How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Line). We used the line numbering found on Librarius's online edition.
Quote #7
She, ful devout and humble in hir corage,
Under hir robe of gold, that sat ful faire,
Hadde next hir flessh yclad hir in an haire.
(131 – 133)
The hair shirt was something a Christian might wear next to her flesh in order to chafe her skin. This suffering is meant to remind her of Christ's suffering for her. The significance of Cecilia wearing this on her wedding day is that, on a day that is supposed to be pleasurable for her, Cecilia would rather keep Christ's suffering in her mind.
Quote #8
And, for his love that dyde upon a tree,
Every seconde and thridde day she faste,
Ay biddynge in hir orisons ful faste.
(138 – 140)
Here we have an additional aspect of Cecilia's piety. To fast is to abstain from eating food, or to eat very little food, for a period of time. Like the hair shirt Cecilia wears, the discomfort of the fast is meant to remind the Christian of the suffering of Christ. It is also a way for the Christian to sacrifice something (here, food) in the name of Christ who sacrificed for her.
Quote #9
'Sower of chaast conseil, hierde of us alle,
The fruyt of thilke seed of chastitee
That thou hast sowe in Cecile, taak to thee.'
(191 – 193)
Urban calls Valerian the fruit of the "seed of chastity" Christ has planted in Cecilia. An idea that's implicit here is that, although as a virgin Cecilia bears no physical fruit in the form of babies, she can bear spiritual children in converts to Christianity like Valerian.