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

þe stori of Isaac abraham sone

Now ys gode atte vnder-take. and þe story telle of Isaac.

our lorde þat ys of bounte boun. til him he gaf his benysoun. Line 3412 ful wyse he was god to drede. [folio 21b:1] gladly his bidinge euer he bede. wiþ-outen childe his wife was lange and þar-of þuȝt isaac ful strange. Line 3416

Line 3416 he prayed him þat al may mende þat he walde a childe him sende. for his wife he dred ful sare. ho sulde be baren for euer-mare. Line 3420 þe gode childer getyn of grace. vnneþe come þai forþ in place. bot quen þai forþ come wele ys kend at þai wiþ goddis grace ar sende. Line 3424 childe vnnethes had dame rebecca. I. mai noȝt telle ȝet of þa. ne ȝet þe hali elizabethe. Line 3427 to haue hir birthe come ho. noȝt ethe of seint Iohn Baptist. þat til man sende Ihesu criste al-so semys qua riȝt con deme al þes sal be of rebecca teme Line 3432 bot ho had ham noȝt for-þi I. say. or þai ware soȝt sa mony a day. god heght ham childer. noȝt for-þi. þat of þaire sede sulde multiply. Line 3436 and saide Isaac I. sal be. als wiþ þi fader al-so wiþ þe. ¶ Isaac to god gaf his entent Line 3439 and prayed he sulde him childer sent. so lange he prayed at his prayer was wele herde wiþ criste so dere his wife þat lange had childe for-gan. now ho bredis twa for ane. Line 3444 of twynlynges þat hir þuȝt na gam. þat in hir wombe ar stadde samme so harde wiþ-in hir wombe þai faȝt atte ho ne mote reste; day ne naȝt wiþ alle hir hert ay was ho prest Line 3449 to pray to god quat hir ware best quat hir was best he sulde rede. riȝt was ho like ho sulde be dede Line 3452

Line 3452 ¶ strange wired. was ham giuen of were at þai muȝt noȝt þaire strif for-bere til þai had of ham-seluen miȝt to se quar-fore þai sulde fiȝt Line 3456 fra þe be-gynnynge of þe werde of suche a weer was neuer herde ne suche a strife of childer twyn. atte lay þaire moder wombe with-in Line 3460 þaire strife hit was sturen and stiþe aiþer wraisted oþer oft siþe. bi-twix vnborne a batail blinde suche an ware ferly for-to finde. Line 3464 ¶ he þat a-pon þe riȝt side lay. his broþer wraisted him a-way. and he þat lay a-pon þe left his broþer stede oft he reft. Line 3468 ¶ þe lauedy was ful ferly drad. as wommon þat harde ware stadde. bot our lorde of soþfastnes. hadde done hir in sikernes. Line 3472 þorou his verray prophase of quatkin life þa childer sulde be. of faire wirde and of þaire life. Line 3475 and al-so quar-fore was þat strife. for-þi buxumly baret ho bare. and knew conforte sulde come of care hir breding was ful selcouþe sare Line 3479 bot hir childinge was mykil mare. ¶ þen wex þe fiȝt mare þen be-forne queþer of ham sulde er be borne. straite ys for to stere þe state. þer miȝt of kinde ys fundyn mate Line 3484 of þer twa breþer þat I. mote. þe lesse þe mare laȝt bi þe fote. In traualyng and droghe him a-gayne. ful harde hit was þaire moder payne Line 3488

Line 3488 þe first was borne was rughe of hare þe toþer childe was ballede and bare ¶ he þat was rughe and rede wiþ-alle esau to name þai con him calle. Line 3492 Iacob heȝt þe ȝonger broþer. þe moder him loued mare þen þe toþer for-þi was he nawre-quare sent bot to þe hous toke ay entent þe hous to kepe and make þaire mete Line 3497 þer-to was he maste to sette ¶ þe fader loued esau for fode. for-quy þat he was archer gode Line 3500 and quen he walde ay was he boun to fette his fader venysoun. and he was als þe formast borne and delt ay wiþ tilþe of corne. Line 3504 he was happy to gammys sere of beste of wode of fowels of riuer. his fader wex alde and vnfere and oft he made him gode dinere Line 3508 [folio 22a:1] ¶ gode was þe werlde in þat sesoun and mykil hit bare of benysoun of godemen at helde þe lay. on childer atte he loued ay. Line 3512 of blessinge may men ensaumple take bi þe childer of þis Isaac. [esau salde his lande to Iacob.] how þe ȝonger of þe twa. þe blessinge stale his broþer fra. Line 3516 bot first ys gode atte hit be talde how esau his forbirthe salde.

Esau went forþ to hunt. a-pon a day as he was wont. Line 3520 baþ fer and nere he soȝt bot þat day waiþe fande he noȝt for haue man neuer so gode graiþe hit ys noȝt iche day oþer waiþe [[MS. waire]] Line 3524

Line 3524 bot riuely þat day. at men falles a-boute his waiþe maste traualles. quen he al wery was for-gane. ham he toke his way an-nane. Line 3528 for hauke ys ethe as I. here say. to reclayme þat lost has his pray. his broþer he fande sone in siȝt. a riche soper for to diȝt. Line 3532 of þi mete broþer he sayde. gif me part of þat þou grayde mete and drink þou has atte wil. bot lange ys syn I. ete my fille. Line 3536 ¶ Iacob saide nay god wate hit. þi mete ys noȝt diȝt ȝet. þe mete my moder me bi-taȝt. for þou and I. ar selden saȝt. Line 3540 a-boute our forbirþe ar we wraþ. bot þou salle squere me with an aþe atte þou sal neuer fra to niȝt in þi forbirþe clayme na riȝt. fforbirthe he saide quat seruis hit me broþer atte þi wille sal hit be. Line 3546 for hunger he saide I. dye riȝt now he squere þat athe and made his vow and for his fille of þat potage. Line 3549 he salde þer his heritage. he ete and drank and went his way and tynt his blessinge fra þat day. na bote ware of him for-þoȝt. god walde hit ware his at hit boȝt

Ysaac þat vnfere man. Line 3555 elde and heuenys on him ran. of body falis him þe miȝt. and of his eyen al-squa þe siȝt. þe mon þat squa wiþ elde ys diȝt his dayes ar turned vn-to niȝt. Line 3560

Line 3560 and haue mon neuer bene sa balde ¶ quen þat he be-comys alde. his blode hit waxes dry and calde. to vnwelthe wendis al his walde. Line 3564 his heued be-gynnes for to shake. his hende vn-quemely for-to quake. wiþ crepinge croulis in his bake. and his banys for to crake. Line 3568 þe frely fax. to falle of him. and his siȝt to wax ful dym. þe fronte hit fronces þat was shene þe neyse droupes ay be-twene. Line 3572 þe tethe to rote þe ande at stink to liue on lyue trauayle hin (sic) þink þen ys ethe þe fote to spurne Line 3575 quen he fallis wiþ his awen turne he prayses al þinge þat ys gane. þinge þat now ys spekis he nane. þen ys ethe to make him wraþ. and for tille saxtel sumdel laþ. Line 3580 ¶ of wisdome to his awen witte. he haldes nane sa wise as hitte quen alle wittes ys him gane. Line 3583 þen ys alle his wille in wane. for nankyn þinge may alde mon pay for baldly þat dar I. say. þat he in siche state ys stadde ys na glee may make him gladde. Line 3588 elde ys of a selcouþe þinge. alle hit couettes þat ys likinge. ¶ and quen þai hit haue þai ar vn-fayne and quen hit ys giuen to haue a-gayne þen walde þai be as þai ware are Line 3593 and þat salle be neuer-mare.

Squa has now elde þis ysaac led þat he in mys-ese lijs in bed. Line 3596

Line 3596 him wantes siȝt as I. ȝou say and calde esau wiþ-out delay. Esau leue sone he saide. ga loke þi tacle be puruayde Line 3600 and fonde to stalke þe sa nere atte þou may gete sum wilde dere if þou me dere flesshe may gete. gladly walde I. þer-of ete. Line 3604 [folio 22b:1] ¶ leue sone [[sir crossed out; sone written over]] þou has hidder-tille. gladly fulfilled þi fader wille. þou art shoter in þe best baþ in felde and forest. Line 3608 if þat þou may bringe me any best grayþe hit me faire and honest. þar ofter now me langes sare Line 3611 þer I. lye in bedde of care. sone he saide I. wille noȝt lye hit bes noȝt lange at I. mone dye ga bringe me now sum venysoun. and þou salle haue benysoun. Line 3616 ¶ Sir he saide blethely and sone. wiþ help of god hit sal be done. his moder stode atte his bake. and herde þe wordes atte he spake. Line 3620 ho wiste of lange life was he noȝt. and sone ho hir. vmbi-þoȝt. Iacob hir sone ho calde hir to. and þus-gatis til him saide ho. Line 3624 ¶ Mi leue sone I. wille þe warne. for þou art my derrest barne. þi fader has biddyn þi broþer gange to gete him waithe and duel noȝt lange þat if he any waithe mote gete. Line 3629 he sulde him diȝt þer-of atte ete. for ware he þar-of enys fedde or he dyed in carful bedde Line 3632

Line 3632 his benysoun walde he him gife. for lange he wate may he noȝt liue bot leue sone ful lathe me ware atte he þat blessinge fra þe bare. Line 3636 vn-happy wrecche has he bene ay þe sele he salle noȝt bere a-way. ¶ bot þou sal do sone my consaile wele I. wate hit salle þe a-vayle Line 3640 now hye þe squythe at þou ne blyn. or atte þi broþer be commyn in. of kedis flesshe. þou focche me twin I. salle þe teyche a gode gynne. Line 3644 I. sal ham diȝt til his bi-houe a mete atte he was wont to loue hit salle him sauour wonder wil. ete þer-of he salle his fille Line 3648 ¶ quen hit ys diȝt salle þou hit reiche do now wele as I. þe teyche. and for ferde atte he mistraw þou salle say þou art esau. Line 3652 .a. fra þe forest newli commyn. [folio 22b:2] .b. and venysoun fresshe haue I. fondyn. [This line is at the foot of the col. in MS.] wiþ daynte diȝt til his be-houe bid him rise þer-of to proue. and loke þou aske for þi resoun. Line 3657 of þi fader his benysoun. ¶ moder he saide for alle þi lare. ȝet I. drede me ful sare. Line 3660 þou wate my hide ys sleȝt and bare and esau ys rughe wiþ hare. if my fader þat now ys blinde and he any dissaite finde Line 3664 I. drede me sare for his benysoun he wille me gif his malisoun. ¶ do way leue sone. rebecca saide þat malisoun on me be laide. Line 3668

Line 3668 bot þat I. bad þe bringe me sone moder he saide hit sal be done ¶ Iacob went vn-to þe falde Line 3671 and broȝt þe bestes be-fore talde. his moder duȝttely hit diȝt. als ho be-fore had him hiȝt. ho cled him wele and hit was mete. Line 3675 wiþ his broþer robe þat smelled squete wiþ a rughe skyn ho heled his hals and couert þar-wiþ his handis als. þat his fader sulde algatis traw. þat he ware his sone esau. Line 3680 his moder him þis mete be-taȝt. and he hit squyþe his fader raȝt. fader he saide sete vp and ete I. haue þe broȝt þi ȝernynge mete Line 3684 ¶ quat art þou his fader saide. sir esau þi mete ys graide. and quat-kin mete; sir venysoun. ete and gif me þi benysoun. how ys hit so þou sped so sone. Line 3689 ihesu he saide has herde my bone. and sende hit sone vn-to my hande men aȝt to þonke him al his sande ¶ come nere leue sone and lete fele. if þou be þat I. loue so wele. quen he had felde his broþer clathe and grapet hande and hals bathe. þis voyce he saide þat I. here. Line 3697 ys of Iacob wiþ-outen were. bot hende and hals as I. traw. my derly sone hit ys esaw Line 3700 ¶ þe odour of þi vestement [folio 23a:1] hit smellis as þe piement now sone he saide þou come nere my dere blessing I. gif þe here.

þi broþer to be þine vnderloute. Line 3705 and alle þat wonis þe a-boute. alle þa atte blessis þe. sal þaire-seluen blessed be. Line 3708 and alle þat geues þe malisoun. salle bere hit on his awen croun he ete and dranke at was his wil. and sithen his sone he calde him til. his brade benysoun he him gaue Line 3713 þe quilk his broþer wende at haue and made him lorde ouer alle his kyn and þat was wiþ his moder gyn. Line 3716 his moder consaile was þer-to. god walde þat hit ware so. ¶ Iacob went quen so was done and esau þen come efter-sone Line 3720 fader he saide gete vp in bedde wiþ þis mete þou sal be fedde. nobil venysoun þat I. þe bringe. ete and gif me þi blessinge. Line 3724 ¶ his fader asked him qua art þou. and he onsquared þi sone esau. was þou noȝt atte me riȝt now. Line 3727 and fedde me wonder wele I. traw ¶ and he saide nay god dote am I. noȝt so squyft on fote. wiþ þis gaf Isaac a grane Line 3731 sone he saide riȝt now was ane þat first me fedde and siþen kiste and me be-trayed atte I ne wiste. Line 3734 My benysoun now has þi broþer. fader he saide has þou na noþer. ¶ na sone he saide as haue I. mede allas quat I. am broȝt in nede. a-way he has my blessinge borne so was I. serued þis oþer morne. Line 3740

Line 3740 he has me done mikil shame. riȝtly ys Iacob his name. þat ys to say wiþ riȝt langage supplanter of heritage. Line 3744 for quen I. was formast borne sulde be wiþ strenght a-gayne drow he me. he has me done myche [mali]soun and now me raft my benysoun Line 3748 me ys sa wa almast I. wede fader þis was na broþer dede. consaile me fader how I. may liue Line 3751 quy quatkin sulde I. þe giue. and ys þer nankin blessinge left. na þi broþer has hit þe reft. [ [[from Laud MS. 416]] And is there fadir non oþer wonne Sothely he seid is non but oon] In þe deu and gresse of thorne. Line 3757 sal be þi blessinge fra to-morne. wiþ erþ. þou trauaile and so þou do. and pray god sende his deu þer-to ¶ lorde he saide quat ys me best my hert bese neuer broȝt in rest. bi-twix and þis Iacob be slayne. Line 3763 and I. may come him sa gayne. ¶ þis esau wiþ his manace. did Iacob out of lande to chace. quen his moder saghe hit squa. Line 3767 ho soȝt esau for to sla. and sende Iacob in-til aaron. to hir broþer þat heȝt laban. þar to soiourne for hir sake Line 3771 til atte his broþer wraþ sulde slake bi niȝt þe flume iordan he wode. and þorou a wildernesse he ȝode. he loked quare þat him ware best be þat way to take his rest. Line 3776

Line 3776 ¶ he hent a stane atte lay him by. and þar-on layde his heued to ly. In slepe a ladder him þoȝt he seyghe fra þe firmament riȝt to his eyghe. Line 3780 a-pon þe ladder atte þer was boun. angels climbande vp and doun. him þoȝt þe ȝate opened of heyuen our lorde saide wiþ suche a steyuen. god and lorde he saide I. am. of Isaac and of abraham. Line 3786 Iacob he saide þou sal haue twyn. wiues of þine awen kin. twa doghters of laban þine eme. þat twa salle haue of barneteme Line 3790 wiþ þe salle I. be in alle þi nede. and ger þine ospringe wide to sprede I salle be for þine eldres sake. wiþ þe and esau baþ for-sake. Line 3794 ful glad he was of þat siȝt ful soft him þoȝt he sleppet þat niȝt ¶ On þe morne quen hit was day Iacob rase fra þere he lay. Line 3798 [folio 23b:1] and saide our lorde wiþ-outen were. atte I. wiste noȝt has bene here. I saghe he saide for-soþ quod he. Line 3801 goddes hous and him entree. ¶ þe stane his heued lay on þat niȝt our lorde sette hit eyuen vp-riȝt and oyle he ȝette a-pon þe stane. and made to god a bone an nane Line 3806 [ [[from Laud MS. 416]] He seid if god be my frend And lede me in my wey to wend] to sende him mete drink and claþ. and bringe me agayne wiþ-outen waþ. vnto my kiþ þat I. come fra. if I. finde he ledes me squa. Line 3812

Line 3812 my god he sal be and my kinge and þis stane standis als in takenynge. and þis stede fra now hit sal be calde goddes awen halle. Line 3816 of alle þe gode þat I. salle welde. his teynde hertly I. sal him ȝelde. ¶ Iacob went him forþ his way. Line 3819 quare þre flok of bestes lay. bi-side a welle a-pon a felde and Iacob stode and be-helde. a mykil stane a-pon hit lay. þer bestes drank atte; ilka day. Line 3824 þe hirdes fande he bi þam þare. and asket quatkin men þai ware. þai saide sir we ar of aaran. Line 3827 knaw ȝe oȝt he saide laban. þai saide he was in gode fere. hale and sounde wiþ-out were. his doghter comes ȝonde rachel. bringande his bestes to þe felle. Line 3832 for alle þe flokkis broȝt ar hidder. atte þis welle to drink to-gider. ¶ wiþ þis come rachel þat faire madane and Iacob lifted vp þe stane. Line 3836 þen spac he wiþ þat damysel. and kiþed him wiþ þat may rachel. quat art þou he saide lemman. sir my fader ys calde laban. Line 3840 a-boute þe hals he hir hent and þries he kiste hir or he stint. I. am Iacob þi cosyn nere. for þi loue am I. commyn here. Line 3844 ¶ þe may quen ho con vnderstande þat Iacob sulde be hir housbonde to laban talde ho. new tiþande and he him ledde in. bi þe hande. Line 3848

Line 3848 þai frayned him of þaire frendis fare and he ham talde lasse and mare. [ [[from Laud MS. 416]] laban then he did to calle ffor fayne of hym his frendis alle] Line 3852 ¶ and siþen he dide him for to say. quat was þe enchesoun he went a-way. sir þe soþ I. wille ȝou telle. þi doghter for to spouse rachelle. Line 3856 þen saltow serue me vij. ȝere. if þou wille haue my doghter dere. ¶ bleþely sir so salle hit be. fra þen wiþ laban laft ys he. Line 3860 þe elder suster he for-soke gleande ho was for-soþ of loke. and for to serue for rachel fre he was maister hirde of his fee. Line 3864 hit was ferly for-soþ to say. how faste þai multiplied iche day. ¶ quen atte þe vij. ȝere were gane Iacob asked his lemmane. Line 3868 laban saide frende ful bleþely bot þer he dide a trecchery. Iacob and rachel þai con ham wed. and lya his doghter he stale to bedde. Line 3872 be-side lya al niȝt he lay. his vnwitande til hit was day. bot quen he wiste hit on þe morne allas he saide þat he was borne. fra hir he rase and sighed sare. Line 3877 and asked qua hir broȝt þare. my fader ho saide; allas for syn. qua wende he walde me þus be-gyn. ¶ þen dide he laban to resoun quy has þou done me þis tresoun our laghe he saide atte we in liue wil first our elder doghter we giue Line 3884

Line 3884 mourne na mare my squete wiȝt þou sal haue rachel as I. þe hiȝt bot þat may be nane oþer-wise bot for þi vij. ȝere seruise. to-quyles halde lya in þi bed. Line 3889 for-soþ þen saltow rachel wed. þis new for-warde was made þan bi-twix Iacob and laban. Line 3892 þis terme was passed and vij. dayes he spoused rachel þe story sayes.

Lya bred childe and had a sone Ruben and siþen simeon. Line 3896 þan laui and ysacar Zabulon Iudas vj. breþer þer ar. a doghter had ho heȝt dyna. [folio 24a:1] and of oþer hand-wimmen twa. Line 3900 he had iiij. sones giten him. Dan. gad. asser. neptalim. ¶ Rachel bare Iacob sonys twyn. first Ioseph seþen beniamyn. Line 3904 þat was þe encheson of hir fine of him ho deyed in hir gesyn. quat of his wyues twyn of spouse and quat of hande-wimmen of house xij. sones had he of þa. [De transgr. Iacob in patriam suam post exilium.] Line 3909 and a doghter heȝt dyna.