after this Tiburcë got such grace, That every day he saw in time and space Th’ angel of God, and every manner boon That be God asked, it was sped full soon.
It were full hard by order for to sayn How many wonders Jesus for them wrought. But at the last, to tellë short and plain, The sergeants of the town of Rome them sought, And them before Almach the Prefect brought, Which them appos’d, and knew all their intent, And to th’ imáge of Jupiter them sent;
And said, “Whoso will not do sacrifice, Swap off his head, this is my sentence here.” Anon these martyrs, that I you devise, One Maximus, that was an officére Of the preféct’s, and his corniculére, Them hent, and when he forth the saintës lad, Himself he wept for pity that he had.
When Maximus had heard the saintës’ lore, He got him of the tormentorës leave, And led them to his house withoutë more; And with their preaching, ere that it were eve, They gonnen from the tórmentors to reave, And from Maxim’, and from his folk each one, The falsë faith, to trow in God alone.
Cecilia came, when it was waxen night, With priestës, that them christen’d all in fere; And afterward, when day was waxen light, Cecile them said with a full steadfast cheer, “Now, Christë’s owen knightës lefe and dear, Cast all away the workës of darknéss, And armë you in armour of brightnéss.
Ye have forsooth y-done a great battaile; Your course is done, your faith have ye conserved; Go to the crown of life that may not fail; The rightful Judgë, which that ye have served, Shall give it you, as ye have it deserved.” And when this thing was said, as I devise, Men led them forth to do the sacrifice.
But when they were unto the placë brought, To tellë shortly the conclusión, They would incénse nor sacrifice right nought. But on their