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

[Of the Seven Deadly Sins.]

Alle þe sinnes þat er to scriue, [folio 152b:2] Es nan þam alle mai neuen in liue, Þat all mai tell, bath mare and lesse, Þat tung in liif has nan þat es. Line 27527 Bot of all oþer es þar seuen Hed sines quilk i sal neuen; For hed sinnes tald ar þai, Line 27530 For þai gain charity werrai, Þat es þe hefd god theu of all, And þai er dedli cald wit-all. Dedli þa þou vnderstand, Line 27534 Þat bring man to ded lastand, Þof man o þaim ha noght bot an, And at his end þar-in be tan. Line 27537 Vte o þir seuen all oþer springes, Als of þe stouen þe branches hinges;

Bot þar-of es oþer sines smale, Line 27540 Þat clerkes clepes veniale, Þe quilk sua hali man es noght Þat he ne vmquil wit þaim es soght; Bot for þai eth er for to right, Line 27544 Man cals þam venial and light; And þarfor es it light to sai, For it es eth to wesche awai. [No gap here in these MSS.] Line 27547