This Maximus, that saugh this thing bityde, 400
With pitous teres tolde it anon-right,
That he hir soules saugh to heven glyde
With angels ful of cleernesse and of light,
And with his word converted many a wight;
[522: T. 15873-15905.]
For which Almachius dide him so to-bete 405
With whippe of leed, til he his lyf gan lete.
400. E. saugh; Hn. Cp. Hl. say. 404. E. this; _rest_ his. 405. E.
Hn. Cm. Hl. so bete; Cp. Pt. Ln. so to-bete. 406. E. the; _rest_ his.
Cecile him took and buried him anoon
By Tiburce and Valerian softely,
Withinne hir burying-place, under the stoon.
And after this Almachius hastily 410
Bad his ministres fecchen openly
Cecile, so that she mighte in his presence
Doon sacrifyce, and Iupiter encense.
But they, converted at hir wyse lore,
Wepten ful sore, and yaven ful credence 415
Unto hir word, and cryden more and more,
‘Crist, goddes sone withouten difference,
Is verray god, this is al our sentence,
That hath so good a servant him to serve;
This with o voys we trowen, thogh we sterve!’ 420