For all my other Canterbury Tales reviews see CHAUCER, GEOFFREY - THE CANTERBURY TALES (INDEX OF LINKS TO THE FULL SET)
BOOK REVIEW - GEOFFREY CHAUCER – THE CANTERBURY TALES – THE SECOND NUN’S TALE
We have not had a story
by the first Nun, who may be the one accompanying the priest who told THE
NUN’S PRIEST’S TALE. She is not
mentioned in THE
PROLOGUE introduction to the main characters at all. The Second Nun is
fervently pious in her faith, and her tale is a very direct telling of the life
and times of Catholic martyr, Saint Cecilia, including a number of miracles
associated with the saint’s life.
After a long spiritual
preamble Prologue, the Nun launches into her story. Cecilia is a catholic, sworn to chastity, which she maintains
even when she marries a Roman nobleman, Valerian. She is practicing Catholicism
in Rome itself at a time when the Romans are persecuting Christians who do not
renounce their faith.
Valerian is not yet a
Christian, but tolerates his wife’s needs. She tells him that if he makes love
to her, a guardian angel who protects her and who she sees will destroy him.
Valerian begs to see this angel himself, so Cecilia tells him to convert to
Christianity after which he will see the angel. Cecilia takes Valerian to see a
Christian missionary (later to be Pope Urban). Urban converts Valerian, who now
sees the angel as promised. He goes on to convert his own brother, Tiburce, but
they soon attract attention from a Roman prefect, Almachius. He orders their capture and execution, which
proves difficult as they manage to convert the executioner and several guards
to Christianity before finally being killed horribly.
He now captures Cecilia,
after sending several men who are also converted by her faith, and he insists
that she renounce Jesus for worship of Jupiter but she refuses and mocks his
paganism. He tries to have Cecilia boiled alive, but she is miraculously
unharmed no matter how hot the water she is immersed in becomes. Almachius
orders Cecilia to be beheaded, but her executioner fails to sever her head with
three sword strokes. Forbidden by Roman law to order a fourth stroke, Almachius
has to release Cecilia, who preaches for another three days before the damage
done to her neck finally kills her.
For all my other Canterbury Tales reviews see CHAUCER, GEOFFREY - THE CANTERBURY TALES (INDEX OF LINKS TO THE FULL SET)
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