The Canterbury Tales: The Second Nun's Tale Lines 400-413 Summary

  • Maximus, who watches Valerian and Tiburtius's execution, tearfully tells how he sees their souls glide to heaven with angels full of cleanness and light.
  • With these words, he converts many, for which Almachius beats him so hard with a leaden whip that he dies.
  • Cecilia takes Maximus's body and buries it next to Tiburtius and Valerian under a stone.
  • After this, Almachius tells his ministers to fetch Cecilia publicly, so that she can make a sacrifice and burn incense to the god Jupiter in his presence.