Cursor mundi (The cursur o the world). A Northumbrian poem of the XIVth century in four versions. Ed. by the Rev. Richard Morris ...

þe toþer pont es scrift o muth Line 26092 To mak to preistes vr costes cuth, Of al vr plight to be vn-knaun, Wit will to bete þat we ha schaun. And þat þis point be treu and lele, It falles þer-till thinges felle; Line 26097 First quat es þis scrift? to say, [folio 145a:2] Quar it nedewais be for nay, And siþen of vr sinful sak Line 26100 To quam we sal vr scriuing mak? And þan we sal þe pointes rede þat warrai scrifte al of has nede; And þar-wit-al sum questiones Line 26104 We sal vndo þe merk resons, And tell we siþen quilk ar þaa, þat draus man scrift and penance fra,

And for to tell sum-thing þer neist þat to þe mister falles o prist. Line 26109

Scrift es opin scheuing o breist Laufulli mad be-for þe preist, O sinnes þat man min of mai, And es als mikes al for to say Line 26113 Als o mans hert an opening wide, þat man can scheu wit-vten hide.

þe sinful agh him scrif nede-wais, For drightin thoru þe prophet sais "Opins to your lauerd your hert, And riues it, to mak it quert." Line 26119 And sant iacob biddes alsua Ilkan of oþer vr scrift to ta, And crist self us sais in spell, Line 26122 "Wit will to bere yur sin yee tell." þan sinnes þat man es vte of hele þat dos noght scrift and penance lele, And þat es soth þe quils þat he Haf man he mai to-scriuen be; Line 26127 For if he in suilk a nede be tan, þat he ne get man bot curst an, Or man þat renaid has his lai, Line 26130 He agh him ar to drau awai þof it war at his ending þare, To-quils him reu his sinnes sare, And for-think his lang delaiance Line 26134 þat he for-draun has his penance. For sli man riueli moght him bring, In mistrouth and in mistrauing. Line 26137