Ne menestow nat Urban,’ quod he tho,
‘That is so ofte dampned to be deed, 310
And woneth in halkes alwey to and fro,
And dar nat ones putte forth his heed?
Men sholde him brennen in a fyr so reed
If he were founde, or that men mighte him spye;
And we also, to bere him companye— 315
And whyl we seken thilke divinitee
That is y-hid in hevene prively,
Algate y-brend in this world shul we be!’
To whom Cecile answerde boldely,
‘Men mighten dreden wel and skilfully 320
This lyf to lese, myn owene dere brother,
If this were livinge only and non other.
But ther is better lyf in other place,
That never shal be lost, ne drede thee noght,
Which goddes sone us tolde thurgh his grace; 325
That fadres sone hath alle thinges wroght;
And al that wroght is with a skilful thoght,
The goost, that fro the fader gan precede,
Hath sowled hem, withouten any drede.
323. Ln. Hl. Pt. better; E. Hn. bettre. 326. E. thyng ywroght; Hn.
Cm. thynges wroght. 326-337. Cp. Pt. Ln. _omit_.
By word and by miracle goddes sone, 330
Whan he was in this world, declared here
That ther was other lyf ther men may wone.’
To whom answerde Tiburce, ‘o suster dere,
Ne seydestow right now in this manere,
Ther nis but o god, lord in soothfastnesse; 335
And now of three how maystow bere witnesse?’
[520: T. 15805-15839.]
‘That shal I telle,’ quod she, ‘er I go.
Right as a man hath sapiences three,
Memorie, engyn, and intellect also,
So, in o being of divinitee, 340
Three persones may ther right wel be.’
Tho gan she him ful bisily to preche
Of Cristes come and of his peynes teche,