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

Of þe life of our lauedi.

Quen ihesus criste was done on rode & þoled dede alle for our gode he calde tille him seint Iohn. þat was his flessheli kynnis-man. Line 20068 & his awen moder alsqua. ne calde he men til him na ma. womman he saide lo here sone þine for mannis loue þole I. þis pine. Line 20072 lo how I. hing a-pon þis tree for-soþ I. wate hit rewes þe.

my fete mi hende of blode ar rede wiþ-outen gilt I. þole þis dede Line 20076 for quam I. am commen doun. þai ar myne awen bi resoun. & þai me do alle þis shame. Line 20079 wiþ-oute mater bere I. blame ¶ his moder stode & sare ho grete. þe teris fel doun til hir fete Line 20082 wa[s na] ferly ho wepped sare for h[o moȝ]t haue na sorou mare que[n he] þat toke of hir his flesse als his squete willis wesse. Line 20086 hange on a tree & nailed to. allas allas allas saide ho. how mai I. liue how mai I. be how miȝt I. þis sorou se. Line 20090 ne cowde I. are of sorou noȝt. leue sone quat hastow þoȝt how sal I. liue wiþ-outen þe leue sone quat sais þou me Line 20094 ¶ þen spac ihesus wordes gode als he hange a-pon þe rode. he saide til hir my moder dere. I salle be-teiche þe now a fere Line 20098 þat truli salle take kepe to þe þe quilest þou salle in erþ be. he saide þen til saint Iohn. Line 20101 for my loue kepe þis wommon. kepe & serue hir wiþ þi miȝt. þat na man do hir vn-riȝt ¶ þen toke þe apostole sone a-nan. vn-til his keping þat maidan Line 20106 he seruid hir baþ dai. & niȝt. & keped hir wele wiþ alle his miȝt to temple hir with him he nam. & als sone as þai þidder came. Line 20110

Line 20110 a-monge þe Nunnes of þat sted god for to serue he hir did. þer ho be-left for alle hir life. Line 20113 loued ho nauþer fiȝt ne strife alle þa lauedis atte þer ware in alle þaire wille þai hir for-bare þe quilest þat ho was with ham þare Line 20117 þai seruid hir baþ lesse & mare. ¶ to fere & seke ay did ho bote. & seruid ham til hande & fote nakid & hungri ho cled & fedde þe seke ho broȝt vn-to þaire bedde. ne was þer nauþer seke ne fere Line 20123 atte þai ne had of hir grete mistere for þai hir louid wiþ al þaire miȝt. ho hit seruid & þat wiþ riȝt. ¶ ho woke wele mare þen ho did slepe hir sone to serue was alle hir kepe Line 20128 til him ho calde wiþ rewful steiuen. & he hir sende an angel of heiuen him-self come sum time þat ho bare for to conforte his moder of care Line 20132 saint Iohn hir keppid þat lauedi dere for he was hir a ful trew fere. ne walde he neuer fra hir gane for baþ þaire willis was as an. al þat ho bad gladli he did. Line 20137 þe quilest þai lenged in þat stidde ¶ quen ho had þare lange bene. þat lauedi þat is heiuen quene. hir langed sare hir sone come to. Line 20141 & quen ho ȝerned sone was ho. a angelle sende hir fra heiuen. & grette hir wiþ a milde steiuen. ¶ In þe temple wiþ hir he mette. Line 20145 honoured hir & hir þare grette.

& saide lauedy. ful of grace wele þou be in ilka place. be þou noȝt dred for me here I am þi sonis messager. Line 20150 to þe his wille hit mote be done. þe gretis wele þi dere sone flour of erþ of heiuen quene. [folio 83b:1] blessed mote þou euer bene. Line 20154 wele be þe time þat þou was borne for al þis werlde hit were for-lorne. warne þe frute þat come of þe marie lauedi blessed þou be. Line 20158 ¶ lauedi best of al þing bliþ bodeworde I. þe bring. take þis palme now in þi hande. hit is þi squete sone sande. Line 20162 þe þink ful lange þi sone to sene here may þou noȝt lange bene. he sal sende ofter þe ful sone. Line 20165 ne sal þou noȝt lange here wone. þou salle be broȝt to heiuen blis. þer þou sal neuer of mirþis mis. þer is he king þou sal be quene. [MS. sene crossed through, quene added.] al heiuen sal bliþ of þe bene. Line 20170 al heiuen court now þink lange til þou come ham amange. þou sal be here bot dais þre lauedi squiþe graiþ þou þe. ¶ þen ansquared our lauedi. Line 20175 & saide to þe angel belamy. artow my sonis messager þat bringis me suche tiþande here has he sette me ani day Line 20179 þat I wiþ-in me graiþ may. I. walde wite gladli bi-twene & quen. to take leue atte my kinnismen. Line 20182

Line 20182 of frendis þat me fed & clad Line 20183 & helped me als my sone ham bad. ¶ þen saide þe angel I. saide hit þe. þou salle be here bot days þre. þe þrid we salle come doun. Line 20187 angels I-nogh loke þou be boun. we salle þe bere wiþ miry sang for ofter þe vs þink ful lange. ¶ þen hit saide our lauedi Line 20191 to þe angel þat stode hir by. quat is þi name squete amy. gladli þer-of wite walde I. ¶ Mi name now I. say þe noȝt. Line 20195 bot haue þis palme I. haue þe broȝt kepe hit wele I. prai hit þe & lete hit neuer depart fra þe. I mai noȝt lange lenge here. Line 20199 for I was sende as messagere I sal to þe apostoles wende on-nan þer þai ar sundred an. & an. þat þai be here þe þrid day Line 20203 na langer a-bide I. ne may.

Quen þe angel had his erand made he went our lauedi efter [[MS. ofter]] bade. Line 20206 þe palme ho toke was to hir broȝt of þat bode for-gat ho noȝt. Line 20208 vn-til hir chaumbir ho hit bare als sone as ho hir come þare of ho did þen alle hir hater & wasshed hir bodi in faire water & quen þat lauedi squa had done a new smok ho did hir on. Line 20214 ¶ quen ho was shod & new clad. to ihesu criste a bede ho bad. & saide sone I. þanke hit þe Line 20217 at þou has noȝt for-ȝetin me.

sone I. be-seche þe for my blessing Line 20219 as þou art fader of heiuen king. sone for þi hali name kepe þi hande-werk fra shame. [[This line comes at the end of leaf 83, back.]] atte þe deuil haue na miȝt. Line 20223 to dere me hit ware na riȝt. ¶ Sone helpe me for now is nede atte I. haue of þe deuil na drede for wiþ þe gilis þat he can. Line 20227 he be-squikis mani man. ¶ Leue sone gif þou him noȝt mankinde atte þou dere boȝt Sone þou art ful of pite Line 20231 for sinful man bi-seke I. þe. atte þou sone for þi hali grace. gif ham baþ miȝt & space ham amende or þai be dede Line 20235 þat of þe deuil þai haue na drede Sone þink how þou has ham boȝt & wiþ þi handis þou ham wroȝt sone þou kepe ham fra þi fa. Line 20239 for quam þou þolid alle þis wa. ¶ quen ho had praied as ho walde ful faire hir frendis til hir ho calde hir frendis & hir kynnesmen. Line 20243 wiþ reuþful steyuen spac ho þen. Leue frendis ho saide my awen sone wil na langer þat I. here wone. he wil I. come & wiþ him be Line 20247 quar-fore I. prai ȝou for charite [ [[from Laud MS. 416]] yff I haue eny thyng myswroght Sey yt me and helyth noȝt Line 20250 I wolle yt mend and þat is right That my soule haue no plight The good that ye haue done to me My sonne that done was on þe tre Line 20254

Line 20254 Man to by for pyne and drede Line 20255 yeld yt you at tyme of nede and bryng you to thilk blisse There I shalbe and I now is alle that euyr were her by Line 20259 Of this tydyng were sory They seid lady how may þis be how shulle we lyf to mysse þe lady that hast vs seruyd so Alas how shalle we parte þe fro Line 20264 lady dere what hast þou thoght Rew on vs and part noght In muche sorow and muche wo Shulle we lyke to part in ij^o Line 20268 Then answerd that good lady To tho that were then her by let be wepyng hit helpyþ noȝt heldyþ ioy in-to your thoght Line 20272 while I am here wakyth me hyt dothe me good that I you se haue ye no drede wytyþ yt wele Line 20275 Of pyne I shalle thole no dele To me shalcome no pyne ne wo My sonne wylle that yt be so ffor my lycam his body bare Line 20279 he wolle that yt suffer no care he that I bare that blysfull breth wolle me send of heuyn myrth Line 20282 Iohn and the appostils where they be alle shalle they come to me while she þus spak that woman here-off wyst not seynt Iohn Line 20286 he come to speke with our lady wonder hym thoght they were sory

Lady he seid what is the and thise ladijs that I here se Line 20290

Line 20290 lady why makyst þou suche chere Line 20291 Dede now were me levyr I were . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] Line 20294 hast þou ought hard that I not can Of me or eny oþer man Shalle I nevir more haue blis Telle I wyt what yt is Line 20298 ¶ Oure lady wepe and Iohn also Trew loue was bytwene hem ij^o lady he seid what is the ffor my seruyce telle yt me Line 20302 Mary answerd with rufull stevyn Me come tydyng ere from heuyn My sonne me sent his messangere Line 20305 he wylle not long that I be here wytte yt for-soth yt rewyþ me That I so sone shall part fro the [folio 166b:1] ffor thy love and thy good seruyce Line 20309 Thow hast me kyd in many wyse Bothe welle me fed and clad And done as my sonne þe bad My sonne shalle welle yeld yt þe Line 20313 I shalle hym sei when I hym se Then answerd hir seint Iohn ffor he was þo a sory man Line 20316 lady he seid how shalle this bene when I shalle þe no more sene My ioy is done euery dele Line 20319 Shalle I nevir fro now be wele Synne we shull now part in-ij^o A Iohn why seist þou she seid so Though I be not here the by-forn Line 20323 Thy seruyce hast þou not lorn I shalle meng my swete sonne That shall do the to hym to come Line 20326

Line 20326 when tyme ys þat he wille haue me Line 20327 Swete Iohn be-seke I the let þou no iewis come me to dyspyte fayne wold they me do Line 20330 My body wold they do som shame They hate muche to here my name My body thow help fro hem I sey Thow we be syb I and they Line 20334 They hate no thyng mor þen me My sonne they hong on a tre I wote wele they loue me noȝt Ther for ther-on haue þou thy thoȝt Line 20338 when I am partyd Iohn fro the That they me do no vylone Now sonne that wonnest in heuyn light let hem ther-to haue no myȝt Line 20342 ¶ Sey me lady syn yt is so That we so sone shalle part in ij^o Sey me how long yt is to thon Line 20345 Certeynly then seid she Iohn Bytwene this and the third day lengger duelle here I ne may when he þis herd he was sory Line 20349 wepyng he seid lady mercy how shalle I lyf how shalle I far how shalle I covyr of my car ffyrst was my lord done to ded Thorow the iewis fals red Line 20354 and now wilt þou lady me fro Now me newyþ alle my wo wold my lord I wold be ded ffor of my-self canne I no red Line 20358 ¶ A Iohn she seid why seist þou so Angils oft shal come the to To kepe the welle in alle þy state And comfort the Erely and late Line 20362

Line 20362 as she spak this to seint Iohn Come þe appostils eueri-chon Line 20364 To-gedir but they wyst yt noȝt how they were to-geder broght Line 20366 ffor othirs come wyst they non But of her come blyþe was Iohn Alle he hem kyssid so fayne he was And seid to hem, Deo gracias Line 20370 Blessid be ay Iesu thy myȝt ffor at our nede yt doþe vs riȝt Synne þy modir shalle come to þe That she may feir wakyd be Line 20374 Of thyne appostils now to-gethir I not how they bene come hethir ¶ Sey me broþer quod peter to Iohn why art þou so sory a man Line 20378 why wepyst þou what is þe ffor alle louys telle now me ¶ I shalle the sey the reson why Line 20381 That þou me seist now sory But do me first to vnderstond how ye ar gedird here to hond Line 20384 That ye so wyde were spred Sey me what hath you heþer led hark me now Iohn a merveyle thyng I was farrer hen at a prechyng Line 20388 fferre out in anoþer lond I held my boke in my hond Y delyuyrd me of my sermoun Line 20391 I note how I come in this toun As me mot help god Iesus I note how I come in this hows Line 20394 We se welle that we ar here er This is marvaile man to bere Of vs is non wote for whome Line 20397 Ne what wyse we heþer come

¶ lystynnyth quod Iohn and heryþ this Line 20399 I shalle you tell what yt is In-to that hows comyþ þus Oure lady is ther and byddyþ vs and ordeynyth here to far vs fro Line 20403 ffor her sonne wille that yt be so her sonne hath sent his messangere he wylle no longger she be here hethir he hath you alle send Line 20407 To speke with her er she end Comyth alle in here with me Byfor hir face knele ye Line 20410 And seyth here lady welle mote ye bene Our lord hath sent vs þe to sene To vycyte þe and to be the by There-for are we comyn in hie But oon thyng then seid Iohn [folio 167a:1] Line 20415 To petyr and þe appostils echon But loke when ye come þer-ynne There is non of her kynne That non of vs alle in fere Line 20419 By-for her make no lothely chere But feir semblaunt to make her glad Do now alle as I you bad Line 20422 fforth yede the appostils xij Right by-for our lady selve Into the chambyr that she was ynne wyth muche folk of her kynne Line 20426 On kneis they set hem euery-chon As hem had byddyn seint Iohn lady they seid heuyn quene Blessid mote þou euyr-mor bene Line 20430 Of alle women beste the be Our lord hath vs now sent to the ffor to serve and do thy wylle as yt is reason and skylle Line 20434

Line 20434 heuyn and erthe bowyth þe to Line 20435 Thy sonne wylle that yt be so [[Laud extract ends here]] ] he has in keping alle þing. [folio 84a:1] he is þi sone is heuuin king. Line 20438 ¶ þan ras vp sone our lauedi. ho kiste þe apostles þat stode hir bi. of þaire come ho was ful glad. Line 20441 ho sette ham alle as ho ham bad. ho asked ham how þai come þare. for þai ware spred ful wide quare. ¶ Lauedi þi sone wate we noȝt. Line 20445 to þi comaundement has vs broȝt to speke wiþ þe as our lauedi. to-quiles atte þou art here vs bi. Line 20448 ho was so faine at þai ware þere. ho blessed þe childe atte ho bere I am his moder wele he kid. his loue to me was neuer hid. Line 20452 sin squa is now mi sone hit wille. þat I come to him as hit is skille. my bodi salle ȝe kepe now squa. Line 20455 þat nane hit negh þat ar my fa. ¶ wakis faire mi licame wele I wate & traiste I am. þe iewes ful of felony. Line 20459 my sone þai slogh al for foli. faine þai walde do me shame þai hate na þing mare þen mi name for-þi I. bid ȝou for charite. Line 20463 & for þe loue; ȝe haue to me. quen I am farin to heiuen blis. wakis a niȝt þer my bodi is. Line 20466 kepis hit wele baþ niȝt & day atte þe iewes stele hit noȝt a-way. þai walde hit bren or do hit shame bot ihesus for þi hali name. Line 20470

Line 20470 lete ham þar-to haue na miȝt Line 20471 for sicureli hit ware vn-riȝt. bot ihesu criste ful of blis al be at þi wil I.-wis.

Þe quilest our lauedi spac al-so. Line 20475 to þe apostles þat come hir to. þe angel liȝt & stode hir by & saide haile be þou my lauedi. & alle þat ar here wiþ þe. Line 20479 loke atte þou now redi be. þou sal to heiuen & þer be quene. ful bliþ mai ay þine hert bene. Line 20482 þe sal serue þe court of heiuen. & our lauedi herde þen þat steyuen. atte þe angel saide hir to. ful of gladnes þen was ho. Line 20486 to hir bed ho ȝode & lay. a-boute þe time of midday. Iohn & þe apostles satte hir by. for to kepe þat faire lauedi. Line 20490 ¶ A-mang ham sone ofter þis. þer come a sange of paradis. sa squete hit was & sa ferli. þat alle þa þat satte hir by. Line 20494 ȝonge & alde & euer-ilkon. fel ham sone a-slepe a-pon. al bot our lauedi þai fel on slepe. to þis ferli now takis kepe. Line 20498 an erþ-dyn þer come atte shoke. alkin þing as sais þe boke. þen spac þat lauedi to seint Iohn & to þe apostles euerilkon. Line 20502 & to þe maidenes atte þer ware in. & oþer mani of hir kyn. wakis ho saide & slepis noȝt. I. sal to him þat me has wroȝt. Line 20506

Line 20506 now is time þat I. salle fare. Line 20507 þer I. sal neuer-mare haue care.

Sittis alle stille mare & lesse. & heris of þis myrines. þer come ihesus in his miȝt. Line 20511 king of heiuen he did as riȝt. als sone wiþ moder aȝt to done he calde his angels was noȝt fone. & alle þe felawshepe of heiuen. Line 20515 & saide til ham wiþ ioiful steyuen comis wiþ me ihesus be name my moder is ho hir sone I am. I toke of hir my flesshe & blode. Line 20519 þan is riȝt I do hir gode. I. þat euer was & ay sal be. in parfite blis of dignite. I gaf raunsoun for al man-kin. Line 20523 þat al went in-to helle pine. ¶ I had ham made to serue me. & þorou an appel of a tree. he ete againe mi for-bidding Line 20527 he was tint & his ospring. I rewed hit me & for-þuȝt hit sare & walde noȝt suffre hit na mare. I liȝt doun & man be-came. & of þat maiden flesshe I name. Line 20532 be-for alle oþer I did hir take [folio 84b:1] & neuer-mare I. hir for-sake. xxx. winter & sumdel mare. I lenged man to wisse in lare. Line 20536 I-nogh þai did me vilane. myne awen sibbe þat agh to be. ¶ þai toke me & bette me sare. & ȝet þai did me mare care. Line 20540 wiþ-outen gilt þai did me wrange be-twene ij. theuis þai did me hange

nailed þorou hande & fete, Line 20543 of blode mi bodi was alle wete. my hert þai þirled wiþ a spere. þai sagh hit alle atte was þere. þis shame I þolid al for noȝt. Line 20547 bot at man-kinde sulde be boȝt. þer I hange nailed on þe tree. mi moder was ful wa for me. & squa was hir eme Iohn Line 20551 I calde him to me a-non. & saide til him þou leue cosin. kepe þis womman. moder mine. moder allane durst I. noȝt say. for ferde hir hert sulde brast in-twai. for þe loue þou has to me. Line 20557 squa has he done ful wele I. se. ȝe parted fra me lasse & mare. allane I hange on rode þare. Line 20560 fra mi bodi my saule I nam. & siþen in-to helle I cam. alle mi frendis þat I þare fande. Line 20563 I toke ham forþ on my riȝt hande. Adam & eue & oþer manian. I. did ham out of helle be-tane. ¶ quen I had þusgate heried helle. Line 20567 & done al þis þat I ȝou telle. & had ouer-commen þe foule quede. þe þrid day I. rase fra dede. Line 20570 fra erþ I. stey til heiuen þan. for I. am baþ god & man. I am now here in al my miȝt. Line 20573 for-soþ I wille for þat is riȝt. þat my moder dwelle wiþ me. now is time atte hit squa be. ¶ Comis now forþ wiþ myry sange Line 20577 & do hir come now vs a-mange.

for þer come ihesus meyne. angels archangel grete plente. Line 20580 vn-to hir boure wiþ miry sange. til þai come in ham þuȝt hit lange þis boure was ful of mikil blis & squa is ay quare ihesus is. Line 20584 þat al þa ilk at þar-in ware. suche blis sagh þai neuer are. amang þat singing & þat glu. our lauedi hir leue sone knew. Line 20588 quen ho him sagh ho was ful glad Herkenis þe bone þat ho him bad. ¶ ay blessed mote þe time be. þat þou was lorde borne of me. hit is wele sene I. am þe dere. Line 20593 now þi-self is commen here. þine apostles þou sende to me. now artow commen wiþ þi meyne. to focche me sone to heiuen-rike Line 20597 had neuer moder childe þe like. sone do þou atte þi wil is. me has þuȝt lange to þe I.-wis. ¶ Squete moder come wiþ me. of alle wemmen blessed þou be. Line 20602 þer I. am king þou sal be quene. ful bliþ mai þine hert bene. ¶ Sone ho saide baþ lorde & king. I. þe be-seke now of an þing. queþer I. sal of þe fende haue siȝt. Line 20607 I. am ferde for þat foule wiȝt I. loue him noȝt he is mi fa. leue sone lete me se nan of þa. Line 20610 ¶ Squete moder drede þe noȝt. come hit neuer in-to my þoȝt. wille I. noȝt thole þe ham to se. Line 20613 salle he noȝt come be-for þe.

ne salle þou na-þing se ne here. Line 20615 bot me & angels wiþ miry chere. squete moder wete þou hit wele of paine saltow thole neuer-a-dele al heiuen court sal serue þe Line 20619 to make þe mirþ moder fre moder a gift I. wil þe giue þou sal wiþ me in heyuen ay liue. I sal haue merci moder dere Line 20623 of al mankinde þorou þi praiere. þat ware for-lorne if þou ne ware for of þi bodi þou me bare. alle atte menskis þe lauedi: Line 20627 & seruis þe trufully & at trew merci wille cry [folio 85a:1] & sais wiþ hert help marie moder for þe loue of þe. Line 20631 in quatkin sin sa euer he be. I sal ham help þat sal þou se. moder for þe loue of þe. If ani has bene al his life. Line 20635 In heued syn man or wife. & he wil atte his last time. for-sake his syn & repent him. & telle hit if he mai haue prest. Line 20639 or oþer man þat is him neiste if he ne mai telle & do na mare bot of his dide for-þink him sare of quatkin syn sa euer hit be. Line 20643 moder for þe loue of þe. I sal of him haue gode mercy. if he wiþ wille. on me wil cry. Line 20646 to a man allane had wroȝt. alle þe synnis þat euer was þoȝt. & he wil atte his last day do þus as I. salle say Line 20650

Line 20650 repent him & cal on þe. Line 20651 in quatkin syn. sim euer hit be. I sal here al his praiere for þi loue mi moder dere. & þat þou wil be-seke me fore Line 20655 be hit lasse or be hit more. hit sal be as þi-self hit wille for my wil saltow haue þat tille. hit ware vn-riȝt to wiþ-stande þe Line 20659 ani þing þou askis of me. ¶ Our ladi louted him be-forne sone þe time þat þou was borne ouer alle oþer hit blessed be. for alle my wille þou grantis me. Line 20664 ¶ Squa agh I moder wiþ-outen wande he blessed hir wiþ his riȝt hande. til hir sone þat ho louid mast. þen ho ȝalde hir blessed gaste. Line 20668 he calde til him saint Michel. kepe þou wele my lemman lele. baþ þou & alle þi fere. Line 20671 þer nys na-þinge me sa dere anan he had hir saule hent. & hit was fra þe bodi went. Line 20674 al þe folk þat come fra heiuen. songe þan wiþ a myry steyuen. hit was wele sene a-pon þaire sange þat mikil ioy was ham amange. Line 20678 wiþ mirþis to heiuen þe wai þai nam & als sone as ho þidder cam. ho was crowned quene sa milde. blessed be suche a childe. Line 20682