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

Why Ihesu Crist born wold be Of a spowsid mayde telle we

Tthere bene reasons wretyn sere That god wold she spousid were Line 10784

Line 10784 Oon for the fend fulle of wylis Shuld not perceyve by his gilis Line 10786 That a maide with-outyn man Shuld child conceyve than ffor had he knowen yt by-forn A child of a maydyn born Wold he nevir haue yevyn to rede That Ihesu Cryst shuld haue ben dede Welle he wold haue wist than That he wold haue sauyd man Line 10794 Oure lord wold for reason thilk By fed of a maydyn mylk So hir maydynhede to be hyd And hir husbond wide kyd ¶ A-nothir skylle we rede ryf Line 10799 Was for the iewis fulle of stryf Wold haue stonyd mary þat stound yf she with child had be found And she no husbond had I-had hir to haue gouernyd and lad ffor law was that tyme in lond Woman that had no husbond And she were found with child Line 10807 ffro stonyng shuld none her shild ¶ The third skylle of hir spowsaile ffor mannys help shuld hir not faile hir to socoure in her nede Line 10811 Whethir so she rode or yede Thus kept hir that lord y-wis To be quene of heuyn blis Alle Crystyn men that be Ow to serve that lady fre Line 10816