure, C. honour; C. þyn; L. ymad;] I lef ȝif ich segge soþ; ȝif þou miȝt noȝt ise. [212. L. I nelle it do, for-soþe, C. welle þat ic sede þe souþ; L. for, C. þat; L. nat;] Bote þou be blynd þou miȝt ise; þat þis þing soþ is. [213. C. bot; L. þat art b., C. blynde; C. souþ;] Ȝif þou it suxst & leuest it noȝt; gidi þou art iwis. [214. L. sixt, C. syxt; C. lyuest; C. hit; L. naut; C. woud;] Vor gidi he is þat nele ileue; þat he sucþ myd eie. [215. C. wode; L. nelle; L. C. seþ; C. with; L. C. eye;] Line 215 & as gidi mon & blynd þou schalt; In helle pyne deie." [216. L. gydi & blind; C. as wode & blynde; C. by þat skyle;] Þo verde þe screwe as he were wod; & het þis maide take. [217. L. ferde; L. schrewe; C. þe iustise was for wraþ wod; C. lete;] & lede hire to an out hous; & a gret fur make. [218. L. leden; L. C. into; L. greth; C. fuyre; C. þer;] & þer ouer a led uol of water; & al amidde hire caste [219. C. & sete; L. led-ful; C. lede ful;] & seþe hire þe wule þer wole; a lym of hire ilaste. [220. C. seþ; L. while, C. þe wyle; L. any Lime hol, C. lyme hole; L. on h.; C. laste;] Line 220 Þo þis Iugement was iȝeue; & me hire uorþ ladde [221. L. C. iuggement;] Wimmen & men þat it iseie: loude hi wope & gradde. [222. L. wifmen; C. hire sey; C. loud; L. þe wopen, C. hÿ wepe; C. gurdde;] "Alas" hi sede "a þis [(MS. þ 9)] ȝong þing; & a þis [(MS. þ 9)] vair creature. [223. L. allas; L. þei seyde, C. hÿ seden; L. þat þis ȝongge, C. þat þus ȝonge a þyng; L. þus fair, C. so faire;] Schal nou ȝeue hire ȝonge lif; & deie þour fure." [224. L. lese, C. lete; C. now; L. ȝongge, C. ȝong; L. þoru þe f., C. scal dy now in þe f.;] "Beþ stille" quaþ þis holi maide; "uor me ne wepe ȝe noȝt. [225. C. sede; L. C. for; L. wepeþ nout;] Line 225 Mi ȝonge lif ne lese ich noȝt; ac to lyue ich worþe ibroȝt [226. L. ȝongge, C. ȝong; C. schal; L. nowth; L. Icham i-brouth, to lyf hit worþ;] A scorte deþ ich schal auonge; & lif wiþþouten ende. [227. L. ane schorte, C. an schort; C. wole; L. a-vonge, C. a fonge; C. to habbe; L. wiþ-outen, C. with þouten;] Fol were þat nolde so; god him me sende" [228. L. C. he; C. nold so; L. god he me sone hynes., C. sone;] Me caste hire In þe seþende water; þer-Inne al nyȝt heo seþ [229. L. men casten, C. heo was ycaste; L. seþing; L. þar-, C. þer in; C. a lyte; L. ȝe seeþ;] Þe lengore þer-Inne heo was; þe verrore heo was hire deþ [230. L. lengere, C. lengur þat; C. in; L. ȝe sat; L. ferþere, C. ferre; L. ȝe; L. deeþ;] Line 230 Wiþ þe walmes heo sat & pleide; & prechede of godes grace. [231. C. with; L. C. welmes; L. ȝe; C. sate; C. preched;] Mo þen four hondred men; bicome þer cristene In þe place. [232. C. more; L. C. þan; C. foure CCCC; C. cristy ne; L. þat;] Þe Iustice isei þat me ne miȝte; In such deþ q[e]ulle [(MS. qulle.)] hire noȝt [233. C. þo þe; L. sey, C. say; L. he ne myȝtte, C. myȝt; L. swich; C. so; L. naut;] He let smyte of hire heued; þat heo were to deþe ibroȝt. [234. L. het, C. hete; C. þat me schold; L. ȝe; C. deþ;] Þe quellare hire smot wiþ is mayn; þre siþe in hire suere. [235. L. C. quellere (reg.); C. myd; L. C. al his; C. syþ L. C. in þe swere;] Line 235

He ne smot it noȝt uolliche of; þe deþ was iboȝt dere. [236. L. nat C. myȝt ful smyt; L. hired; L. bouth to dere, C. he boȝt . . . weld;] No quellare ne moste bi þulke daie; smyte ouer þrie. [237. C. most; C. day; L. oftere C. after; L. C. þan þrie;] Half slawe hi bileuede hire so; hamward he gan hie. [238. L. leuede, C. bylefte; L. C. a-weyward;] Nou an vuel stude god it wolde; vor he was a screwe. [239. C. omits 4 ll; L. yuel stede gon he mote; schrewe;] Wo dude he þe holi maide; gulteles so hire to hewe. [240. L. dede; þat;] Line 240 & beleue hire so half alyue; welle wo him be. [241. L. bi-lefte;] Vor ho [n]uste [(MS. muste.)] of no deol þer me miȝte ise. [242. L. ffor who-so nuste; doel; men myȝtte it se;] Þis holi maide eode aboute; hire heued half of ismyte. [243. L. ȝede;] Þat was half quic & half ded; þat reuþe it was to wite. [244. C. omits; L. & was; quik; rewþe;] & pouere men muche of hire good; delede wiþ hire honde. [245. C. poure; L. mechel, C. þat heo myȝt of wyte; L. ȝe delde, C. heo deled; C. honden;] Line 245 Hit was a uair grace of god; þat heo miȝte enes stonde. [246. C. omits; L. It; wel fair; ȝe aut myȝtte;] Heo prechede & to ihesu crist; mony good mon wende. [247. L. ȝe; C. preched; C. so þat; L. C. many a; L. god, C. goud;] & alle to Seyn Vrban þe biscop; to baptise heo sende. [248. C. al; L. baptiȝe ȝe; C. baptiȝe;] & bed him þat he schulde hire hous; þat heo wonede Inne. [249. L. bad, C. bade; C. þat þe bischop seint vrban; L. scholde; C. stede; L. ȝe hadde woned; C. woned;] Halwy In our lordes name; & a chirche þer bygynne. [250. L. halewen; L. oure louerdes (reg.); C. scholde a godes n.; L. C. churche;] Line 250 & burie þer hire suete bodi; & þat our lordes seruice [251. L. burien þere; C. & þat he bured; L. swete body; C. oure;] Vpe is poer þer-Inne were ido; In alle wise [252. C. vp; L. C. his; C. powere; C. in; idon; L. on alle-kynne;] Þe þridde day after hire martirdom; þis maide adoun lay. [253. C. marterdom; C. adoune;] & prechede cristene men; & bed hem habbe good day. [254. C. preched wel þe cristen, L. to þe c.; L. bad, C. bade; L. god, C. goud;] & sede "nou ichabbe ido; al þat my wille is to. [255. L. seyde now; C. þo heo hadde; C. alle þat hire was to do;] Line 255 Wende ichulle to ihesu crist; & ȝe schulle also" [256. L. I wile, C. heo wolde to oure lord c. & hÿ schold after also;] Þis was two hondred ȝer; & þre & twenti riȝt. [257. L. hundred; C. hit nas bot cc ȝere; L. ryȝth, C. also;] After þat our lord was In is moder aliȝt [258. L. oure louerd; L. his; L. a-lyȝth; C. after oure lord ybore was þat þis dede was do;] Nou bidde we our suete lord; uor hire holi martirdom. [259, 260. L. oure swete louerd for; L. bringge vs to þat i.; C. lord for þe marter∣dom þat seint [Cecili was [.] e, graunt ous þulke Ioie; þat hire saule ys Inne. (Some letters are here illegible owing to a smudge on the parchment.)] To bringe ous to þulke Ioie; þat hire soule to com.Line 260

Legenda Aurea.

Caecilia, virgo praeclarissima, ex nobili Romanorum genere exorta, et ab ipsis cunabilis in fide Christi nutrita, absconditum semper evangelium Christi gerebat in pectore, et non diebus neque noctibus a colloquiis divinis et oratione cessabat, suamque virginitatem conservari a domino exorbat. Cum autem cuidam juveni, nomine Valeriano, desponsata fuisset, et dies nuptiarum instituta esset, illa subtus ad carnem cilicio erat induta, et desuper de auratis vestibus tegebatur, et cantantibus organis illa in corde soli domino decantabat dicens: "fiat, domine, cor meum et corpus meum imma∣culatum, ut non confundar;" et biduanis et triduanis jejuniis orans commendabat domino, quod timebat. Venit autem nox, in qua suscepit una cum sponso suo cubiculi secreta silentia, et ita eum alloquitur: "o dulcissime atque amantissime juvenis, est mysterium, quod tibi confitear, si modo tu juratus asseras, tota te illud observantia custodire." Jurat Valerianus, se illud nulla necessitate detegere, nulla prodere ratione. Tunc illa ait: "angelum Dei habeo amatorem, qui nimio zelo custo∣dit corpus meum. Hic si vel leviter senserit, quod tu me polluto amore contingas, statim feriet te, et amittes florem tuae gratissimae juventutis, si autem cognoverit, quod me sincero amore diligas, ita

quoque diliget te sicut me, et ostendet tibi gloriam suam."

Tunc Valerianus, nutu Dei correctus, ait: "si vis, ut credam tibi, ipsum angelum mihi ostende, et si vere probavero, quod angelus sit, faciam quod hortaris; si autem virum alium diligis, te et illum gladio feriam." Cui Caecilia dixit: "si in Deum verum credideris et te baptizari promiseris, ipsum videre valebis. Vade igitur in tertium milliarium ab urbe via, quae Appia nuncupatur, et pauperibus, quos illic invenies, dices: 'Caecilia me misit ad vos, ut ostendatis mihi sanctum senem Urbanum, quoniam ad ipsum habeo secreta mandata, quae perferam.' Hunc, dum tu videris, indica ei omnia verba mea;et postquam ab eo purificatus fueris et redieris, angelum ipsum videbis." Tunc Valerianus perrexit, et secundum signa quae acceperat, sanctum Urbanum episcopum intra sepulchra martirum latitantem invenit; cumque ei omnia verba Caeciliae dixisset, ille manus ad coelum expandens cum lacrymis ait: "domine Jesu Christe, seminator casti consilii, suscipe seminum fructus, quos in Caecilia

eminasti, domine Jesu Christe, pastor bone, Caecilia famula tua quasi apis tibi argumentosa deservit; nam sponsum, quem quasi leonem ferocem accepit, ad te quasi agnum mansuetissimum destinavit." Et ecce subito apparuit senex quidam niveis vestibus indutus, tenens librum aureis litteris scriptum. Quem videus Valerianus prae nimio timore quasi mortuus cecidit, et a sene levatus, sic legit: "unus Deus, una fides, unum baptisma, unus Deus et pater omnium, qui super omnes, et per omnia, et in omnibus nobis." Cumque haec legisset, dixit ei senior; "credis ita esse an adhuc dubitas?" Tunc exclamavit dicens: "non est aliud, quod verius credi possit, sub coelo." Statimque illo disparente, Valerianus a sancto Urbano baptisma suscepit, et rediens, Caeciliam cum angelo loquentem in cubiculo invenit. Angelus autem duas coronas ex rosis et liliis in manu habebat, et unam Caeciliae, et alteram Valeriano tradidit, dicens: "istas coronas immaculato corde et mundo corpore custodite, quia de para∣diso Dei eas ad vos attuli; nec unquam marcescent, nec odorem amittent, nec ab aliis, nisi quibus castitas placuerit, videri poterunt. Tu autem, Valeriane, quia utili consilio credidisti, pete quodcum∣que

volueris, et consequeris." Cui Valerianus "nihil mihi in hac vita exstitit dulcius, quam unicus fratris mei affectus, peto igitur, ut et veritatem ipse mecum agnoscat." Cui angelus: "placet domino petitio tua; et ambo cum palma martirii ad dominum venietis." Post hoc, ingressus Tiburtius, frater Valeriani, cum nimium rosarum sensisset odorem, dixit: "miror, hoc tempore roseus hic odor et liliorum unde respiret; nam si ipsas rosas vel lilia in manibus meis tenerem, nec sic poterant odoramenta tantae mihi suavitatis infundere; confiteor vobis, ita sum refectus, ut putem me totum subito immutatum." Cui Velerianus: "coronas habemus, quas tui oculi videre non praevalent, floreo colore et niveo candore vernantes; et sicut me interpellante odorem sensisti, sic et, si credideris, videre valebis." Cui Tiburtius: "in somnis hoc audio, an in veritate ista tu loqueris, Valeriane?" Cui Valerianus: "in somnis usque modo fuimus, sed jam nunc in veritate manemus." Ad quem Tiburtius: "unde hoc nosti?" Et Valerianus: "angelus domini me docuit, quem tu videre poteris, si tu purificatus fueris, et omnibus ydolis abrenuntiaveris." (Huic miraculo de coronis rosarum Ambrosius attestatur in praefatione sic dicens: 'sancta Caecilia sic coelesti est dono repleta, ut martirii palmam assumeret; ipsum mundum est cum thalamis exsecrata; testis est Valeriani conjugis et Tiburtii provocata confessio, quos, domine, angelica manu odorıferis floribus coronasti; viros virgo duxit ad gloriam, mundus agnovit, quantum valeat devotio castitatis.' Haec Ambrosius.) Tunc Caecilia evidenter ostendit ei, omnia ydola esse

insensibilia et muta, ita ut Tiburtius responderet ac diceret: "qui ista non credit, pecus est." Tunc Caecilia osculans pectus ejus dixit: "hodie te fateor meum esse cognatum, sicut enim amor Dei fratrem tuum mihi conjugem fecit, ita te mihi cognatum contemtus faciet ydolorum. Vade igitur cum fratre tuo, ut purificationem accipias et angelicos vultus videre valeas." Dixitque Tiburtius fratri suo: "obsecro te, frater, ut mihi dicas, ad quem me ducturus es." Cui Valerianus: "ad Urbanum episco∣pum." Cui Tiburtius: "de illo Urbano dicis qui totiens damnatus est et adhuc in latebris commora∣tur? hic, si inventus fuerit, cremabitur; et nos in illius flammis pariter involvemur, et dum quaerimus divinitatem latentem in coelis, incurremus furorem exurentem in terris." Cui Caecilia: "Si haec sola esset vita, juste hanc perdere timeremus; est autem alia melior, quae nunquam amittitur, quam nobis Dei filius enarravit. Omnia enim, quae facta sunt, filius ex patre genitus condidit, universa autem, quae condita sunt ex patre procedens spiritus animavit. Hic igitur filius Dei in mundum veniens verbis et miraculis aliam vitam esse nobis monstravit." Cui Tiburtius: "certe unum Deum esse asseris, et quomodo nunc tres esse testaris?" Respondit Caecilia: "sicut in una hominis sapientia sunt tria, scilicet ingenium, memoria et intellectus, sic et in una divinitatis assentia tres personae esse possunt." Tunc coepit ei de adventu filii Dei et passione praedicare, et multas congruitates ipsius passionis osten∣dere. "Nam ideo," inquit, "filius Dei est tentus, ut genus humanum dimittatur peccato detentum; benedictus maledictur, ut homo maledictus benedictionem consequatur; illudi se patitur, ut homo ab illusione daemonum liberetur; spineam coronam accepit in capite, ut a nobis sententiam auferat capi∣talem; fel suscipit amarum, ut sanaret hominis dulcem gustum; exspoliatur, ut parentum nostrorum nuditatem operiat; in ligno suspenditur, ut ligni praevaricationem tollat." Tunc Tiburtius fratri suo dixit: "miserere mei, et perduc me ad hominem Dei ut purificationem accipiam." Ductus igitur, et purificatus, angelos Dei saepe videbat, et omnia quae postulabat, protinus obtinebat. Valerianus

igitur et Tiburtius elemosinis insistebant; et sanctorum corpora, quos Almachius praefectus occidebat, sepulturae tradebant. Quos Almachius ad se vocans, cur pro suis sceleribus damnatos sepelirent, inquisivit. Cui Tiburtius: "utinam illorum servi essemus, quos tu damnatos appellas! Qui contemse∣runt illud, quod videtur esse et non est, et invenerunt illud, quod non videtur esse et est." Cui praefectus: "quidnam est illud?" Et Tiburtius: "quod videtur esse et non est, est omne, quod in hoc mundo est, quod hominem ad non esse perducit; quod vero non videtur esse et est, est vita justorum et poena malorum." Cui praefectus: "non puto, quod mente tua loquaris." Tunc jubet adstare Valerianum dicens ei: "quoniam non est sani capitis frater tuus; tu saltem poteris sapienter dare responsum; constat plurimum vos errare, qui gaudia respuitis et omnia inimica gaudiis affectatis." Tunc Valerianus "se vidisse ait glaciali tempore otiosos jocantes, et operarios agricolas deridentes, sed aestivo tempore, dum advenissent gloriosi fructus laborum, gaudentibus illis, qui putabantur vani, coeperunt flere, qui videbantur urbani. Sic et nos nunc quidem sustinemus ignominiam et laborem, in futuro autem recipiemus gloriam et aeter∣nam mercedem. Vos autem nunc transitorium habetis gaudium, in futuro autem invenietis aeternum luctum." Cui praefectus: "ergo nos invictissimi principes aeternum habebimus luctum, et vos personae vilissimae perpetuum possidebitis gaudium?" Cui Valerianus: "homuntiones estis, non principes, tem∣pore nostro nati, citius morituri et Deo rationem plus omnibus reddituri." Dixit autem praefectus:

"quid verborum circuitu immoramur? offerte Diis libamina et illaesi abscedite." Sancti responderunt: "nos Deo vero quotidie sacrificium exhibemus." Quibus praefectus: "quod est nomen ejus?" Cui Valerianus: "nomen ejus invenire non potiris, etiamsi pennis volaveris." Praefectus dixit: "ergo Jupiter nomen Dei non est?" Cui Valerianus: "nomen homicidae et stupratoris est." Ad quem Almachius: "ergo totus mundus errat! et tu cum fratre tuo verum Deum nosti?" Valerianus respon∣dit: "nos soli non sumus, sed innumerabilis multitudo hanc sanctitatem recepit." Traduntur igitur sancti in custodiam Maximi. Quibus ille ait: "o juventutis flos purpureus, o germanus fraternitatis affectus quomodo ad mortem quasi ad epulas festinatis?" Cui Valerianus ait, quod, si crediturum se promitteret, gloriam animarum eorum post mortem videret. Et Maximus: "fulminibus igneis consumar, si non illum solum Deum confitear, quem adoratis, si contingat, quod dicitis." Ipse igitur Maximus, et omnis ejus familia, et universi carnifices crediderunt; et ab Urbano, qui illuc occulte venit, baptisma susceperunt. Igitur dum aurora nocti finem daret, Caecilia exclamavit dicens: "eia milites Christi, abjicite opera tenebrarum, et induimini arma lucis." Quarto igitur milliario ab urbe sancti ad statuam Jovis ducuntur et dum sacrificare nollent, pariter decollantur. Tunc Maximus cum jurejurando asseruit, se in hora passionis eorum angelos vidisse fulgentes et animas eorum quasi virgines de thalamo exeuntes, quas in gremio suo in coelum angeli detulerunt. Almachius vero audiens Maximum christianum effectum, eum plumbatis tamdiu caedi fecit, quousque spiritum excussit. Cujus corpus sancta Caecilia juxta Vale∣rianum et Tiburtium sepelivit. Tunc Almachius facultates amborum caepit inquirere, et Caeciliam tam∣quam Valeriani conjugem coram se fecit adstare, jussitque, ut ydolis immolaret, aut sententiam mortis incurreret. Cum autem ad hoc ab apparitoribus urgeretur, et illi vehementer flerent, eo quod puella tam

decora et nobilis ultro se morti traderet, dixit ad eos: "hoc, boni juvenes, non est juventutum perdere, sed mutuare, dare lutum et accipere aurum, dare vile habitaculum et accipere pretiosum, dare brevem angulum et accipere forum pellucidum. Si quis pro nummo solidos daret, nonne velocius festinaretis? Deus autem, quod accepit simplum, reddet centuplum. Creditis his, quae dico?" Et illi: "credimus, Christum verum esse Deum, qui talem possidet famulam." Vocato igitur Urbano episcopo, CCCC et amplius baptizati sunt. Tunc Almachius sanctam Caeciliam ad se vocans ait: "cujus conditionis es?" Et illa: "ingenua sum et nobilis." Cui Almachius: "ego te de religione interrogo." Cui Caecilia: "interrogatio tua stultum sumit initium, quae duas responsiones una putat inquisitione concludi." Cui Almachius: "unde tibi tanta praesumtio respondendi?" At illa: "de conscientia bona, et fide non ficta?" Cui Almachius: "ignoras, cujus potestatis sim?" Et illa: "potestas vestra est quasi uter vento repletus, quem si acus pupugerit, omnis protinus rigor pallascit et quidquid in se rigidum habere cernitur, incurvatur." Cui Almachius: "ab injuriis caepisti, et in injuriis perseveras." Caecilia respondit: "injuria non dicitur nisi quod verbis fallentibus irrogatur; unde aut injuriam doce, si falsa locuta sum, aut te ipsum corripe calumniam inferentem, sed nos scientes sanctum Dei nomen omnino negare non possumus, melius est enim feliciter mori, quam infeliciter vivere." Cui Almachius: "ad quid cum; tanta superbia loqueris?" Et illa: "non est superbia, sed constantia." Cui Almachius: "infelix, ignoras, quia vivificandi et mortificandi mihi tradita est potestas?" Et illa: "contra veritatem publi∣cam probo te nunc esse mentitum, vitam enim viventibus tollere potes, mortuis autem dare non potes

es igitur minister mortis, non vitae." Cui Almachius: "jam depone amentiam et sacrificia Diis." Cui Caecilia: "nescio, ubi oculos amiseris; nam quos tu Deos dicis, omnes nos saxa esse videmus; mitte igitur manum et tangendo disce, quod oculis non vales videre." Tunc iratus Almachius jussit eam ad domum suam reduci, ibique tota nocta et die jussit eam in bulliente balneo concremari. Quae quasi in loco frigido mansit, nec modicum saltem sudoris persensit. Quod cum audivisset Almachius, jussit eam in ipso balneo decollari. Quam spiculator tribus ictibus in collo percussit, sed tamen caput ejus amputare non potuit, et quia decretum erat, ne quartam percussionem decollandus acciperet, eam

semivivam cruentus carnifex dereliquit. Per triduum autem supervivens, omnia quae habebat, pauperi∣bus tradidit, et omnes quos ad fidem converterat, Urbano episcopo commendavit dicens: "triduanas mihi inducias postulavi, ut nos tuae beatitudini commendarem, et hanc domum meam in ecclesiam consecrares." Sanctus autem Urbanus corpus ejus inter episcopos sepelivit, et domum suam in eccle∣siam, ut rogaverat, consecravit. Passa est autem circa annos domini CC et XXIII tempore Alexandri imperatoris. Alibi autem legitur, quod passa sit tempore Marci Aurelii, qui imperavit circa annos domini CCXX.

MS. Bodley 799. [fol. 286a-288b.]

Seint Sisile of nobil kin bore was at Rome; [C 39. [originally cxxvij]] Oure Lord Crist ȝhe louid wel er ȝhe fro cradil come; ȝhe leet here baptise stillelich, as we finde write, ȝerin ȝhe had Ihesu Crist here maydinhood to kepe Þorwȝ here frendus strengþe, spousid ȝhe was to a manLine 5 Of gret nobley and ryches, þat heet Valerian. Þis mayde was cloþid in pal þat were swyþe ryche, Garlond also of gold, and her nex here lyche. Whan mynstralus song here song of here mynstralsyȝe, Þis mayde stilleliche song of God and Seint Maryȝe.Line 10 Of þe sauter ȝhe song a vers þat mest was in here þouȝt, "Leet, Lord, myn herte vnwemmed be, þat I comfounde be nouȝt." As ȝhe was anyȝt be here lord in ryche beed I-brouȝt, Sone þis fool mon of foly here be-souȝt. "Swete hert," quod þis mayd, "for loue þou hast to me,Line 15 Grant me þat I telle alyte preuite, And þat I mowe schriue to þe as conseyl preue." "Trewly þou myȝt," quod þis oþer, "to soþe I be-hote þe." "Swete lemmon," quod þe mayd, "In ward I am do, An aungel is my wardeyn, and my lemmon al-so,Line 20 ffast he stont her be me, and ȝif he oundir-ȝete Þat þou be-nome my maydinhood, for noþing nold he lette Þat he nold þe hard smyt, and be-neme þe þi myȝt. For al þe nobley þat þou hast, þou no myȝt aȝen him fyȝt; But ȝif he se þat þou louist me in good lyf and clene,Line 25

He wole þe loue as he doþ me, and ech euil fro þe ȝeme." "Ȝif þou wolt, lemman," quod þis oþer, "þat I be-leue þis, Þe aungel þou most schewe me, þat I hym se, I-wis, And ȝif I may þe soþe se, of þat þou hast I-seyd, In clennesse I wole do þy wille, and after þy reed,Line 30 And ȝif I se þat þou in foly louist oþer þan me, I nele leue for noþing, þat I nele sle him and þe." "My swete hert," quod þe mayde, "ȝif þou aungel se, Þou most be-leue on Ihesu Crist and I-cristenyd be; Ȝif þou wolt so þou myȝt hym se, and he vs wole kepe fro helle,Line 35 So gret ioyȝe worþ of oure loue þat no tonge may it telle. [f. 286 b.] But þre myle þou most hennus go, to þe wey of appyȝe, Þou schalt finde þere pore men, on Ihesu Crist ȝerne cryȝe; Sey þat I þe to hem sent, þat þey þe teche anon To Seint Vrban, þe holy man, for þou most to him gon,Line 40 Apreue conseyl with him to spek, for he þe schal baptyse; Þe aungel þou schalt þanne se, and he schal vs boþe wyse." Valerian roos a-non, as oure Lord hym ȝaf þe wille, To þe stede as þe mayde bad, and wente forþ wel stille. Þe pore men hym tauȝte anon to þ^e old man Seint Vrban,Line 45 In an olde stede al forlete, þer ne com no maner man, Among old pittus and berielus, þer me cristin men þrew After þat þey martrid were, whan me any of hem knew. To his feet he fel doun anon, þo he to him com. And seyde þat Sicile him sente þedir, to lerne Cristindom.Line 50 "Lord, heryid be þy myȝt." seyde Seint Vrban, "Is þis þe liþer verrour, þat me clepiþ, Valerian?"

"Wher, Sysile haue mad him, þat was so wilde, Amore tyraunt þan a wolf, as alomb, mylde." Þo þer com an old man. fro heuin he alyȝt þer,Line 55 Cloþid in whit vestementus, and a fayr writ ber. Þo Valerian him seyȝ. he fel adoun for drede. Seint Vrban nom him vp, and forþ gan hym lede. Þe Halw of Heuin took him þe writ, and bad him rede,— "On lord is on to be-leue, and on baptysing,Line 60 On God and Fadir of alle, þat beþ. and ouer al is, and ech þing" "Leuistow her-on," quod Seint Orban, "þat þou dost here se," "Þer is noþing," quod þis oþer, "þat bet to leue may be." After þis whit mon he be-held, he nyste wher he be com. Seint Vrban hym nom anon, and ȝaf hym Cristindom.Line 65 To Sycile he wente aȝen, þo he hadde be þer his fille. He fond here chaumbir lyȝt with-inne, and of sote smelle, He fond Sysile his spouse, and aungel wit here stond Bryȝter þan eny sonne; to garlondus he bar an hond Of rosis and of lyliis soot; þat on, Sysile, he took.Line 70 And þe oþer, Valerian, as we finde in book, "Kepiþ þese," he seyd, "in trewe loue, wit chast body and clene, I hem haue fro Heuin brouȝt, oure Lord hem ȝow doþ lene; For falwe, ne elde, neuer þey nele, but euer I-lych laste, Þe two maner of flourus þat beþ þer-on, nele neuere here heu caste."Line 75 "Þe lyly be-tokeneþ ȝoure maydinhood, þat is so whit and sote, Þe rose be-tokenyþ ȝoure martirdom, forþ on deyȝe ȝe mote; And, for þou dedist, Valerinan, Secilis reed so sone, What þou of my lord biddist, he wil grant þy bone."

"I ne desire no þing so moch," seyde Valerian,Line 80 "As Tyburs, my broþer, were wit me in Cristindam." "My Lord wille," quod þe aungel, "ȝeue hym þat grace, [f. 287.] And boþe ȝe scholle martrid be, at on tyme in on place." Þe aunge[l] went wit þat word, he nyste wher he be com. Þe two þingus eyþer of oþer gret ioyȝe nom.Line 85 Tyburs com to chaumbre, to spe[k] wit his broþer þere, He stood stille and be-held about, as he nyst wher he were. "Broþer," he seyde. "howȝ goþ þis? In þis tyme of þe ȝere? So swete smel smellid I neuere, as I do here. Þou þis hous were ful of newe rosin, and lylis al-so,Line 90 I ne myȝt sweter smelle nouȝt, me-þinkeþ, þan I do. So ful I am of þis smel, and so moche is in my þouȝt, Þat I noot hou I am. sodeynlich, in an oþer wit I-brouȝt." "Leue broþer," quod Valerian, "garlondus we haueþ here Of flourus þat þou myȝt nouȝt se, but þou were oure fere,Line 95 But so as þou hast þe swete smel þerfore, þorw oure bone, Ȝif þou wolt be-leue as we do, þou myȝt hem se sone." "Leue broþer," quod þe oþer, "wheyþer it sooþ is, Oþer I stond in meting and wene þat soþ it is?" "In meting," quod Valerian, "we haue euer be,Line 100 Now we be of slep awak, now we mow ferst se." "Sestow nowȝ" quod þe oþer, "bet þan þou hast er do?" "Ȝe," quod Valerian, "wel me be-houeþ so, ffor my Lordus aungel of Heuen haþ me ȝoue lyȝt, And for oure loue he wol þe al-so, ȝif þou wolt be-leue aryȝt."Line 105

Þo seyd þe holy mayde, "Tyburs, leue broþir, What beþ þe maumetus but nouȝt, þou schal se non oþer. Þou myȝt se it is monnus werk; mad of old tre; Þing þat ne may hym-self help, how schold it helpe þe?" "Noþing is soþ," quod Tybors, "as þat þou hast of sede,Line 110 Woddere he were þan any best, þat nold do þy rede." Seynt Sycile hym kiste anon, "Leue broþer," ȝhe sede, "To-day þou schalt my broþer be, for þou wolt do by my rede. Þorw clene loue and good be-leue, þy broþer my spouse is, And þou schalt by-come al-so my broþer, whan þou art his.Line 115 Wit Valerian þou most go to þe bysschop Vrban, And be cristenyd and do as þe rede can." "Is þat Vrban," quod Tyburs, "þat so ȝerne haþ be-souȝt, Þat long haþ be flemyd and hid? And ȝif he had be forþ brouȝt, Brend he schold be, and we alle-so, ȝif we wit hym were."Line 120 "Ȝe," quod þe mayde, "ȝif it be so, we scholle to Heuin I-fere." "Ȝif þer nere," quod þis mayde, "onlich but þis lyf, Fool he were, þat it wold lese, for any maner strif." "Leue broþer," quod Tyburs, "haue mercy on me, And leed me to þat good mon, I be-seche þe."Line 125 Þat o broþer lad þat oþer to þe bysschop Vrban. [f. 287 b.] And leet him forsak his folyȝe and be-com cristin man. Tyburs, þo he com a-ȝen, þe aungel he say anon, Þat Sysile hym hadde be-hote in þe chaumbre to gon.

Sysile, for ȝhe woman was, at hom moste abyde,Line 130 But þe twey breþerin þat were men, about wente wyde, And whanne þey martrid Cristin men, þedir þey wende, And stele to whan þey myȝte best, to bery heym at þ^e ende. As þey beriid twey men þat I-martrid were, Com þe emperourus men, and nom hem anon þere.Line 135 To-fore þe ioustise þey were brouȝt; me askid hem anon, "Who made hem so hardy þe emperourus foon, Mys-be-leuid traytourus, bery, þat were aȝen here lawe, Þat wit ryȝt iugement of lond were brouȝt of dawe?" "Syre, we wold," quod þe oþer, "þat we worþy werLine 140 Here cnauis to be, þat were quellid þer." "Þey be-leuid þou it semblaunt made, And tok to þing þat was good þou it semblaunt nade, For þe worldis ioy þat haþ semblaunt, nouȝt worþ it nys, And þou þe blisse of Heuin þink lyte, moche and good it is."Line 145 "Belamys," þe iustise seyd, "me-þinkeþ ȝou wode, Wreþe it is worþy þat he haue wo, þat kepiþ nouȝt of gode." "In winter," quod Valerian, "men sitteþ and drinkeþ; To scorn þey lauȝe erþe tyliers, þat about here mete swinkeþ. In heruest, whan þe tilyer may feyr corn and good repe,Line 150 In myseyse þey gon vp and doun, and haue neuer a grepe. As we scholle for oure trauayl in blisse repe, at þe ende, Whan ȝe scholle, for ȝoure ioyȝe, to pyne of helle wende." Þan seyd þe iustise, "scholle þey þat lordus be Lasse worþ þan soch wrecches? "Þat nelle neuer þe!"Line 155

"Sertis," quod Valerian, "þou art lasse I-told Þan a begger þat nouȝt haþ, be þou neuer so bold." "Belamy" quod þe iustise, "I kep nouȝt of þy iangling; Doþ ȝoure sacrefyse anon, or me schal to deþe ȝowȝ bring." "Sertis," quod þis good mon, "þou bringist vs neuer þer-two."Line 160 Þe iustise hem bad anon in strong preson do. Maxime, þe iayler, heet þat hem in ward nom, So þat he and alle his, þorw hem, tok Cristindom. Seint Sysile com be þ^e preson; loud ȝhe gan to grede, "What do ȝe goddus knyȝtus kep ȝoure monhede!"Line 165 "ffyȝtiþ now strongliche to be-leue þis derk hede Þat ȝe were in þe wey brouȝt, þat schal ȝou to lyȝt lede!" On morw, to þe maumetus, þese good men were brouȝt. Þe iustise had hem do sacrefys, but þey nold nouȝt; Here heuedis he leet of smyte, and Maxime þo seyȝLine 170 Wher aungelus here soulus nome, and ber to Heuin on hyȝ. To þe iustise he went anon, "Cristin I am," he sede, [f. 288.] "I say aungelus to þe ioyȝe þ^e good mennus soulus lede." Þe iustise heet hym neme anon, and nakid hym bete Wit strong scorgus fast I-bound, til he þ^e lyf lete.Line 175 Þe body þey casste wit-oute þe toun, Secile gan þer forþ goon; Þe þre holy marteris to-gedir ȝhe berid anon. ȝhe was sone I-nome and lad to þe iustise þo. "What!" he seyde, "how gooþ þis; be ȝit schrewis mo?" "Artow Valerianus wif? By þe fey I owe MahounLine 180

But þou oþer-wey torne þy wit, þou schalt sone be brouȝt a-doun." "Of what kin art þou come, þat þus follich wolt þe leer?" "Of beter kin," quod þe mayd, "þan þou euer wer." "In what maner," quod þ^e oþer, "þenkistou þy lyf leue?" "Þou askist," ȝhe seyd, "as a fool, and so me schal þ^e answer ȝeue."Line 185 "ffor al þy þouer þou schalt se by þat þou wost þ^e ende, Þat þou ne schalt fro Ihesu Crist onis myn herte wende." "How com it þe," quod þe iustise, "to be so hardy heer To clepe me fool, and am þy mayster: ne sestou my power?" Þy pouer, wrecce," quod þe mayd, "worþ sone brouȝt be-hinde,Line 190 For it is but a bleddere bloue ful of winde, Þat be it prekid wit a prikke, awey it sinkeþ, al; Also wit alyte syknes þy wrecche careyne schal. Þy pouer þat þou ȝelpist of, þanne worþ wel lyte." "How goþ þis?" quod þe iustise, "Dame, whennus comyþ þy pryte?"Line 195 "May I nouȝt ȝeue þe deþ and lyf, ne sestow nouȝt wit þin yȝe?" "Sertis, Syre," quod þis mayde, "þou lyx þerof wel hyȝe." "A wrecche careyne þou myȝt ȝeue deþ, þat wel schort is; Of lyf ne myȝt þou nouȝt ȝeue þy-self, I-wis. Whan þou ne myȝt ȝeue deþ, ne lyf, me-pinkeþ be ryȝtLine 200 Þou art deþus seruaunt, for of lyf hastou no myȝt; And whan þou deþus seruaunt art, deþ þy lord is, And in deþ wit-outen ende þou schalt be, I-wis."

"Dame," seyd þe iustise, "of þy chydinge kep I nouȝt; Do sacrefyse to oure godus, or to deþe þou schalt be brouȝt."Line 205 "Þou seydist þat I gedy am," Seint Sycile sede, "Þou art gedy and wood, sene it is on þy dede; Schold I honoure þy godus þat beþ ston and tre Fool ȝif ich segge sooþ þou ne myȝt se. But þou be blind, þou myȝt se þat þis þing soþ is.Line 215 Ȝif þou it sest and leuist it nouȝt, þou art wood, I-wis, ffor wood he is, þat nel leue þat he seþ wit his yȝe, And wood mon and blind In þ^e pyne of hewe þou schalt dyȝe." Þo ferde ferd þ^e schreue as he were wood; he het þ^e mayde take And leed here in-to an hous, and gret fer about here make,Line 220 And þer-ouer sette a leed wit water, and amydde here caste, And seþ here whyl þer wold any lyf in here laste. [ 288 b] Þo þis iugement was I-ȝoue, and me here forþ ladde, Men and women þat here syȝe, loude wep and gradde, "Allas!" þey seyde, "þis ȝong þing, so feyr a creature,Line 225 Schal now lese here lyf, and deyȝe þorw þe fure!" "Beþ stille!" quod þe holy mayd, "for me wep ȝe nouȝt, My lyf I schal nouȝt lese, but I worþ to ioy brouȝt. A schort deþ I schal fong, and lyf wit-outin ende, Fool he were þat so nold god it me sone sende."Line 230 Me cast here in seþinge water, al nyȝt þer-inne ȝhe seth, Þe lenger ȝhe þer-inne was, þe forþer ȝhe was here deþ. Wit þe bolmus ȝhe sat and pleyde; ȝhe þonkid goddus grace, Mo þan foure hondrid be-com Cristin in þe plas. Þe iustise say þat he ne myȝt wit soch deþ quelle here nouȝt,Line 235 He heet smyt of here heed, þat ȝhe to deþe were brouȝt. Þe quellere here smoot wit al his myȝt þryis in þe swyre,

He smot it noȝt folleche of; þat deþ was bouȝt ful dere. No quellere, by þat day, most smyt ofter þan þryȝe. Half slawe he lefte here, and so aweyward gan hyȝe,Line 240 To a leþer stede, god it woot, for he was a schrewe, He dede þe mayde wo, giltles, here so to hewe, And beleued here alyue half; wel wo hym be, For who so nyste of no del, þere he myȝte se. Þe holy mayde went about, þe heed hing half of smyte,Line 245 And was half quik and half ded, þat ruþe it was to wite. And pore men, moche of here good, delid myd here hond. It was a fayr grace of God þat ȝhe myȝt onus stond. Ȝhe prechid, and to Ihesu Crist mony men tornde, And alle to Seint Orban, þe bysschop, to baptise þhe sende,Line 250 And bad hym þat he scholde, þe hous þat ȝhe wonyd inne, Halw in oure Lordus name, and a chirche þer be-ginne, And bery þer here oune body, and þat oure Lordus seruise, Vp his pouer were þer-inne do, in alle wyse. Þe þridde day after here marterdom, þe mayde adoun layLine 255 And prechid Cristin men, and bade hem haue good day, And seyde, "Nowȝ I haue don al þat my wille is two, Wende I wil to Ihesu Crist, and ȝe scholle also." Þis was two hondrid ȝer and þre and twenty, ryȝt, After þat oure Lord was in his modir alyȝt.Line 260 Now bidde we oure swete Lord, for here strong marterdom, Bring oure soulus to þe ioyȝe þat here-to com.

Amen.

MS. Cotton Cleopatra D ix. [fol. 155b-158b.]

Seint Cecile of noble kinne. ibore was at Rome, [f. 155 b.] [("Sancta Cecilia.")] Oure louerd crist ȝeo louede wel. er ȝeo fram cradel come Stilliche ȝeo let hire cristne. as we findeþ iwrite Ȝurne ȝeo bad oure lord crist. þat he scholde hire maidenhod wite Suþþe þoruȝ strengþe of hire frendes. ywedded ȝeo was to a manLine 5 Of grete nobleie and richesse inouȝ þat het Valerian. þþis maide werede robe of pal. and cloþes swiþe riche Gerlauns and tressours al of gold. þe her next hire liche Whan þis minestralles songen her songes. in hire minestrancie þþis maide stilliche gan singe. of god and seint marieLine 10 A uers of þe sauter hire songe was. and þeron was mest hire þouȝt Let lord min hert wiþoute wem beo. þat ȳ ne beo confounded nouȝt A niȝt as ȝeo was in hire bed. mid hire lord ibroȝt. Son he hadde of folie. þis clene þinge bisouȝt Swete hert þis maide seide. for loue þat þou hast to meLine 15 Graunte me þat ich þe mot telle. a lutel in priuete þþat ich me mowe þerof schriue to þe. and þat þou hit wole hele Certes lemman þis man seide. to noman telle ich nele Swete lemman þis maide sede. in warde icham ido An angel of heuene is mi wardein. and mi lemman alsoLine 20 Wel faste he stod here bi me. ȝif he hit underȝete [f. 156.] [(at top of the page, "De Sancta Cecilia.")] þþat þou binome min maidenhod. for noþint he nolde hit lete þþat he þe nolde wel hard smite. and binime þe al þin miȝte Of þi strengþe and of þin noble stat. for þou miȝte nouȝt wiþ him fiȝte Ac ȝif he seoþ þat þou louest me. in gode loue and cleneLine 25

Wite he wole þe; as he doþ me. and al uuel fram þe ȝeme Ȝif þou wolt seide ualerian. þat ich ileoue þis þþen angel þou most schewe me. þat ich seo him iwis And ȝif ich mai þe soþ iseo. þat þou hast soþe isede In clannesse ichulle þi wille do. al after his redeLine 30 And ȝif ich seo þat in folie. þou louest anoþer þan me Noþinge schal hit me binime. þat y nelle slee him and þe Swete hert seide þis maide. ȝif þou wolt þe angel iseo Þþou most bileoue on iesu crist. and icristned also beo Iseo him þou schalt ȝif þou wolt so. and wite he þe wolle fram helleLine 35 So grete ioie schal of oure loue beo. þat no tonge þerof mai telle Ac henne ouere þreo miles þou most go. to þe hulle of apie Pore men þou schalt þer finde. and on iesu crist ȝurne crie Seie þat ich þe to hem sende. and hi þe teche anon Whar is seint Vrban þe holi man. for þou wolt to him gonLine 40 For priue conseil þou woldest wiþ him speke. and he þe schal baptize And þan þou schalt þen angel iseo. and don as he þe wole wise Valerian þo aros anon. as oure lord him ȝaf wille To þe stude as þis maide bad. he wende him forþ wel stille þþis pore men him tauȝte anon. to þe holi seint vrbanLine 45 He fonde him in an old forlete stude. þeras noman ne com To his fet he fel adoun. anon þo he to him com And seide þat Cicilie him þider sende. to asky cristendom Whar þis beo þe luþer werrour. þat me clupeþ Valerian

Louerd þat Cicilie haþ imad. him þat was so wilde [49-50 Blank line in MS.] Line 50 And more tiraunt þan eni wolf. as a lombe so milde þþo com þer gon a swiþe old man. alite fram heuene þer [(MS. per.)] Al hor wiþ white uestemens. and a wel faire writ he ber Anon so ualerian iseiȝ him come. adoun he fel for drede Seint vrban him nom vp anon. and forþ he gan him ledeLine 55 þþis halwe of heuene him toke þis writ. and bad he scholde hit rede Valerian anon radde þis writ. þat þes wordes sede O god is and on bileoue. and on cristendom And fader and lord of alle þinge. þat flesshe and blod among ous nom. Ileouest þis seide seint vrban. þat þou dost þere iseo [f. 156 b] Line 60 þþer nis þinge in þis world þe oþer seide. þat betere ileoued mai beo He biheolde after þis old man. he miste whar he bicom Seint vrban þo him nom anon. and ȝaf him cristendom To Cecilie son he wende aȝen. þo he hadde ibeo þer his fulle He fonde hire chambre wel liȝt wiþinne. and swiþe swote smulleLine 65 And founde Cecilie his trewe wif. and an angel bi hire stond þþat was briȝtore þan eni leom. tweie gerlauns he hulde an hond Of rose and lilie hi weren imad. þat on Cecilie he tok þþat oþer he tok ualerian; as we findeþ in bok Witeþ þeos he seide in trewe loue. wiþ chaste bodi and cleneLine 70 Ich hem habbe fram heuene ibrouȝte. oure Lord hem doþ ȝou lene þþe lilie tokneþ ȝoure maidenhod. þat is so white and swote þþe rose tokneþ ȝoure martirdom. for þerinne deie ȝe mote For þat þou dost ualerian. Ceciles red so sone What so þou of mi lord dost bidde. he wole graunte þi bone.Line 75

I ne wilnȳ noþinge on eorþe so moche. seide ualerian As þat tiburs mi broþer were. wiþ me cristen man Mi lord wole þis angel seide. ȝeue him þulk grace And boþe ȝe scholle martred beo. at o time in on place þþe angel wende forþ wiþ þis word. hi miste whar he becomLine 80 Moche was þe ioie of þis clene þinges; þat aiþer to [(MS. co.)] oþer nom To chamber com tiburs to speke. wiþ his broþer þere Stille he stod and biheolde aboute. as þeiȝ he miste whar he were Broþer he seide hou goþ þis. in þis time of þe ȝer So swote smul ne smulde ich neuere. as me þincþ ich so nou herLine 85 þþeiȝ þis hous were ful of newe floures. and white lilie also Murgore miȝte hit smulle nouȝt. me þinkeþ þan ich nou do So ful icham broþer of þe smul. and so moche hit is in mi þouȝt þþat icham sodeinliche inot hou; in oþer witte ibrouȝt Leue broþer seide ualerian. gerlauns we habbeþ hereLine 90 Of rose and lilie þat þou ne miȝte seo. bote þou were oure fere Ac as þou hast þe swote smul; þerof þorwȝ mi lone Also ȝif þou wolt bileoue as we doþ. þou miȝte hem seo wel sone Leue broþer seide tiburs. Whar hit beo soþe þis Oþer þat istond in metinge. and mete þat his so isLine 95 In metinge seide ualerian. We habbeþ euere ibeo Of slepe we beoþ nou furst awaked. and nou we mowe furst iseo For oure lordes angel of heuene. haþ iȝeue me siȝt And for oure loue he þe wole ȝeue also. ȝif þou wolt bileoue ariȝt

þþo seide Cecilie þe holi maide. tiburs leue broþer [f. 157.] [(at top of page "De Sancta Cecilia.")] Line 100 What is in oure maumetes bote wrecched. þou schalt iseo non oþer Ne seostou þat hit is maumetes work. imad of old tre þþinge þat mai nouȝt him sulf helpe: hou miȝte hit helpe þe Noþinge is soþer seide tiburs. þan þat þou hast ised Gidiore he were þan eni best. þat nolde do þi redLine 105 Seint Cicile custe him anon. leue tiburs ȝeo sede To dai þou schalt mi broþer beo. for þou wolt don after rede þþoruȝ clene loue and gode bileoue; þi broþer min spouse is þþer þoruȝ þou schalt also bicome. mi broþer whan þou art his Wiþ ualerian þou most gon. to þe bischop vrbanLine 110 And beo icristned and do also. as he þe rede can Is þat vrban seide tiburs. þat so ȝurne haþ ibeo souȝte þþat ȝare haþ ibeo fleom and ihudde and ȝif he were forþ ibrouȝte Forbrenne he scholde and we also. ȝif we wiþ him were And so þe while we heuene souȝte. forbarnde we scholde beon þereLine 115 Ȝif þat þer nere seide Cecilie. soulment bote þis lif A fole he were þat hit wolde. lese for eni strif Ac whan þer is as murie lif; þat we schollen her after fonge Fole he were þat nolde a while beo wo. to beon in ioie so longe Leue broþer seide tiburs. haue merci on meLine 120 And lede me to þulk gode man. ich biseche þe þþe broþer ladde þo þen oþer. to þe bischop urban And let him forsake his fole lawe. and bicom cristen man. Tiburs þo hi com aȝen. þe angel he seiȝ anon þþat Cecilie him hadde bihote. in þe chambre wiþ hire gonLine 125

Cecilie for ȝeo womman was at hom ȝeo most abide Ac þis tweie breþeren þat were men. aboute hi wende wide Euere whan me martred cristen men. þider hi wolde gon And stele to whan hi miȝte best and binime hem anon As hi bureden tweie holi men. þat martred wereLine 130 Com þe amperoures men anon. and nom hem riȝt þere To fore þe iustise hi weren ibrouȝte. he asked hem anon Who mad hem so hardi to burie; þe emperoures fon þþis misbileouede trichours. þat weren aȝen her lawe þþat wiþ inggement of þe lond. were ibrouȝt of daweLine 135 Sire seide þis godmen. icholde þat we worþi were. Her knaues forto habbe ibeo. þat þou letest quelle þere Hi forsoke þinge þat nouȝt nas. þeiȝ hit semblaunte hadde And toke þinge þat worþi was. and non semblaunte nadde Bel amẏs þe iustise seide. ȝou me þencheþ wod [f. 157 b] Line 140 Worþi he is sorwe to habbe. Whoso kepeþ nouȝt of god Valerian seide in winter ofte. idel men sitteþ and drinkeþ To busmare hi liȝeþ eorþe tilien. þat aboute sowinge swinkeþ In haruest whan gode swinkares mowe. gode corn inouȝ ripe þþan sitteþ hi at hom. and nabbeþ of corn a gripeLine 145 As we scholle for oure trauaille. in blisse ripe attan ende Whan ȝe scholle for ȝoure ioie nou. wepinge to helle wende Þþan we seide þe iustise þat louerdes scholde beo Beoþ villore þan ȝe wrecche cheitiues. þat neuere nolleþ iþeo

Certes seide ualerian. þou art lasse itolde.Line 150 þþan a selẏ beggar aȝen god. ne beo þou neuere so bolde Bel amẏ seide þe iustise. ẏ ne kepe nouȝt of þin ianglinge Ac doþ to oure godes sacrefize. oþer me schal ȝou to deþ bringe Certes seide þis god men. þou ne bringest hit neuere þer to Anon þe iustise for wraþþe het. in to stronge prisoun hem doLine 155 Maxime het þe gailler. þat hem in warde nom So þat he and alle his men. þoru hem cristen bicom Seint Cecilie com bi þe prisoun. and loude gan to grede What do ȝe ȝeo seide godes kniȝtes. cuþeþ ȝoure staleworþhede Beoþ hardi and fiȝteþ staleworþliche. to bileue þis derkhedeLine 160 þþat ȝe were in þe weẏ ibrouȝt. þat to cler liȝt wole ȝou lede Amorwe to þis maumetes. þis gode men weren ibrouȝt þþe iustise hem het don sacrefize. ac þo hi nolde nouȝt He het her heuedes to smiten of; and Maxime þo iseiȝ Whar angles nom her soulen boþe. and bere to heuene an heiȝLine 165 Maxime wende to þe iustise forþ; cristen icham he sede Ich seiȝe þis tweie godmen soules; angles to heuene lede þþe iustise him let nime anon. and naked he let him bete Wiþ scourges stronge. faste ibounde. forte he þat lif gan lete þþe bodi hi caste wiþoute þe toun. and þo gan Cecilie forþ gonLine 170 þþis þreo swete martires, ȝeo burede hire sulf anon Son ȝeo was inome. and iladde. to fore þe iustise þo What he seide hou goþ þis. beoþ þer ȝut schrewen mo Artou he seide valerianes wif; bi þe trewþe ich owe Mahoun

Bote þou oþer do. þin white hew. worþ son ibrouȝt adounLine 175 Of what kinne he seide artou icome; þat þus folliche þe wolde lere Of noblere men ȝeo seide icham icome. þan þou euere were In whuche manere lif seide þe iustise. þenkestou forto liue þþou askest ȝeo seide as a fole. and soche answere me schal þe ȝeue. For al þin power þou schalt iseo. bi þat þou wost þen endeLine 180 þþat þou ne schalt fram mi lord crist. enes min hert wende [f. 158.] Hou bicomeþ hit þe. þe iustise seide; to beo so hardi her [("De Sancta Cecilia.")] To clupe me fole þat am þi maister. ne seostou mi power þþin power wrecche þis maide seide. worþ son ibrouȝte bi hinde For hit nis bote as a bladdore. iblowe folle of windeLine 185 þþat be he ipriked wiþ a lutel pricke. a weẏ he schrinkeþ al As god wiþ a lutel sikenesse. þin wrecche caroẏn schal þþin power þat þou ȝelpest of. þan worþ wel lute Hou geþ þis þe iustise seide. fram whannan comeþ þin prute Ne mai ich þe ȝeue deþ and lif. ne seostou wiþ þin eẏeLine 190 Certes sire þis maide seide. þer of þou luxt wel heẏe A wrecche caroẏn þou miȝte ȝeue; deþ þat schort is Ac of liue þou miȝte noþinge ȝeue; þi sulf nouȝt iwis Whan þou miȝte ȝeue deþ and no lif; me þencheþ bi pure riȝte. þþat þou deþes sergaunt art; for of lif nastou no miȝte.Line 195 And whan þou deþes seriaunt art; deþ þin lord is And in deþ wiþouten ende. þou wolt beon iwis

Dame seide þe iustise. of þin gidihede kepe ich nouȝt Do here sacrifize to oure godes. oþer þou worþest to deþ ibrouȝt Seistou þat ich gidie am. þis holi maide seideLine 200 Ac þou art gidie and ek blinde. and þat isene is on þin rede. Scholde ich honouri þin godes; þat beoþ of ston and treo þþat noþinge worþi her power nis. ȝif þou miȝte iseo Ȝif þou seost and ileouest hit nouȝt. gidie þou art iwis Bote þou be blinde iseo þou miȝte. þat þis þinge soþe isLine 205 For gidie he is þat nele ileoue. þat iseoþ wiþ his eẏe And as gidie man and blinde. þou schalt in helle deẏe þþis iustise was for wraþþe wod. he het þis maide take And led hire into an oute hous; and grete fure þerinne make And sette þer on a led ful of watere. and al amidde hire casteLine 210 And seþe hire while þer wolde alime. ihol of hire ilaste þþo þis iuggement was iȝeue. and me hire forþ ladde Men and wimmen þat hire seẏe. loude hi wope and gradde Alas hi seide of þis ȝonge þinge and þis faire creature þþat schal lese hire swete lif. and deẏe þoruȝ þe fureLine 215 Beoþ stille seide þis holi maide. for me ne wepe ȝe nouȝt Min ȝonge lif schal ich nouȝt lese. ac to liue ich worþe ibrouȝt In þe seþinge watere ȝeo was icaste. and þerinne al niȝt ȝeo seþ þþe lengore þat ȝeo þerinne was. þe ferþer ȝeo was þen deþ. Wiþ þe walmes ȝeo sate and pleide. and prechede godes grace [f. 158 b] Line 220 þþat mo þan foure hondred men þer bicom. cristen in þe place þþo þe iustise iseiȝ þat he ne miȝte. in soche deþ quelle hire nouȝt He het þat me scholde hire heued of smite. þat ȝeo were to deþ ibroȝt þþe quellar smot wiþ al his maẏn. þreo siþe on þe swere

He ne miȝte for noþinge smiten hit of. ȝeo bouȝte þen deþ ful dereLine 225 Non quellar moste bi þulk dai. smiten oftere þan þrie Half aslawe he bileuede hire so. a weẏward he gan hẏe Þþis holi wimmon wende aboute. hire heued half of ismite Wiþ hire honden ȝeo delede pore men. hire gode. þat ȝeo miȝte of wite Ȝeo prechede and to oure louerd crist. mani men ȝeo sendeLine 230 And alle to þe bischop seint Vrban. to baptisy ȝeo wende And bad þat seint urban. hire hous þat ȝeo wonede inne Halewy scholde in godes name. and a churche þer biginne þþe þridde dai after hire marterdom. þis maide a doun lai And prechede wel cristen men. and bad hem habbe gode daiLine 235 And seide þat ȝeo hadde ido. alle þat hire wille was to Wende ȝeo wolde to oure louerd crist. and hi scholden after also Hit nas bote two hondred ȝer. and þreo and twenti also After þat oure louerd ibore was. þat þis dede was ido Nou louerd for þulc marterdom. þat seint Cecilie hadde Graunte ous to þulk ioie come. þer þat angles hire to ladde.

Amen.

MS. COTT. TIB. E VII. [fol. 271 a-274 b.]

Jhesus Crist, ful of pete, To mankind es of mercy fre And schewes his pouste & his might Of(t)-sithes here unto sum men sight, So þat we may his mightes ken,Line 5 Als wele in wemen als in men, And all-þermost in maydens ȝing Þat will be boun to his biding. Þat may men by ensaumple se Of saint Cecill, þe mayden fre,Line 10 Þat born was of ful gentill blode And euer was haly & milde of mode, [(MS. Harl. mede.)] And in hir hert ful wele scho knew All þe lare of oure lord Jhesu. Vnto him was scho prayand euer,Line 15 Night and day, and sesid neuer. Of pape Urban scho was baptist And trewly trowed in Jhesu Crist. With hir frendes scho was ful dere And with all oþer folk in-fere,Line 20 Bycaus scho was both fayre & gude And untill all folk milde of mode. Hir frendes maried hir till a man Þat named was Valirian; Ȝong he was and faire of skinLine 25 And komen of ful nobill kyn, Bot hathin he was & unbaptist And knew no-thing þe law of Crist. Cisill durst none oþer do Bot als hir frendes tald hir to.Line 30 Þe day was sett: þai suld be wed. In clathes of (g)old [(MS. cold.)] þai both war cled; Bot Cicill had þar-of no pride— Ful hard clething was next hir hid; Outward scho was richely arrayd,Line 35 So alls hir frendes had puruayd. Þus on þis wise when þai war wed, Ful fele folk þaire frendes fed. When þe bridal was broght till ende, Þat ilka man þaire wai gan wende,Line 40 Cicill es þan to chamber went, Calland to Crist with gude entent. Þai herd grete noyis, þat war hir nere, Of angels sang and organs clere; Scho made hir melody omangLine 45 And al þus said scho in hir sang:

Fiat cor meum et corpus meum im∣maculatum, ut non confundar:

Þat es on þis maner to mene: "Lord, þou mak my hert all clene And saue my body unfiled within, So þat I be noght schent with syn!"Line 50 When scho had tald all hir talent Þus unto god with gude entent, With hir husband scho went to bed, Als þe law wald, for scho was wed. Bot in hert ful wele scho thoghtLine 55 To kepe hir clene, if þat scho moght. So by hir lord when scho was layd, Vntill him al þus scho sayd, Scho sayd: "sir, if it war ȝowre will,

A cownsail haue I ȝow untill,Line 60 Þat bus be said now, with ȝowre leue— And, gude syr, luke ȝe ȝow noght greue! Ane angell, syr, of heuyn ful bright Es my speciall both day and night, A seruand unto god es he—Line 65 I luf him wele, so dose he me. And if he wit with any gin Þat þow my body file with syn Or onclene lufing to me bede, He will be wrath for swilk in dedeLine 70 And vengance will he on ȝow take, Þat ȝe sall all solace forsake And lose þe flowre of ȝowre 'ȝowth∣hede. Swilk grewance, sir, es gude to drede." Valirian þan wex all wrathe,Line 75 For drede he durst do hir no schathe; Of hir wordes he was noght payde And all þus unto hir he sayde: "Woman, if þou will þat I trow Þir wordes þat þou sais me now,Line 80 Bitwix vs twa here lat me se Him þat þou sais so lufes þe! So þat I may my-self assay Whether he [be] angell uerray, [(H. he be.)] Seruand unto god of heuyn—Line 85 Þan sall I do þi counsaill euyn. And if þou luf ane oþer man, Ful sare þou sall þe bargan ban; Nowþer sall skape with-owten scath, Bot I my-self sall sla ȝow bath,Line 90 With mikell schame I sall ȝow schende." Þan answered scho with wordes hende: "Gude sir," scho said, "greue noght þe If þou may noght goddes angel se! For here may no-man se angell,Line 95 Bot if he trow, als I sall tell, In a god þat made all thing, Þat was with-outen bygining And es and euer-more sall be, Mast of might and of mercy fre,Line 100 And als in his sun Jhesu Criste. If þou will trow & be baptiste, Þan say I, syr, þat þou sall se, Þe angell—þat I tell to þe. And, sir, if þou will þis ass[a]y, [(H. assy.)] Line 105 Till bisschop Urban tak þi way And tell him all þir wordes balde, Right als I haue to þe talde; And tell him all þi life till end, So þat he may þi mis amend!Line 110 Þan sall he, when þi trowth es trew, Cleth þe all in clething new: Whitte clathes and clene sal he gif þe. Þan sall þou in my chamber se Þe bright angell of god of heuynLine 115 Þat lufes me, als I gan þe neuyn, And of him þan saltou haue What thing so þou will efter craue."

Þan thurgh grace of þe haly gaste Vp he rase and went in hasteLine 120 Vntill þe gude bisschop Urban, And halely talde he to him þan, With him and his wife how it ferd. And when Urban his tale had herd, He heuyd [(H. heuyn.)] his handes to heuyn on hightLine 125 And said þus to god moste of might: "Lord Jhesu Criste, loued mot þou be Þat sawes þe sede of chastite And gifes unto men cha[s]te cown∣saylle Þat to þaire sawl m[a]y mekill availe!Line 130 Þou tak þe fruit now als þine awin Of þe sede þou has in Cicill sawn— For it waxes and multiplise, Als men may se on þis wise. A spows scho toke, with hir to dwell,Line 135 þat als a lion was fers and fell And rebell both by night and day Ogains þe lessons of þi lay: Now meke to þe has scho made him Als a lamb, in sawl and lym—Line 140 For war he noght unto þe meke, [(H. moke.)] Saluyng of me wald he none seke. And, sen he has to saluyng soght, Lord, saue him and forsake him noght!" Þis when he had his praier end,Line 145 Byfor þam sone þai saw descend Ane ald man and stode þam bitwene, All cled in lynnen cloth ful clene, And in his hand he had a boke All of gold letters, on to luke,Line 150 Valirian, [when] he saw þis sight, Might noght luke ogains þat light: For drede he fell doun in þat stede And still he lay als he war ded. Þe ald man þan his right hand tokeLine 155 And lifted him up, and bad him loke What thing was wretyn in þat bill Þat he had þare broght him till. Valirian þan þe letter tase And þus wretyn in þat place:Line 160 Unus dominus. vna fides. vnum baptisma. Þat es on þis maner to mene: "A god es euer all-bydene, And als a faith all folk sall haue, And a baptym, all sawles to saue." When Valirian had red þis bill,Line 165 Þan said þe ald man þus him till: "Trowes þou þis als þou may rede, Or dwelles ȝit þi hert in drede?" Þan answerd [(H. answer.)] þus Valirian: "What thingh might be till erthli man—Line 170 To rede or els with mowth to neuyn— More forto trow vnder þe heuyn? In my wit I trow ful wele Þat here es writen euer-ilkadele."

Whils Valirian þir wordes gan say,Line 175 Þe ald man was sone o way— And how he went, no-thing þai wist. Þan þe bisschop Valirian baptist & bad him trow with conciens clene Als he þare had herd and sene.Line 180 Valirian granted [(H. grantes.)] with gude will [fol. 192.] All his bidinges to fulfill. Þan hame ogain he bad him ga Vnto Cicill, þat he come fra, And confort [(H. confert.)] hir with all his mayne.Line 185 Þus to his wife he went ogayne. To Cisill chamber sone he went, To thank hir þat him so had sent To get saluing of all his sin And gude lifing so to bygyn.Line 190 Kneleand in praiers he hir fand, And sone bifor hir saw he stand Godes angel, schineand so bright, Þat all þe hows lemid of light; Twa corons in his hand he broght—Line 195 So worthi neuer in werld war wroght: Vnto Ciscill he toke þe tane, Þat oþer unto Valariane, Opon þaire heuides he set þam rathe, And all þus said he to þam bathe:Line 200 "Kepes þir corons ȝow bitwene With chast bodys and hertis clene! Fro paradis I haue þam broght— For in þat ilk place war þai wroght; To ȝow mi lord has þam puruayd."Line 205 Þan to Ualirian þus he said: "For þat þow wald assentand be Vnto counsail of chastite, Mi lord Jhesu, of mercy fre, Sendes þe þus bodword by me:Line 210 What thing of him so þou will craue, Ask: and sone þou sal it haue, What thing so euer þou will of mele— So þat it be to þi sawl hele." Valirian þan made his askingLine 215 And said: "I ȝern none oþer thing Ne no-thing es to me so swete Als es, my broþer bale to bete. Wald my lord, dere Jhesus, Help my broþer TyburciusLine 220 In his law forto be fre And cristen man, als he mad me, Þat we might both parfitely lif And both oure gastes unto him gif!" When þe angell þir wordes herd,Line 225 To Valirian þus he answerd And said: "þi will it sall be done, For-whi þou askes in þi bone Þat mi lord likes forto haue Better, þan þe likes it to craue.Line 230 Þarfore, als my lord has won þe Thurgh Ciscill, his seruand fre, So thurgh þe now sall he win Þi broþer out of bandes of sin. And þou and he sall samyn cumLine 235 Vntill þe mede of marterdome." When þis was said, he went up euyn Wit grete brightnes to blis of heuyn. And Valirian þan with his [(H. wisth.)] wife Ful halily ay led þaire life.Line 240 And efter þis, right als god walde, Tyburcyus, þat I of talde, Þat broþer was to Valiriane,

Opon a day come him-allane To luke how þat his broþer ferd,Line 245 For halines he of him herd. And als he entred in þaire hows, He kissed him, and als his spows, He kissed Ciscell and said þus: "Gude sauore es here omanges vs—Line 250 Of rose and lilyes me think it like— Sen I was born, [(H. lorn.)] felde I neuer slike, So swete sauore feld neuer man." Þan spak his broþer Ualirian: "Broþer, sen god vowches saueLine 255 Þat þou þis swete sauore may haue, Hardily now hete I þe: If þow in trowth will stedfast [(H. stedifast.)] be And luf oure lord Jhesus allane, Vnto whas lare we haue us tane:Line 260 Þan sall tou se and here þe steuyn Of þe angell of god in heuyn And so be saued, for certayne."

Tyburcius said to him ogayne: "And I might godes angell se,—Line 265 A verrayer takin might noght be: Þan will I turn vntill his lay." When Ciscell herd him sogat say, Down scho fell and kissed his fete, And þan scho said þir wordes swete:Line 270 "Now will I grante, whore so I wende, Þou es my kosyn & my dere frende. For als þe luf of Jhesu fre Has made þi broþer assent to me, So sall he turn þe forto takeLine 275 His might & maumetry forsake. And, sir, sen þou es redy now To tak his trowth & trewly trow, With þi broþer saltou ga Vntill þe bisschop þat we come fra.Line 280 And be bowsom what he will bid." Als scho has demid right so þai did. Of þe bisschop was he baptist þan And bycome a ful haly man. So þat god gaf him slike grace,Line 285 Þat he [(H. be.)] might see in ilk a place Angels of god ay at his will And all his likeing [(H. liking.)] tell þam till, And of þam might he ask and haue What thing so he wald efter craue.Line 290 Þus þir breþer bot[h] [(H. bot.)] in-fere And Ciscill, þat was to þam dere, Lifed in luf and charite And honored god in all degre.— Passio sanctorum Tyburcii et Vale∣riani. Tiburcius and Valiriane,Line 295 Fro-time þat þai had baptime tane, To serue god ay war þai boune, And fast þai prechid in feld & toun Ogains þaire mawmettes more & min Þat þai bifore affied þam in.Line 300 To tell þaire life, it war ful lang, Or meruayles þat war þam omang; Bot in þis tretice will I tell What ferlis in þaire ded byfell And what wonders god for þam wrogtLine 305 Yn time þat þai to ded war broght. Þare wond a prince þare in þat land Whare þir two breþer war precheand Þar lifed all on maumettry: Vnto þam had he grete enuyLine 310 And said, with dole þai suld be dede Bot if þai tite wald turn þaire rede. Sone he has efter þam sent. And when þai come in his present, Þai prechid so of Cristes lay:Line 315 Þe prince had no power to say Ne forto do na harm þam till,

Bot sone he granted to wirk þaire will. To Cristes law so turned he; So did all halely his menȝe,Line 320 & all þo men war turned ilkane Þat suld haue bene þe breþer bane. And sone when saint Ciscill herd tell Of all þis fare how it bifell, Vnto þam ful sone scho soght;Line 325

And prestes þedir with hir scho broght, Þat baptist þam biliue ilkane, To lif in Cristes law allane. When þis ilk pri[n]ce [(H. price.)] Maximius And his menȝe war baptist þusLine 330 Saint Ciscill confort þam ful wele And bad þam forsake ilka dele Þaire mawmetri þat þai on trow. And unto Jhesu baynly bow; Scho bad þam leue þe werkes of nightLine 335 And cleth þam in armurs of light. Scho said: "ȝowre cours ȝe haue ful∣fild Ful worthily, als Jhesus wild [(H. willd.)] ; A grete bataile ouer-cumen haue ȝe: And þarfore sall ȝe corond beLine 340 With corons þat Criste sall ȝow gif, In lastand blis ay forto lif. Þarfore bese noght abaist, to take Marterdom for Cristes sake!" Þai granted all to do his willLine 345 And his biding forto fulfill; Almachius þan, þe cursed king, When he herd of þis tiþing, He cumand þat þai suld ilkane Mak sacrafise or els be slane.Line 350 And for þai wald noght wirk his will, Ful hard paines he put þam till, And at þe last with-outen lite All þaire heuiddes [(H. heuides.)] he gert of smite. And when þaire bodis so war schent,Line 355 Þaire sawles sone to heuyn went, Þat men might se with-owten mis How angels led þam unto blis. And mani folk for þat ilk sight Turned to Crist and trowed right.Line 360 Maximius, þat gude conuers, Omang þam gan þir wordes reherce, He said: "I se þaire sawles ilkane With angels vnto heuyn be tane In þaire wenges, þat þai noght fall,Line 365 And like clene uirgins er þai all." Almachius þe king herd tell Of all þis fare how it bifell, And how Maximius had said, And how his folk war all affraid:Line 370 He cumand smertly on þe morn [fol. 193.] To bring Maximius him byforn, And grefe turmentes to him he wroght, Vntill he vnto ded was broght. His saul was hastly hent to heuyn,Line 375 With more solace þan men may neuyn. Almachius, þat wikked king, When he had done þus al þis thing And saw þus þat Ualiraine

And all þir oþer saintes war slane,Line 380 Þarfore he thinkes in his mode At geder to him al þaire gude. To Valiriane hows first þai haste, For he was man of reches maste. Þai come unto Ciscill, his wife,Line 385 Stoutly and with ful grete strife And bad hir lay furth þe reches Þat war hir maysters, more & les, "For als traitur to dede he ȝode And þe [(H. omits.)] king sall haue all his gude."Line 390 Saint Ciscil gan grete mornig mak; And so unto þa men scho spak Þat all þai turned þam unto Crist.

And in his name þai war baptist, þai forsoke all þaire maumetryLine 395 And trowed in Jhesu almighty; Him þai wirschipt als þe wise And lifed and died in his seruise. Bot when Almachius herd of yit [(H. þit?)] , Wode he was, out of his wit.Line 400 He bad þat Ciscill suld be soght And hastili [(H. hastily.)] bifor him broght; And al hir howsing cumand he Þat it with fire all brint suld be. Bot first he frained with eger mode,Line 405 Whare was all Valirian gude. And scho said þat scho gan it take Vnto pouer men for goddes sake. At þa wordes was he full tene And bad all suld be brint bideneLine 410 Hows and catell, more and min, And als hir-self he bad þam brin. And sone, to fulfill his desire, Al hir place þai set in fire; Hir-self in mides gert þai stand,Line 415 And all obout þe fire brinand. Bot all þat [t]here [(H. here.)] to hir was sene Als scho in ane erber had bene Clene and faire with flores bright. So stode scho a day and night,Line 420 Prayand to god wit hert ful hale. And when Almachius herd þis tale, He biddes þam þat broght þe tiþandes Smite hir hede of, þar scho standes. His slaghter-man to Ciscill wentLine 425 Whare scho stode in gude entent; To god hir prayers gan scho make And bed hir nec furth till þe strake. Þe custum was in þat cuntre Þat none suld strike bot strakes thre.Line 430 And when he had thre strakes hit, Ȝit was hir hals noght sunder kit, Hale war sum [(H. sun.)] of sins and uaines. And so he left hir in grete paines— For þe lau was, als I said are,Line 435 He suld gif thre strakes & nomare. So opon hir knese scho sat, Lifand thre daies efter þat. And maidens þat had with hir bene Come unto hir albidene,Line 440 And al þa daise scho sesed noght To confurt þam so als scho moght. Efter þe pape Urban scho sent And tald unto him hir entent: "Sir, scho said, god has gifen meLine 445 In þis liue þir daies thre, Als I him praied, and by þis scill: Þat I might tell to þe my will. All my maidens to þe I gif, To ȝeme þam wele, ay whils þ[a]i [(H. þi.)] lif,Line 450 And teche þam wiseli forto wirk;

And in mi name þou mak a kirk Þat mi maidens may dwell in euyn [(H. eyuyn.)] And serue god with will and steuyn." When þis was said, ful sone in hasteLine 455 Vnto god scho gaf þe gaste. And þe bischop, when scho was dede, Beried hir in þat same stede And made a kirk of ful grete spens In wirschip and in grete reuerenceLine 460 Of Jhesu Crist, oure sawiowre [(H. sawiowire)] Vnto wham be euer honore!

Amen. Amen. Amen.

MS. Camb. Univ. Lib. Gg. II. 6. [fol. 364 a-358 b.]

To say sume thinge is myne entent Of sanct Cecile, Þe fare & gent, Þat cumyne wes of Þe best kine Þat Rome Þane nere wes withine; & scho folouyt wele Þare trace,Line 5 For bath wyse & uertuse scho wes, Fare of fasone for to se, Enhornyt of al bewte; & fosterit ves in Cristis fay, & Cristis ewangele scho had ayLine 10 Hyd in hire brest & Þare-one thocht, Na nycht na day cesit nocht [(Here a couplet is missing? H.)] . Mekly to god, Þat kepe vald he Clenly hir virginite. & scho eftir Þe custume ÞaneLine 15 Ves handfast vith a ȝungmane, [f. 354 b.] & callit ves Valaryane, Þat in maryage vald hire haf tane. Þe day ves cumyne Þat Þai twa Þat band of mariage suld ma;Line 20 Next hire flesch, Þat wes fare, Scho had al tyme Þe harsk hare & ves [(MS. wiÞ.)] owtewart to Þe sicht Cled in gold schenand bryrcht. & quhene al mast meryLine 25 Mad with mouth & menstra(l)sy, Þane wald scho in hart [(MS. hirt.)] god pray Be hir ane & til hyme say: "God, grant Þat my hart ma I Vnuemmyt kepe & my body,Line 30 Sa Þat I thole na varldis schame Bot ay be thankful to Þi name;" & for Þat [(MS. Þast.)] fastinge & prayere Scho mad to god tymis sere. Bot quhene Þa suld to bed gaLine 35 & nane wes Þar bot Þai twa, Scho tuk hyme by Þe hand in hy & til hyme sad deuotely: "My maste swet & lowit [(MS. cowit.)] thinge,

I wald tel Þe a priwe thingeLine 40 Sa Þat I mycht sekire be Þu suld neuire discouer me, For gud na Il na for mede." "Tel one Þarfor & haf na dred!" Scho sad: "goddis angel haf I,Line 45 Þat kepis me ay Ithandly & lufis me sa wele, Þat he Wil thole na warldly mene haf me; Þe quhilk gif he persawe Þi wil Þat Þu with lust nicht me til,Line 50 He sal Þe sla, ore euire he fyne, & Þu Þi fare ȝuthed sal tyne; Bot he Þat be Þi wil cane prowe Þat [(MS. Gyf.)] Þu me lufit of clene lufe, In gret daynte he sal haf ÞeLine 55 & luf Þe als wele as me & al his Joy (sal) saw Þe til." Valaryane Þane, thru godis wil Chastyit, sad: "gif Þu wil I Trow Þi wordis parfytly,Line 60 Schaw me Þe angel, Þat I may Se Þat Þi wordis are verray: & I sal do al Þi bydynge; Bot gif I ma haf persawynge [f. 355 a.] Þat Þu luffis ony warldis mane,Line 65 I sal sla Þe & hyme rycht Þane." Quod scho Þane: "gyf Þat Þu Wil prowe it suth I sa now, Þu sal trew in god hicht me, & in his name baptiste be:Line 70 & Þu sal se Þe suth rycht Þane Þat he is angel & na mane, Þarfor ga fra Þe cyte ewine Thre myle in name of god of hewine, & in a rew, callit "via apia",Line 75 Syndry poure mene Þu sal ourta, & to Þame sal Þu sa but gyle Þat "me til ȝ^u has send Cecile, To sanct Vrbane [(MS. barbane.)] to kene me To tel hyme hire priwete."Line 80 & quhene Þu fyndis hyme, Þu ma Tel hyme Þire wordis Þat I say. & quhene he has hofine Þe, Þane godis angel Þu sal se."

Valaryane Þane but abadLine 85 Passit furth Þe gat scho hyme bad, & be Þe taknys, he had tane, Fand Þe bischope sanct Vrbane Lurkand, ymange pure mene mekly, Quhare mony marteris cane ly.Line 90 & quhene Þat he Þame tald had His erand as Cecile hyme bad, Þe ald his handis but (ony) mare Vphewit to Þe hewine rycht Þare & gretand sad: "lord Jhesu,Line 95 Þat chast consal wele chewis nov, Of Þat fede froit nov Þu tak Þat in Cecil Þu cane mak! For Cecil as(a) besy be Ententifly seruit has Þe;Line 100 For hyme, Þat scho als fellone Til spouse (tuk) as a woud lyone, Mek as a lame scho has Þe send, Þi treucht til ek & til amend." & as Þe bischope Þis & mareLine 105 had sad, pane apperit pare A ȝung mane, Þat nane cuth knaw, Cled in quhytare thinge Þane snaw, & in his hand (he) bare a buke, Þe quhilk rycht fare ves one to luke,Line 110 Vith goldine lettris wrytine brad. Quhame quhene Valeryane sene had, He fel for rednes in Þat [(MS. Þast.)] sted [f. 355 b.] As a mane Þat had bene ded. Bot rath Þe ȝung mane raisit hymeLine 115 & bad hyme rede Þe buk with-ine. & he red: & fand (wrytin) Þare: "Þar is a god, forout mare, & bot a treucht, & a baptyme, Þat sal al leilemene saf fra pyne,Line 120 A fadir, a makare of al, A-beoufe althinge & euir be sal." & as he had red Þis wryt, Þe bischope sais: "trewis Þu It Or art Þu ȝet of doutLine 125 Of It Þu come here about?" Valaryane Þane loud cane cry & sad: "na thinge sa weile trev I Vndir hewine as I trew It Þat I saw wrytine in ȝone wryt."Line 130

Þe ȝung mane Þane wanyst away. & Valeryane but delay Of sancte Vrbane tuk baptyme, & hame to Cecile went syne & fand hire one hire bed stanand,Line 135 & ane angel, Þat in his hand Had twa cronis mad wynly Of spanyst rose & quhyt lely; Of Þame to Cecile he gef ane, & ane to Valaryane,Line 140 & sad: "Þir cronys I brocht now Of paradyse, to gif til ȝow; Þe quhilkis gif ȝe kepe clenly With hart wnuemmyt & body, Þai sal neuir falow, na tyneLine 145 Þe odour Þat ȝe think sa fyne, Na ȝet na vthire sal Þame se Bot gif he kepe chastyte. &, Valeryane, sene Þat Þu Has trewit heilesume consel now,Line 150 Ask at me quhat-euir Þu wil, & I Þi ȝarnyng sal fulfil." Sad he: "gif sa Þat it sal be, Þar is na thinge sa suet, think me, As my nane brothire; Þare-for ILine 155 Ask Þat he (als) knaw in hy Þe suthfastnes Þat nov I kene." Þe angel sad til hyme Þane: "For Þine askyne is rychtwyse [f. 356 a.] & to god plesand mony-vise,Line 160 Þu & Þi bruthire, bath Cronit to god, sal cume rath, Of martirdome Þe fare crone To bruk in hewine at [(MS. as.)] ȝoure wardone."

Tyburcyane syne enterit ÞareLine 165 Quhar Cecile & his bruthire ware, & feld Þe odoure in til hy Of Þe rose & Þe lely, & sad: "bruthir, hou hapnis here Þis swet sawoure Þis tyme of ȝere,Line 170 Of Nouember in Þe moneth, Quhene flouris haldine ar vndirneth? For betyre odire I cane neuir fele. Þare-for til ȝou twa I grant wele Þat I ame chengit [(MS clengit.)] sudendly."Line 175 Valaryane sad: "na ferly; For fare cronis & fresch haf we, Þat Þine ene ȝet ma nocht se, Of rose & lyle wynly mad, Þat neuir-mare fal falou na fad.Line 180 Bot as Þu nov be my prayere Has feld wele Þis odore here, Sa sal Þu, gif Þu trewis me, It Þat Þou felis clerly se." Tyburcius [(MS. tybur∣cium.)] cane hyme ansuere:Line 185 "Gif Þis in slepe be at I here Or it be in to suthfastnes Þou me tellis mar & les?" Þane sad til hyme Valaryane: "Ve haf slepit al our tyme gane,Line 190 Bot in suthfastnes now we duel." Tyburcius sad: "Þu me tel Hou Þis ma be?" Þane one-ane Til hyme sad Valaryane: "Godis angele it tacht to me;Line 195 Þe quhilkis gif Þu ȝarnis to se, Tak baptyme & renunce til al Fals ydolis Þat ȝe godis cal!" Þane Cecile prechit hyme in hy & schewit it hyme al opynlyLine 200 Þat ydolis ma fele na thinge Bot are dume & defe, but smelling Na nocht ma grape na ȝet se, "Bot ar mad ne ma helpe Þe, & þu ma breke [(Metc., heke.)] Þaime as Þu wil;Line 205 Quhy suld Þu Þane gif suth paime til?" & as fcho had hire sermone done, [f. 356 b.] Tyburcius sad til hire sone: "Quha trewis nocht Þis, mast & leste, In fawte of wit is bot a beste."Line 210 Cecile Þane hyme in armys hynt & kissit his briste, or scho stynt, & sad til him [(MS. hir.)] : "I grant þis day Þat þu art my mach verray; For, richt as luf of god has madLine 215 Þi bruthire my husband, but bad, Richt sa sal godis luf mak þe My mache, gif þu wil treu me, Gif þu al ydol(is) wil forsake & treu in god & baptyme tak;Line 220 & sa sal god grace gif to þe His angel in-to face to se. For-þi se þu na lettynge ma Bot with þi bruthire sone þ^u ga!" Til his bruthire TyburcyaneLine 225 Sad: "tel me, Valaryane, To quhat is it þu sal me led To mak ful endyng of þis ded?" Sad he: "to bischope Vrbane." Þane sad Tyburcius one-ane:Line 230 "Is þat Vrbane þat to þe dede Has bene condampnyt in þis sted (&) In til hydlis ay syne duellis? For, be he fundine, as mene tellis, He will be brynt for-out mare,Line 235 & we with hyme mone fal þare, & sa, til we are sekande Diuinite in hewine schenand, Ve sal be wappyt in til yre Percace in erde in brynnand fyre."Line 240 Quod Cecile til hyme: "gif ware nane Life bot in þis warld alane, Ferly var na mene wald dout To tyne it, war þai neuir sa stout; Bot þar is a fere bettyre lyf,Line 245 Þat ma (nocht) tynt be for þis strife, Þat godis sone (h)as til ws tald, Þat mad al think, as his fadir wald; Þis godis sone command fra hewyne Til lar [(Metc. omits Til lar.)] , tacht ws with his stewyneLine 250 Þat (vthir) lyf is þat lestis ay, In hewine, but oþir tene or tray Þat he has grathit til al his, [f. 357 a.] Til bruk in euire lestand blis." Tyburcyane sad: "tel me þis: [(MS. þus.)] Line 255 Sene þu sais bot a god is, Quhy is þat þu tellis me Þat þai are nov godis thre?" & Cecile sad, þat ves war: "As in a mane thre thingis ar,Line 260

Wit frist, memor þe todire thinge, & þe thred vndirstandinge: Richt swa in þe mycht of godhed Thre personis are but ony dred: Þe fadire, þe sone, þe [(MS. he.)] haly gast,Line 265 & nocht ane of þire are in waste." Þane tald scho hyme mare & les Quhy god in warld come & in fles, & how hyme lykit for to tak Passione of ded for mannis sak,Line 270 & tald hyme syne congruiyte Quhy his passione suld nedful be: "& first he tholit hyme-self ta, At as mane suld be lattine ga Þat had bene haldine lang (in) [(MS. langsum.)] syne;Line 275 & to be myssad lykit hyme, Sa mane, þat ves in malysone, Mycht þar chese lestand benysone; & he tholit scornyt to be, To mak mene of fendis scorne fre;Line 280 & he tholit a crone of thorne One his heid be put for scorne, For þat þe heid [(MS. he had.)] -sensses suld be Fra mankind tane þat first gef he; & gal he tastit, for to betLine 285 It þat mane tynt tastand þe swet; & nakit one þe croice he wes, Til hele Adamys nakitnes; & hangit one þe croice ves he, Of first trespas to mak ws fre."Line 290 Tyburcyus þane but delay Til his bruthire þis cane [(MS. þan.)] say: "Gud bruthire, haf in þe mercy, I pray þe, & me led in hy To godis mane, þat I ma beLine 295 Clene mad, þe angel to se!" His bruthire þane hyme has tane Be þe hand & led til Vrbane; [f. 357 b.] Þat, baptiste þane, he Þe angel clerly mycht se,Line 300 Þat vald gif hyme his askin[g]e Debonarly but gruchinge. Tyburcius þane, or he fane, & his bruthire Valaryane Þare faculte, til It mycht leste, [(MS. beste.)] Line 305 Til poure folk disponyt faste, & of þe marteris þe bodyis Sa slane for godis seruice Þai enterit ful prywely.

Almacius þane in (til) hyLine 310 Gert þai brethire til hyme bringe & sad to þame, as in hethinge: "Quharfor haf ȝe sa mykil cure & besynes and laboure To grawe þame þat for trespas,Line 315 As resone mad, condampnit ves?" Tyburcius þane but delay To þe prefet sadly cane say: "Vald god we war seruandis al To þame (þat) ȝe dampnyt cal!Line 320 Þat has dispysit with clere thocht It þat aperis [(MS. aperit.)] & is nocht . . ." Þe prefet sad: "þu tel me Quhat manere þat may be?" Quod he: "þat semys & is nochtLine 325 Is al þat in þis warld is wrocht & ledis mane to vanyte & til it þat nocht sal be; Bot [(MS. for.)] it þat semys nocht to be & is, gif þu ma clerly se,Line 330 Is of richtwise mene þe lyfe, & of Il mene þe payne but strife." Þe prefet sad: "I trew nocht þis Þu sais; of þi-self al is." & bad þane þat ValaryaneLine 335 Befor hyme suld be brocht one-ane, & sad hyme: "þo þi bruthire be Nocht of parfyt wit, as think me, I consal þe for-out mare Þat þu to me mak gud ansuare;Line 340 For it war lyk þai ware wod Þat refusis bath Joy & gud Bot folely þat maste ȝarnis Þat is maste fay to Joy & blis. For-þi is gud ȝe wyfe ȝu weile,Line 345 Or ȝe tyne al varldis sele [(MS. fele.)] ." [f. 358 a.] Valaryane sad til hyme þane: In froist þat he saw Idil mene Playand þame, makand gud chere, & scorne þame þat wirkand were,Line 350 Bot in tyme of het quhene þai Froyt of þare travale bar away, & gret Joy & mery mad, Þane þai þat Idil bene had, Mad anoy & ewil chere;Line 355 "Richt sa til ws has hapnyt but were: For we thole nov cald & het, Quhile t(h)riste, quhyle hungire gret, Bot sal resawe (syne) til oure med Ay-lestand Joy, þat is na dred;Line 360 Bot ȝe, þat warldis glore has now, In tyme to cume ful sare sal grew & for a schort tyme lestand blis In ȝour foly are lyk to mys." Þane þe prefet ansuert hyme but mareLine 365 & sad: "be þe pryncis, are Vndisconfit of þis varld hale. Sal thole, as ȝe say, lestand bale, & ȝe, þat are content wrechis here, Sic lestand blis sal bruk but were?"Line 370 Valaryane sad til hyme þane: "Ȝe ar na princys, bot smal mene, Borne in our tyme, & de sal sone & ȝeld resone hou ȝe haf done." Þe prefet sad, þat wes fel:Line 375 "In sic spek ganys nocht to duel. Mak sacryfice for-out delay &, quhar þu lykis, pas þi way!" Þai brethire þane vnerely Sad to þe prefet opynly:Line 380 "Lele sacrifice to god we gife, & sal do, til we may lif." Quod þe prefet to þame one-ane: "Of ȝoure god tel me þe name!" Valaryane til hyme þane cane say:Line 385 "Certis, his name fynd þu na ma, Þo þu had wengis for to fle." Þe prefet sad: "ȝet thinkis me Þat Jubiter is nocht þe name Of god þat suld be I(n) mast fame?"Line 390 Valaryane sad: "Jubitere Ves þe name of a murtherere & of a kyd houlloure, [oure." Þat racht noþire of mensk na hon∣ Þane ansuert hyme AlmachiusLine 395 & sad: "gif suth be þu sais ws, Al þis warld erris bot þu ane & þi bruthire, þat has ȝow [(MS. ȝone.)] tane To trew in a god verraly?" Valaryane þane sad in hy:Line 400 "It is nocht anerly we twa Þat a god al-ane cane ta, Bot þai are sa feile ma þane we, Þat þai ma nocht nomeryt be, Þat resawit þis halynes, & ay sal eke & be na les." Þane gert þe prefet tak þaime bath & put þame in til preffone rath, In ȝemsale of Maxymy. Þat sad til þame ful felloun(l)y:Line 410 "Ȝe, þat are ȝunge & fals alsa, & bruthire-lufe betwene ȝ^u twa, Me think ȝe haste ȝ^u to ded nov As til a feste men callit ȝow!" Valaryane sad: "gif þat þuLine 415 Wil hicht til ws þat þu sal treu, Þe Joy þu sal se in þis sted Of oure sawlis, as we are ded." Þane Maxymyne sad: "fyre me bryne, Gyf I þat god þane trou nocht ineLine 420 Þat ȝe treu, gyf þat I se

Þe thinge suth ȝe sa to me" Þare Maximyne but ony mare, & al þat euire with hyme ware, & þe fel tormentouris alsua,Line 425 Of pape Vrbane cane baptyme ta, Þat in hydlis come þame til & þare request (did) with gud wil. & in þe dawinge of þe day In hye voice cane to þame say:Line 430 "Ȝe, þat are Cristis knychttis mad, Puttis fra ȝou nov but abad Vorkis of myrknes, & clethis ȝ^u In armys of licht ine hast nov!" Almachius þe prefet herdLine 435 How þat þer cristine knychttis ferd; Þane gert he tak þaime rycht fone, & syne eftire for-out hone He gert leid þame of þe tone Four myle, one þat condicione:Line 440 Gyf þai to Jubitere rycht þare Vald sacryfy but ony mare, Þai suld ga fre at þare wil, & al þar gudis tacht þame til; [f. 359] & gif þai gruchit to do sa,Line 445 Þare nekis suld þai strik ine twa. Þane ware þe brethire one led, Til þai come til þe lymmytstede; & for þai wald nocht sacryfy, Þai war vnhedit bath in hy.Line 450 Þane Maximyne. þat þare was Quhene þat ves done in þe place, Sad: he saw angelis cume done In þe tyme of þare passione, & þare sawlis vpe in hewine bareLine 455 Vith þame in to wynly fayre. Sone eftire as þis ves done, To þe prefet ves tald sone Þat Maximyne cristine ves mad. Þe quhilk þane but (mar) abadLine 460 Gert mene with lumpis of led Dynge hyme, til he ves ded. Þane Cecile tuk þe bodys thre & in a grawe gert þaime lad be, Vith sic honoure as scho cuth doLine 465 & as þe tyme askyt to. Almacius þane wes besy To get þe gudis gredely Of þe forsad Valaryane

Þat til his spouse Cecile had tane,Line 470 & of Tyburcius his bruthire, & lewit nocht ane for vthire. & sowne wes fundyne þat Cecile Þar gud(is) had to kepe a quhyle. For-þi hir gert he brynge hyme til,Line 475 To grype þe gudis in-to wil. & as scho brocht ves hyme befor, He sad til hire with sturt & fchore: "Til ydolis þu mak sacryfice & þame honoure in al wyse,"Line 480 Ore ellis for to thole gret payne & fynaly þare-for be slane. Þane turmentoris, þo þai vald fenȝe, Word of ned hire til distrenȝe, Gret rycht sare, for sa fare a thinge,Line 485 Sa vyse, sa fare, & sa ȝynge Vald ta þe ded sa wilfully. Þane sad scho til þame in hy: "It is nocht, ȝungmene, as ȝe thocht; For my ȝouthed here tyne I nocht,Line 490 Bot gifis filth & takis gold fyne, & giffis a lacht place of duellinge & takis a place of bewte, [f. 359 b.] Sic as ma nocht comprisit be, & giffis bot a lytil wra,Line 495 A vyd merkat þare-for I ta. Richt as mane suld gif ȝow Tene shillings [(MS. s.)] for a penny now, I trew þat ȝe suld haste ȝ^u þene To gife a penny & take tene;Line 500 Sa to god gif we gife ocht Of warldly thinge þat he has wrocht, He sal gif ws þarefor in med Ane hundre tyme sa fele, but dred." Sad scho þane: "trew ȝe þis?"Line 505 Ȝa, sad þai, sa hafe we blis, Ve trew þat Criste is god verray Þat sic a Seruand has þis day." Þay of a wil euirilkane Gert brynge þe bischope ald Vrbane:Line 510 Of quhame richt þane baptyme cane ta Four hundre personis & ma. Almachius gert hire til hyme bring & sad hire, as with symlynge, He sad: "of quhat condicione is þu?"Line 515 Scho sad: "gentil-womane, I trew." Almacius sad (hir) syne tyte: "I spere, womane, of þi [(MS. þat.)] ryte." Cecile sad hyme: "þine askin(g)e Of foly takis begynnynge,Line 520 Venand I suld ansuer(is) [(MS. ansgere).] twa Vndir a demand þe to ma." Almacius sad til hire bone: "Quhene has þu sic presumpcione Of redy ansuere til a mane?"Line 525 & Cecile sad til hyme þane: "Of conscience gud & clere & [(MS. A.)] fath vnfenȝet, but were." Almacius sad hire one hicht: [mycht." "Me think þu knawis nocht myLine 530 Scho sad: "ȝis, I cane wele fynd Þi poweste lik a bose, of wynd Þat fillit ware & with a prene Mocht out be latine for-out wene & seige (?) [(Metc., seag The world is in legible in the MS.)] and to-giddire falLine 535 & tyne þe vowsty [(MS. bousty)] blawing al." Almacius cane til hire say: "Vith iniure [(MS. inwy.)] þu begynnis ay & in It syne perseueris; Quhat is he þat þe þis leris?"Line 540 Quod scho: "iniure is it nocht [f. 360 a.] Bot fraud in word be thocht; Þar-for, gif I do wrang, me teche, Or with fals wordis I þe fleche, Or [(MS. &.)] blame þi-selfe þat me blamysLine 545 & of fraud me defamys. Bot we, þe haly name þat wat Of god, ma nyt it na-gat, & bettire is de happely Na for to lif here [(MS. dehire)] wrechitly."Line 550 Almacius sad in þat tyde: "Quhy spekis þu with sic pryde?" "Na, quod scho, pryd is It nocht, Bot It is stedfastnes of thocht." Almacius þane til hire cane say:Line 555 "þu wreche, wat þu nocht I may, Gif [(MS. giffis.)] me lykis, now sa þe, Or, gif me lykis, lat þe be? For sic poweste is tacht me til Þat I ma do quhat-say I wil."Line 560 Þane sad scho: "I ma prewe wele Þat þu has leyt Ilke deile Agane opyne suthfastnes; For, þo þu of poware wes Þe lyf to tak [(MS. mak.)] of ony mane,Line 565 Of powere wes þu neuir ȝet þane To quhykine mane þat ded had bene; For-þi is þu seruand but wene Of doulful ded & nocht of lyfe, & nocht of quyet, bot of stryfe."Line 570 Almacius cane til hire say: "þat wedand wodnes do away & sacryfy oure godis til,

Gyf to luf langere, be þi wil!" Sad Cecile þane, or scho stynt:Line 575 "It semys þu has þine eyne tynt; For, þat þu godis cane cal, Ar bot stanis & stokis al, As þu ma with þi handis taste, Þo þu ma nocht se a laste."Line 580 Þane ves Almacius rycht wa Þat scho sic ansuere cane til hyme ma, & gert mene til hire ine [(MS. me.)] hire led, For he wald (þat) scho war dede; & al a day & al þe nychtLine 585 He gert leid meelte in menis sycht, & band hire faste fut & hand & kest hir in þe led brynnande. [f. 360 b.] Bot of het scho feld nomare Þane scho in a bath set þane vare,Line 590 For ocht þat scho cane se or here Na changit contenance na chere, Bot ves blyth, as scho had bene In maste mycht þat euir wes sene. And as Almacius þat herde,Line 595 As out of wit [(MS. wet.)] nere he ferde; Ine-to þat leid, þat brynnyt swa, He bad strik hire nek ine twa. & þo þe [(MS. he.)] basar strak hire thrise, He mocht vnhied hire na-wyse;Line 600 &, for þe law bad, þat, quha Suld haf þe hed strikine hyme fra, Þe ferd strak suld haf na-way, For-þi þe basare ȝed his way & lefyt hire lyand in þat sted, Thre days fullely, as nere ded. & in þe meyne-tyme nocht-for-thy Scho delt hire gudis vysly Ymange powre folk þat had ned, & til vntrowand godis sedeLine 610 Sew & to god wysly wane Thru hire prechinge mony mane, & þame þat scho conuertit swa, Fra Wrbane scho gert baptyme ta, & sad hyme þat scho had mad purchasLine 615 To god þat scho mycht luf þe space Þat scho mycht þaime til hyme com∣mend Þat to be baptist scho hyme send, & of hire house of lyme & stane

Gert mak a kirk, of sancte VrbaneLine 620 Halouyt, & eftire lad hire þare [are. Quhare nov fele bischopis grawyne & þis, þat I tel here, done wes Eftire þat Criste had tane flesch Twa hundre thre & thretty ȝere;Line 625 & þane wes emperoure but were Marcyus, þat Arelyane Had þane til his surname.— Now, sancte Cecile, þat had sic grace Þat, quhat þu wald, þu mycht purchesLine 630 Fra Jhesu, þat þu lufit swa: Purches ws, ore we hyne ga, Of þis varld þat we ma twyne But schame, det or dedly syne