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

[Coveteousness.]

¶ Þe first sin es o couaitise Line 27822 Þat reuis mani man þair praise; O þis cums blindnes and tresun, Reuelaic, theft, extorsium, Line 27825

Line 27825 Als quen man haldes wran[g]wis strif Þat oþer men mai lede na liif, Line 27827 No na neghbur mai hafe þair saght Til þai haue gin him o þair aght; Strenth, þat lauerding agh to meild, Þat o þair men tas wrangwis yeild, Fals foluing, fals wittnesing, Line 27832 Vnknaun lage, manath, and lesing; [[No gap in these MSS.]] Iuel eging, ocur and symoni, Line 27836 Als gastli thing to selle or byi, Morth, brinning, manslaghter and suik, Wasting and were and oþer slik; Sacrilege, to reue or stele Line 27840 Of halud thing, os dose nu fele; Gredines and nithinghede, To be o goddes gyft to gnede; Alkin talking wrangwisli, Line 27844 And all halding wit trecheri.

¶ Ogain þis sin es bote o scrift, Lele of hert and fre of gyft, And for þe luue o crist sake, Line 27848 Þis wrech werlds welth forsak; And wiit yee wele it es ful strang. Haf other men aght ani wrang, Þou agh it for to yeild again, Line 27852 If þou þar-til has might or main, If þou þam find, namli to þaa Þe quilk þat aght was nomin fra; If þai ne be funden noght, or dede, O scrift þou do þi faders rede, Line 27857 Sua þat þi saul mai ai be quite, And þin airs mai haf prophite [[No gap in these MSS.]]

[[No gap in these MSS.]] For þar es sinnes foun, iwise, Line 27864 Wers for to mend riueli þan þis, For euer þe plight es foluand pain, Til wrang takinyng be quite again. [[No gap in these MSS.]]