The Second Nun's Tale
Folio 375v
4 of 14 folios
Telle hem that I Cecile ȝow to hem sente
To schewȳ ȝow the goode vrban the olde
For secre nedis & for good entente
And whan that ȝe seynt vrban han beholde
180
Telle hȳ the wordis whiche I to ȝow tolde
And whan that he hath purgede ȝow frō sȳne
Thāne schal ȝe seen that aūgel er ȝe twȳne
This valerian is to the place I gon
And rygh as he was taught by his lernȳge
185
He fond this holye olde vrban a non
A mong the seyntis veryely lokynge<
And he a non with oute taryinge
Dede his massage & whā that he it tolde
Vrban for Ioye / hise handys gan vp holde
190
The teeris frō hise eyen leet he falle
Almyghty lord now Ihū cryst quod he
Sowere of chast conseyl / herde of vs alle
The freut of thilke seed of chastite
That thow hast sowe in Cecyle take to the
195
Lo lyk a bisy bee with outȳ gile
The seruyth ay thȳ owene thral Cecile
For thilke spouse that sche tok but now
Ful lik a feeris leoū / sche sendyth hire
As meke as euere was ony lamb to ȝow
200
And with that word a noon there gā apeere
An old man clad in white clothis cleere
That hadde a bok with lettere of gold in hōde
And gan byforn valeryan to stonde
Valerian as deed fil doū for dreede
205
Whan he hȳ saw / & he vp hēte hȳ tho
And on his bok rygh thus he gan to reede
O lord o god o feith with outȳ mo
O cristēdō & fadyr of alle also
A bouȳ alle & ouer alle euerywheere
210
These wordys alle of gold I wretȳ weere