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

[The story of David is finished.]

¶ Nu es godd turn til vr stile, þat we haf gan vte of a quile, Line 8510 And tell apon vr mikel tale, For to make vr stori hale. þis dauid, þat i rede of here, Line 8513 Was king and regn[ed] fourte yere, His regnning was wit right resun; Gains him his fas had na fusun. Childer had he wit wijfes sere O quilk i mak no mining here. Line 8518 For he þat mikel has for to tell þe scortliker he aght to spell. þis ilk it was þe king daui þat mikel spak o propheci, Line 8522 O cristes birth sua lang be-forn, þat of a maiden suld be born. þat maiden of his aun sede Was geten, als in bok we rede, Line 8526 And þat vr lauerd him forwit hight Of him suld spring þat all suld right.

þis ilk dauid þat sauter made Es redd oueral þis werld brade. Line 8530 Homer þe poet, þat was sa rijf, Liued in þis king dauid lijf; And of affric þe strang barnage Did mak þe cite of cartage, Line 8534 þat to rome was euer fede. And siþen quen dauid king was ded, He bade his men þai suld him lij In bethleem his faders bij. Line 8538