How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Line). We used the line numbering found on Librarius's online edition.
Quote #7
Hey cristned hym, and made hym in that place
Parfit in his lernynge, Goddes knyght.
(352 – 353)
No matter how much "book learning" a person has about Christianity, he's not perfect in the faith until he has received the sacraments and purged himself of sin. This idea is probably the one to which this passage refers in its reference to the perfection of Tiburtius's learning.
Quote #8
Whan Maximus had herd the seintes loore,
He gat hym of the tormentoures leve,
And ladde hem to his house withoute moore.
And with hir prechyng, er that it were eve,
They gonnen fro the tormentrous to reve,
And fro Maxime, and fro his folk echone
The fals feith, to trowe in God allone.
(372 – 378)
This passage illustrate the great significance this tale gives to preaching and teaching. All it takes is for Maximus to hear Tiburtius and Valerian's "loore," or teachings, for him to convert to Christianity. The content of this teaching is less important than the fact of its power.