[6-text p 540]
(52)
IT were ful hard by ordre for to sayne
Line 358
how many wondres Ihc for hem wroughte
But atte last to tellen schort and playne ·
The sergeantȝ of þe toun of Rome hem soughte
And hem byforn almache þe prefect broughte
Line 362
which hem apposed and knew alle here entente
And to þe ymage of Iubiter hem sente
Line 364
(53)
And saide who-so wil not sacrifise
Line 365
Swope of his heued þis my sentence heere
Anoon þese martires þat I ȝou deuyse
Oon maximus þat was an officere /
Of þe prefectes and his counceilere /
Line 369
hem hent . and whan he forþ þe seyntes ladde
him self he wept for pite þat he hadde /
Line 371
(54)
Whan maximus had herd þe seintes lore
Line 372
he gat him of his tormentoures leue
And bad hem to his hous wiþouten more [folio 167a]
And with her preching er þat it were eue
Thay gonne fro þe tormentoures to reue
Line 376
And fro maxime and fro his folk echoone
The false faith to trowe in god alloone
Line 378
(55)
Cecilie cam whan it was waxen night
Line 379
with prestis þat hem cristenid alle in feere /
And afterward whan day was waxen light
Cecilie hem sayde with a ful stedefast chere /
Now cristes owne knyȝtes leef and deere
Line 383
Cast al away þe werkes of derknes
And armith ȝou in armur of brightnes
Line 385
