How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Line). We used the line numbering found on Librarius's online edition.
Quote #4
'So shaltow seen hem, leeve brother deere,
If it so be thou wolt, withouten slouthe,
Bileve aright and knowen verray trouthe.'
(257 – 258)
Valerian promises Tiburtius that he will be able to see the roses if he believes rightly and knows truth. This raises the question: is believing rightly something different from knowing "verray trouthe"? If so, what's the difference?
Quote #5
'In dremes,' quod Valerian, 'han we be
Unto this tyme, brother myn, ywes;
But now at erst in trouthe oure dwellyng is.'
(262 – 264)
Valerian is basically telling Tiburtius that the Christianity in which he and Cecilia believe is more true than the life they have led up until this point. But how can one part of life be more or less true than any other? One way of interpreting this statement is that those who dwell in the "trouthe" of Christianity dwell with God, who is eternal. Ancient Greek philosophy held that things that were eternal were more "true" than things that passed away; hence, a life in God would be more true.
Quote #6
'The aungel of God hath me the trouthe ytaught
Which thou shalt seen, if that thou wolt reneye
The ydoles and be clene, and elles naught.'
(267 – 269)
Valerian portrays the Christian conversion as a process the soul must undergo. It's not a simple matter of just deciding to believe: instead, the soul must renounce its prior attachments and divest itself of sin.