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

[Christ's Entry into Jerusalem, and the Last Supper.]

Ihesus went to ierusalem. [passioun of ihesu crist.] gaand on his fete. Line 14938 & come he til a litel hil. men callis hit mount oliuete Sex niȝtes be-fore pask-day. [folio 69a:2] wiþ his he went in strete Line 14942

Line 14942 Til his disciplis atte he led Line 14943 suche wordes spak he squete ¶ wate ȝe breþer quy he saide I weinde a-gayne sa snelle Line 14946 herkenis now & vnderstande þe soþ I. salle ȝou telle. ȝone iewes ar ȝe wate wele folk ful selcouþ felle Line 14950 þai wil me neuer loue I.-wisse for þing I. may ham telle ¶ for loue ne agh ne for signe þat I. for ham haue wroȝt. Line 14954 wiþ many selcouþes as ȝe haue sene & wiþ softnes ham soȝt. bot alle my squink now is hit squa hit standis me for noȝt. Line 14958 þe time is now þat I. sal dey. & mannis kinde be boȝt. ¶ To ȝone castel ȝe ga he saide. ȝe se agayne ȝou stande. Line 14962 þer sal ȝe finde an asse beste wiþ hir fole done in bande. ga focche hir me if any man. lays a-pon hir hande Line 14966 to lette ȝou ȝe say ȝe haue criste to ȝoure warande. ¶ a moder asse ȝe sal þer finde. & ȝe hir salle vn-do. Line 14970 out of lande if any man. askis ȝou quar-to. ȝe say to ham ȝour [[MS. þe orig.]] lorde has. wiþ hir now for to do. Line 14974 & sal na man ȝou say bot gode þe stode is ȝonder lo. ¶ Sone þar went disciplis twa. [folio 69b:1] in-to þis saide castel. Line 14978

Line 14978 bunden atte þai soȝt þis asse Line 14979 þai fande be a postel. broȝt þai nauþer on hir bak sadel ne ȝette panel. Line 14982 to þaire lorde was nauþer cledde in silk ne in sendel.

My freindes he saide quate ȝe quy I. wende vn-to þis toun. Line 14986 þe soþ to wete I. salle ȝou shawe al my priuey resoun. þe time is commyn þat I. sale suffre my passioun. Line 14990 þe fest is now drede ȝou noȝt, bot makis ȝou redy boun. ¶ now he saide sal womman sone in mannis hande be laȝt. Line 14994 þai salle him alle deme to dede. wiþ-outen any saȝt. & wiþ tresoun him do on tree as hit be-fore is taȝt Line 14998 he sal be dede bot rise he salle wiþ-in þe þrid naȝt.

Þai keste þaire claþis on þis asse. & dide ham þer-on site. Line 15002 sone hit ras þe worde þat he was comande bi þe strete. þe folk was commyn to þe feste al-maste for ioy dide grete. Line 15006 þe simple folk of þe toun. þai went him for to mete. ¶ wiþ harp & pipe & horne & trump. his way þai him vmbeset Line 15010 alde & ȝonge lesse & mare wiþ a worde þai him gret. welcome sauiour lange has þou bene al sal þorou þe be bet Line 15014

Line 15014 we sal þe honour sicureli. for naþing wille we lette. ¶ þe lordingus & þe riche men. a consail to ham drogh. Line 15018 & tempred tresoun for to atrary to take ihesu wiþ wogh. þen mourned þe pouer men. & þe childer logh Line 15022 be-for þaire kinge þe childer kest þe braunchis of þe bogh. ¶ & sum kest þaire claþis doun a-mydwarde in þat þrange Line 15026 þai spred þe strete wiþ claþ & flour atte he muȝt þer-on gange. þe folke him folowed be-fore went & mensked him wiþ sange. Line 15030 osanna lorde welcome þou be. quere has þou bene sa lange. ¶ Bot þe childer þat ware waike to wende þat prese amang Line 15034 ouer wallis & windous als. þaire heuedes ouer þai hange be-helde þaire lorde þer he come for-soþ þai dide na wrange. Line 15038 alle þai sange as ȝe sal here þat alle þat cite range. ¶ Gloria laus þat is worshepe. our lorde now & ay. Line 15042 king & criste & raunsoner. of folk of goddis lay. al to þine awen welcome þou be þer þou art commyn to-day. Line 15046 þou take to thank þat we þe make suche mensking as we may. ¶ Osanna king to þe we cry. of sange wiþ grete steyuen. Line 15050

Line 15050 na les be þou loued in erþ. þen þou art loued in heyuen. of israel þen artow king. þat agh men traw ful eyuen. Line 15054 & commyn of þat hey dauy kin. of heyer nane may neyuen. ¶ Come now forþ þou blessed king in our lordes name. Line 15058 þe resceyues þine awen folk & biddis welcome hame of þine worþi werkis done ful ferre is spred þe fame. Line 15062 welcom lorde þat lichis al. & hele gifs to lame. [folio 70a:1] ¶ Come forþ lorde our sauiour. we haue desired þe. Line 15066 þou art riȝt king of israel qua-sa þe soþ can se wiþ prophetis was þou for-saide atte þou borne sulde be. Line 15070 of þe kinrade of dauid king & of þe rote of iesse. ¶ Osanna king sir come forþ. þai cried lasse & mare. Line 15074 vn-to þine awen for we ar þine & salle be euermare blessed be þou & þe time. atte þi moder þe bare. Line 15078 for king sa mekeli commyn to toun. herde we neuer are. ¶ welcome be þou lorde þai saide dwelle þou noȝt wiþ-oute. Line 15082 to þis grete solempnite welcome wiþ-outen doute þai him led in-to þe toun. ful grete hit was þe route. Line 15086

Line 15086 to þe temple wiþ mury sange on ilk side a-boute. ¶ þis is þe sauiour þai saide atte commyn til vs is now. Line 15090 of þe kinde of king dauid his name is calde ihesu. þe deþ may neuer him wiþ-stande he dos him til hit bowe Line 15094 many seke hele has þou giuen. to þe men þat þe walde bowe. ¶ lang þen has he bene a-way lange efter him us þoȝt. Line 15098 xij. of men or ma we traw þen has he wiþ him broȝt. of þaire fete atte semed sare we saued ham as we moȝt Line 15102 our mantels vnder ham we spred for oþer had we noȝt. ¶ now is he commyn þat is our king now sais alle osanna. Line 15106 we wende he had for-ȝeten us al. þar-fore was vs ful wa. welcome is he fra now he ne sal. na langer part vs fra Line 15110 for wo is am þat muȝt him hald þat liȝtli letis him ga.

Quen þe princis & riche [folio 70a:2] wiste ham of þis fare Line 15114 þai bicome mare soroufuller. þen euer ware þai are. þai geddered ham samneward & mened ham of þaire care. Line 15118 to caiphas in a route þai went & geddered ham alle þare. lordinges saide þan caiphas. my hert hit is ful sare. Line 15122

Line 15122 of þis ihesu þat is squa wise he is squa mykil of lare. Line 15124 hit is wele sene þai folow him baþ lesse & mare. suche a man was neuer ȝet sin ani werldis ware. Line 15128 ¶ hit is wonder grete to telle þe ferlis þat he mase we se þe folk alle fallis him til ouer alle quare he gas. Line 15132 alle our lagh he wille for-do. our awen folk allas. & squa þai wille agayne vs rise & be our maste fas. Line 15136 ¶ alle þis werlde is turned now. tille him as ȝe wele se. for-þi now rede I. salle ȝou giue. & herkenis alle to me. Line 15140 þorou þis man hit is þe soþ þis werlde salle loste be. & he be slaine hit salle be broȝt in grete solenpnite. Line 15144 ¶ Better hit is þat a man dey. þen alle þe werlde be lorne and atte þis ilk ihesus be; he [[he added]] tane erly to morne. Line 15148 þat may noȝt be done for folk. if man had hit squorne. bot langer þen þis feste be done. be he noȝt for-borne. Line 15152 ¶ Ihesus preychand ilk a day. stably in temple stode. to þe mounte of oliuete ilk niȝt he ȝode. Line 15156 þare he wiþ his disciplis lay. þuȝt him naure squa gode

& euer on day þe folk he gaf of goddes worde þe fode. Line 15160

[folio 70b:1] Quen þat squete miȝti king was commyn to þat tide. þat in his squete wille was sette to deye for mannys pride. Line 15164 wiþ grete pine & passioun. walde he na langer bide. bot buxumly him-self he bede na ferþer walde he glide. Line 15168 ¶ Many sary sigh I.-wis stanged til his hert. þe flesshe was doutande for to dey. þat kindeli was in quert. Line 15172 hit was shonande for þe sare. na selcouþ hit was smert. þat his mykil charite for vs to thole him gert. Line 15176 ¶ þe iij. daies was ronnyn oute. & þe firþ on hande his disciplis na selly was. be-gan to be doutande. Line 15180 sir þai saide ȝe tel now vs. & we salle vnderstande salle men ȝou any paskis diȝt. aure-quere in þis lande. Line 15184 ¶ þe lorde loked am a-pon. & ansquared ham ful squete gas vn-to ȝone toun he saide a man ȝe salle þer mete. Line 15188 a water vessel in his hande a-gayne ȝou in þe strete. ȝe ga wiþ him he sal ȝou bring in-to an in ful squete. Line 15192 ¶ folowes forþ þat ilk man. al-way bi & by.

to þe lorde of þat hous ȝe say on my party. Line 15196 þat he walde lene vs sum soler to make our mangery. & he sal deliuer ȝou an. & þat ful priuely. Line 15200

Þai went ham forþ in-to þe toun sone wiþ þis man þai mette. wiþ a vessel in his hande. water for to fette. Line 15204 he led ham til his lordis hous þat derworþli þai grette & he ham lent for charite a soler in atte ete. Line 15208 quen þis hous was cumli diȝt. was þer na langer a-bide. ihesus come wiþ his felawshepe atte litel loued þai pride. Line 15212 hit was a squete company. was gedderred þer þat tide. þe lorde was to þe soper sette his felawes him be-side. Line 15216

Ivdas of þa xij. was an. his surnome scariot hiȝt to ete wiþ ihesu he him sette & redi has him diȝt. Line 15220 wiþ þe iewes he had spokin þer be-fore atte niȝt. his awen lorde for to selle. als dere as euer he miȝt. Line 15224 ¶ þe lorde is to þe soper sette þe mete is redy boun. vp he lift his hali hande & gaf þe benisoun. Line 15228 þen he toke þe bred & brak wiþ wordis noȝt to roun.

til his disciplis he hit brak Line 15231 & saide ham þis sarmoun. ¶ Takis & etis of þis brede for flesshe þen hit is myne. þat salle þis ilk niȝt be led for ȝou to suffre pine. Line 15236 siþen þe chalis out he laȝt & blessed als þe wyne. & gaf ham alle for to drink. þat derworþ driȝtyne. Line 15240 ¶ drinkis alle of þis he saide for quy hit is my blode. þat for ȝou hit salle be shed. & for mankin on rode. Line 15244 quen seynt Iohn his cosyn. þes wordes vnderstode. on his lordes brest he slepped for sorouing of his mode Line 15248 ¶ vnderstandis quat I. ȝou say. now breþer quoþ ihesu. gladli vnderfange þe gift. þat I. here gif ȝou now. Line 15252 I. salle noȝt of na suchekin drink na mare drink wiþ ȝou. til we be sammyn in my kingrike giuen I. haue a vow. Line 15256 ¶ To my fader atte is þare [folio 71a:1] þidder I. salle ȝou lede. & of my new mete I. salle. freli wiþ ȝou fede. Line 15260 & of my new drink alsqua. drink ȝe salle to mede. & þat I. say ȝou here in worde þar salle ȝe finde in dede. Line 15264 ¶ Dismay ȝou noȝt my breþer dere quat-sim ȝe here or se.

þe traitour þat me tray sal. Line 15267 amonge ȝou here is he. ilkan on oþer þai be-helde quilk of vs may be. bot he þat etis of my disshe Line 15271 he salle be-trays me.

My leue breþer & frendis als. ȝe be noȝt ferde he saide. ful wele I. wate þe quilk of ȝou. þe tresoun has puruaide. Line 15276 þat I loued he salle me tray. þe gate hit is alle graide. he may say wale-a-way his wirde þat be-fore him his laide. Line 15280 ¶ quen þat þis soper was al done. ihesus rase of his sete. bot his disciplis þat ware sete. [[MS.sette orig.]] nane vprise he lete. Line 15284 wiþ a touel he him belt his side sitande ful mete. wiþ a bassin he water broȝt. for to wasshe þaire fete. Line 15288 ¶ þe mekenes of þis squete Ihesu suche herde men neuer telle. þat bowed squa his lordehede to ham þat was his þrelle. Line 15292 be-for his disciplis fete mekeli doun he felle. of suche seruise ham þuȝt selcouþ. & saide certane we nelle. Line 15296 ¶ criste saide pes & lete me noȝt. to wesshe ȝour fete be-dene & wiþ his towel ofterward he wiped ham ful clene. Line 15300 quen he to saint petre come. þer he sette ham be-twene.

his fote fulle tite til him he tite him shamed hit was wele sene. ¶ lorde he saide quat wiltow do. do fra my fete þi hande. þou wasshis ham noȝt sicureli. þe quilest I. am liuande Line 15308 Peris if I ne þe wasshe he saide I. wille þou vnderstande. sal þou haue na part wiþ me of blis þat is lastande Line 15312 ¶ þat quoþ peris to be-tide lorde I. hit for-bede. noȝt fete alle-an bot heued þer-to & hende þou wasse to mede. Line 15316 he þat has his bodi clene ihesus saide is na nede. þat he do wasshe oȝt bot fete for ensaumple takis my dede. Line 15320 ¶ herkenis me saide he my frendis þe þing I. telle ȝou salle me ȝour maister ȝe me bi-clepe. & ȝour lorde ȝe calle. Line 15324 soþ hit is þat sal be sene suche a day sal falle. & for ensaumple ȝoure fete þus haue I. wasshen alle. Line 15328 ¶ Sin I. þat lorde & maister is. has þus-gate serued ȝou. loke ilkan til oþer be. þat ȝe als breþer bow. Line 15332 þe seruis þat I. haue ȝou done alle haue ȝe sene how. dos wele for I. sal noȝt lang. wiþ ȝou dwelle fra now. Line 15336

My leue breþer I. ȝou for-bede þat pride be ȝou a-mang

ȝe haue me folowed hidder-to. ȝe xij. in mykil þrange. Line 15340 bot an of ȝou þis ilk niȝt salle do me muche wrange to-morne day salle I. be dampned on a cros to hange. Line 15344 I. salle be dede & rise þer-to. sal hit noȝt be lange. ¶ quen þai herde atte he sulde dey. & þat þorou þaire tresoun Line 15348 & atte his body sulde be taȝt his fas þat ware feloun. & atte he sulde a-pon þe rode thole harde passioun. Line 15352 qua sulde do þis squike ilkane. [folio 71b:1] of oþer þai had mistroun. & soroufulli þai come to-geder þer-of þai had resoun. Line 15356 ¶ þen spac peris first of alle lorde to me þou say if þou sais hit oȝt be me queþer I salle þe tray. Line 15360 or wate I. quat þe traitour is. þat squa has loued þe ay. oure lorde squetely ansquared. saide nay þou leue peris nay. Line 15364 for in þis felawshepe is he he may say waleaway. ¶ fful waleaway may he sing þat cursed ful of care. & weleaway mai he say. Line 15369 þe moder atte him bare. to mare blis hit had him bene vn-borne if atte he ware Line 15372 I. salle ȝou teyche him for to knaw. wiþ mistrowning na mare.

here efterwarde ȝet salle ȝe se. ful il atte he salle fare. Line 15376 ¶ qua of me takis þis brede þat ilk is he þat balde Iudas opened þen is mouþ or he þer-to was calde. Line 15380 sone hit was þe morsel boun he diȝt hit as he walde. & Iudas squolowde hit anoun. þat siþen his maister salde. Line 15384