How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Line). We used the line numbering found on Librarius's online edition.
Quote #4
Tho shewed hym Cecile, al open and pleyn,
That alle ydoles nys but a thyng in veyn,
For they been dombe and therto they been deve,
And charged hym hise ydoles for to leve.
(284 – 287)
Another way in which the Christianity in "The Second Nun's Tale" is portrayed as differing from the pagan religion it supplants is in its access to a living and sensing god, as opposed to dumb and deaf god.
Quote #5
'Men myghten dreden wel and skilfully
This lyf to lese, myn owene deere brother,
If this were lyvynge oonly and noon oother.
But ther is bettre lyf in oother place,
That nevere shal be lost, ne dreede thee noght,
Which Goddes sone us tolde thurgh his grace.'
(320 – 325)
In this scene, Cecilia lays down the tenets of her Christian faith. The first and most important is what enables her to say that her God is the God of life, for he offers eternal life to his believers. The second tenet is that this knowledge is accessible to believers through Christ's revelation.
Quote #6
'That fadres sone hath alle thyng ywroght,
And al that wroght is with a skilful thoght,
The goost, that from the Fader gan procede,
Hath sowled hem, withouten any drede.'
(326 – 329)
Another important tenet of the religion Cecilia shows Tiburtius is that God's creation is reasoned – created "with a skilful thoght." God purposefully gave mankind souls, so that they might enjoy a life beyond their bodies.