A Review of The Canterbury Tales: The Second Nun's Tale

 

                                                                   

This is one of the few Canterbury Tale that has no prologue. It is about Saint Cecilia. Interestingly enough, The Second Nun's Tale was originally written by Geoffrey Chaucer as a separate work. 

                                                                  The Tale

And though men dreaded never for to die, 

Yet see men well by reason, doubtless, 

That idleness is root of sluggardly, 

Of which there cometh never good increase; 

And see that sloth them holdeth in a leas, 

Only to sleep, and for to eat and drink, 

And to devouren all that others sink. 

How true! Idleness is never a good thing (1 Timothy 5: 13, Ecclesiastes 10: 18). To contrast the work of a godly person with a lazy one, the nun goes on to describe the main character of her story: 

And, for to put us from such idleness, 

That cause is of so great confusion, 

I have here done my faithful business, 

After the Legend, in translation

Right of thy glorious life and passion, -

Thou with thy garland wrought of rose and lily, 

Thee mean I, maid and martyr, Saint Cecilie. 

The nun furthered her praised of this blessed saint even more later:

First will I you the name of Saint Cecilie

Expound, as men may in her story see. 

It is to say in English, Heaven's lily, 

For pure chasteness of virginity;

Or, for she whiteness had of honesty,

And green of conscience, and of good fame

The sweet savour, Lilie was her name. 

Cecilie was to be a married to a man named Valerian. Nevertheless, she wanted to give her body fully unblessed and pure to God alone. 

And while the organs made melody, 

To God alone thus in her heart sang she;

''Oh Lord, my soul and eke me body gie

Unwemmed, lest that I confounded be.''

And, for his love that died upon the tree, 

Every second or third day she fast,'

Aye bidding in her orisons full fast. 

When she was about to go to bed with her husband, she sent him on a brief journey. An angel soon appeared to Valerian and told him to keep his wife's virginity pure and undefiled. 

In a later conversation with her husband Cecilie shares with him that what happens in this world is not the end of all things:

''But there is better life in other place, 

That never shall be loste, dread thee nought;

Which Godde's Son us tolde through his grace

That Father's Son which alle thinges wrought;

And all that wrought is with a skilful thought, 

The Ghost, that from the Father gan proceed, 

Hath souled them, withouten any drede. 

By word and by miracle, high God's Son, 

When he was in this world, declared here. 

That there is other life where men may won. ''

Pope Urban later made Valerian a knight. Likewise, Valerian had frequent visits from his wife's holy angel throughout his life. 

Cecilie outlived her husband. All her days she served the Lord. Later in the story, she was brutally martyred for her faith. 

                                                                      My Analysis: 

The Second Nun's Tale is about sacrifice. Not only did Cecilie sacrifice her body to God, but Valerian also sacrificed his sexual desires for his wife so that she could follow God's call. Indeed, both Cecilie and Valerian are each noble and pious towards their creator. These characters understand the values of both virginity and following God's commands over earthly desires. The Second Nun's Tale also concerns the importance of sexual purity. It also reflected theological values of many in the Medieval church that strongly supported the importance of celibate orders serving the church with all that they had. Ultimately, Cecilie wanted to serve God with her all. Even if it was convenient for her, she felt the call of God towards such a life. Marriage to a man had never been her choice though she loved her husband with a Christlike love while living in a celibate manner to the calling that she felt from her Creator. 

Over the years, I think that some Christians have went to two extremes on the issue of celibacy and marriage. Saint Jerome, for instance, went to an extreme of undervaluing marriage to promoting all being celibate. On the other hand, though, I disagree with some of the reformers during the reformation era that wished to abolish all monasteries and disregard celibacy. I stand in agreement with Saint Augustine much on this, who I believe had the best-balanced view. Augustine believed that celibacy was a higher calling than marriage, though he also supported the great importance and sanctity of the marriage institution. 

I am not certain of Chaucer's views concerning marriage. From the derived text of The Second Nun's Tall I believe that it can be inferred that he likely had a high view of celibacy.