How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Line). We used the line numbering found on Librarius's online edition.
Quote #10
'I recche nat what wrong that thou me profre,
For I can suffre it as a philosophre'
But thilke wronges may I nat endure
That thou spekest of oure goddes heere,' quod he.
(489 – 492)
Almachius has missed Cecilia's point: the argumentative or rhetorical wrongs of which she accuses Almachius are related in her mind to his wrong gods. This wrong belief so clouds his mind that he is rhetorically, as well as physically, powerless.
Quote #11
'Thou seydest no word, syn thou spak to me,
That I ne knew therwith thy nycetee,
And that thou were in every maner wise
A lewed officer and a veyn justise.'
(494 – 497)
Cecilia accuses Almachius of being "lewed," or uneducated, and foolish ("nyce"). Cecilia is basically explaining to Almachius the point that he has missed, which is that the argumentative errors of which she accuses him have revealed to her the true state of his intellect – foolish.
Quote #12
Thre dayes lyved she in this torment,
And nevere cessed hem the feith to teche;
That she hadde fostred, hem she gan to preche.
(537 – 539)
Cecilia's decision to preach and teach even in death emphasizes its importance to her. The fact that she preaches to those who are already Christians, moreover, is a lesson about the importance of continual instruction to the Christian soul.