'he is outlawed, and lieth in concealment
for his Christianity, and if we come to him,
we shall be tortured if it be betrayed.
And whilst we are seeking, as it is said,
divinity in heaven, we shall find trouble
and loss of life on earth, if we follow his lore.'
Then said Caecilia straightway with boldness;
if this life were alone, and there were no other better,
then might we rightly have dread of death.'
Then asked Tiburtius: ' is there any other life?'
Caecilia said to him: ' known is it to every man
that this life is full of toil, and continueth in sweat;
this life is weakened by long sorrows,
and dried up by heat, and wearied by hunger,
filled with meats and proud in prosperity,
cast down in poverty and lifted up in youth,
bowed down by age, and broken by sickness,
consumed by sadness, and vexed by cares.
Then cometh death to him and putteth out of remembrance
all the bliss which he enjoyed in his life;
and in the eternal life which cometh after this
shall be given to the righteous rest and gladness,
and to the unrighteous eternal torments.'
Then said Tiburtius: ' who hath come thence hither,
who could tell us if it were so? '
Then Caecilia arose, and with steadfastness said:
' The Creator of all creatures begat a Son,
and sent forth of Himself the Comforting Spirit;
through the Son He created all creatures that exist,
and quickened them all through the living Spirit.'
Then answered Tiburtius: ' One God they preach,
and how namest thou three Gods as if known by name?'
Caecilia answered him: ' there is one God Almighty,
dwelling in His Majesty; Him we Christians worship
for ever in Trinity, and in very Unity,
