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

[The choice of David's successor.]

þe king vn-til his chaumber went and ofter þe quene sone he sent and of his saghes þis was ane Line 8333 þat of his men sa balde ware nane. wife ne may ȝonge ne alde. þat in his chaumber ware sa balde Line 8336 to come in bot þai ware calde. bot quen þe king speke with him wald and if þai dide he sulde ham greue Line 8339 ne þe quene wiþ-outen leue. ¶ for-þi entred dame bersabe. þe quene his spouse and his priue þe king þat he in þoȝt had hid. to þe quene he hit vn-did. Line 8344 bot noȝt for-þi he talde hir noȝt þe bode-worde atte þe angel broȝt bot ellis stilly and smert. he talde al atte him lay on hert. Line 8348 ¶ Dame I. dide þe hidder calle. as my wedded wife of alle. wiþ elde I. am ouer-gane now. of my kingedome quat redis þou Line 8352

Line 8352 quam salle I gif hit for to lede þat may be to me mensk or mede ¶ þat lauedi til hir lord dede loute. Line 8355 wiþ buxum reuerence and grete doute ho kneled doun walde ho noȝt stand þe king toke hir vp bi þe hande. als he þat of hir wil wald wete Line 8359 and dide hir heyer for to sete. and bad hir say and wande noȝt. quat ware to do as hir gode þoȝt. of his kingedome þat is to say. Line 8363 and qua sulde haue hit ofter his day

Sir ho saide syn I squa se. [folio 47a:1] at ȝe wil consaile haue of me. Line 8366 þe beste rede atte I. con. I. salle shew hit ȝow anon. ¶ þis kingdome sir at is þine. þou wan soþ wiþ mykil pyne Line 8370 and siþen had þou grete males for to stable hit in pes. sir ho saide þou has on liuis. moni childer wiþ þi wiuis. Line 8374 peraunter þer wil rise strife bot ȝe do rede in ȝoure life ¶ þou freli king þou f . . . . . [[some letters erased here]] of blis þe best rede me þink hit is. Line 8378 gif hit to quam atte þou wil. my consaile sal ȝe haue þer-til. I þat am þine hande womman. of me gayne-sagh sal be nane. Line 8382 [ [[from Laud MS. 416]] ffor salamon my sonne ys yong But might ye mone vpon ser kyng] bot wele I. wate atte þou me hiȝt or þou me spoused or trauþ pliȝt. a sone if þou miȝt gete wiþ me. Line 8387 þine ayre for-soþ sulde he be.

¶ and syn squa is I haue me gette. atte nane oþer is wiþ me mette Line 8390 bot an be-fore had I noȝt for-þi loue was I widow wroȝt. of quatkin wise I wil noȝt tel for wele ȝe wate how hit felle. Line 8394 blessed be he god of miȝt. ȝe ar for-giuen of þat vn-riȝt. ¶ I sal noȝt lye sa god me rede. for nane vpbraide ne for na drede Line 8398 ne for na ȝernyng þat I haue ne for na couenand at I craue. ne noȝt I kepe to gab ne gloþer bot sai þe soþ I kepe nane oþer. Line 8402 ¶ of salamon þi sone be ȝonge he ful wise and redy of tonge þat neuer serued grefe ne grame and getyn he is wiþ þi licame Line 8406 he þat better con amende þen paire he is best worþi be aire. noȝt for-þi qua god wil chese ofter þe king he beesse. Line 8410 suche knotte þe quene þer ho knit þe king ful wele he herkened hit. and curtasli wiþ-outen hone. and granted hir al hir bone. Line 8414

Dame he saide to þe I. say. at salamon ofter my day. salle be king of al I. wan. and god him-selfe wil hit þan. Line 8418 he is a ȝonge childe of ȝere do him to noris and to lere. atte he may him-selfe lede. baþ wiþ clergis and kniȝthede lere of clergi wele he salle. Line 8423 þat is of wisdome þe grundwal.

þe childe is thewed and milde of mode loke atte he haue maistres gode. Line 8426 bot hit be on him-self lange. he sal be mon baþ riche and strange þou layne hit as þine awen life. for laþ ware me to raise strife. Line 8430 be-twix and we se time and day. he sal be king qua wil or nay. and atte þou be noȝt in mistrow. as I am king I. make a vow. Line 8434