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

¶ Quen dauid was ded, son salamon Was king sittand in his fader tron. He was a borli bachelere, [folio 48a:1] In al þat werld had he na pere Line 8542 O wijt o wisdom, als we rede, Was neuer nan wiser lagh to lede. In bede als he lai on a night, Be-for him stod an angel bright, Line 8546 And til him spak wit blithful chere, And said, "i am a messager, Mi lauerd þe has word send wit me, And gis þe chose o thinges thre, Line 8550 O strenght, o riches, or o wijt, Chese quilk þou will, þou sal haue it. If þou wit hert him serues hale, O þir þou sal haf on to wale."

Salamon þis vnderstode, Line 8555 O þis bodword thoght him ful god, "Wijtles," he said, "quat es catell, Or quat es strenght wit for to dele Man þat na wijt has him to lede? I chese me wijt for al mi nede. Line 8560

Line 8560 I thanc him me þis chos wald giue, I sal him serue quils i mai liue, Wit al mi might, in al mi will, He giue me grace it to fulfill." Line 8564

þe angel said to salamon, "Wisli þou has in chesing don, And for þou wel has chosen an, In weild þou sal ham haf ilkan. Line 8568 For þou sal be ful warr in dede, And ale folk þar-for sal þe drede. And þou sal dred-nes haf o nan, O riches sal þou haf god wan." Line 8572

þan regn[d] salamon wit þis, And ledd his lijf wit mikel bliss. He luued þe folk of his kingrike, And all luued him, bath pouer and rike; All þat euer him rais again, Line 8577 Wit wisdom he broght þam to reclaim. And al þat fader his ne moght, Salamon til end he broght; Line 8580 Ierusalem mast he luued of all, þar was he sett in king stall.