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

[Simon Magus wishes to buy Holy Gifts.]

þer was a man simeon Magus. als mani a boke tellis hit vs. Line 19518 he led his folk wiþ mikil squike for signis ware his werkis like. he wroȝt be-for ham grete ferli. & alle was þorou his iogolory. Line 19522 goddes vertu or grete prophete or angel ellis þai him lete. or god sone þai helde him heye. for he cowde wele blere þaire eye bot alle þe folk of þe toun. Line 19527 trawed wele philip sarmoun & to þe baptising ham bowed & squa lete simon as he trowed & toke þe sacrement of hali kirk Line 19531 for signis þat he sagh philip wirk oþer miraclis þen he cowde do. bot for he wende to come þer-to. baptim for-þi he toke wiþ faint Line 19535 for to be wiþ philip aquaint to be him als his priue nere of his craftis if he mote lere

Quen þe apostles herde squa say. samaritanis had tane þaire lay Line 19540 fra ierusalem þai sende on-nan. baþ seint petre & seint Iohn þai praied for ham þen in haste þai sulde resceiue þe haligaste. Line 19544

Line 19544 þat is to say wiþ takenis sene. bot þar na man þe queþer wene. þat þai ne resceiued hit þat time. vnsene quen þai toke baptime. for-þi wete ȝe þat is wise Line 19549 alle if sum men may baptise may na man þat is in lande conferme hit bot wiþ bisshop hande ¶ þat ful wele philip wiste for-þi of alle þat he baptist Line 19554 he sende ham to þe apostles ay. at þai sulde hande a-pon ham lay. als we se ȝet þer bisshoppis do. at þat pauste is giuen vn-to. Line 19558 þe bisshop hale conferment of strenght hit is þe sacrement stabil for to stande in strife. In lasting of cristen mannis life. Line 19562 ¶ quen Simon magus vnderstode. atte þe haligast was gode. & þat þa men at did hit fange muȝt do suche vertu & squa strange of wate he was ful wonder wise Line 19567 he wende haue boȝt hit for sum pris als hit is in þe story red to þe apostles gift he bed Line 19570 þis ilk miȝt gif me he saide þat on quat mon my hende be laide þat he be hale flesshe & bone & raise þe dede as ȝe haue done Line 19574 ¶ Petre ansquared þat caitef quede þi catel sal bring þe to dede. & halde þi catel þat is þine to be wiþ þe in helle pine. Line 19578 ¶ Here mai men se bi þis resoun. [folio 80b:1] quen santis gaue þaire malisoun.

þai gaf hit noȝt for il wille. Line 19581 ne for enuy þai had men tille. bot for riȝtwisnes þai hit do. to ham atte worþi is þer-to. Line 19584 ¶ heres þou simon quod peter here þou hast wiþ falsede fest þi fere ne þorou þi hende hastow na miȝt to gere þe haligast to liȝt. Line 19588 þou has nede to do penance I.-nogh. for ihesus god hastow soȝt wiþ wogh pray him for-gif þe if squa mai falle. wiþ falshede þou him fonded with-alle ¶ Peter him taȝt be his entent. Line 19593 to calle men tille amendement. squa agh alle prestes mare & lesse. in als mikil as in ham is. Line 19596 Peter & Iohn þai went againe. & preyched baþ wiþ miȝt & maine ne left þai for na blenk ne blame til þai to ierusalem come hame. Line 19600