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

[Of Satan's scheme to tempt and ruin Adam.]

Bot adam sone was sende a sande. þorou þe deuel at him wald fande quen satanas sawe þat he was borne. to wyn þat blis at he had lorne. Line 714 sorowful bicome þat fals file. and þoȝt how he miȝt mon be-gyle he þoȝt þat ioy for-til stynt. Line 717 þat god til endyng gode had Mynt. A-gaynes god he wex sa grille. þat al his werk he wende to spil. Line 720

Line 720 and þoȝt wiþ hit grete enuy. of god him-self to wyn maistry. ¶ man ys now sette bi-twix twa. on ayþer side he has a fa. Line 724 bi-twix þe warlaw and his wife. adam standis in grete strife. baþ þai þinkyn on adam for to bringe him in-to blame. Line 728 baþ ar now in ane party to confounde mon in trechery. ¶ þat wyly deuel was ful sley. Line 731 he þoȝt noȝt to come him ney. namely in his awen shap. þen to spede has he na hap. for-þi a messager he sende. Line 735 for til spede ful wele he wende. to him he chese a litel beste þe quilk ys noȝt vnwiliest. þe nedder þat ys so quaynt of gyle Line 739 þat mast con of croke and wyle. ¶ graydely taȝt he him þe gynne how atte þe wyfe he sulde be-gyn. and þorou þe wife to wynne þe man. þe nedder forþ his way ys gan. Line 744 bot in his slughe was sathan. selcuþ was how he þidder wan. bot þorou goddis sufferance he ham lete. þe beste þoȝt his bale to bete. for-þi he made ham at þai muȝt. Line 749 syn or leue if ham gode þuȝt. þat þorou skil of þaire awen dede sulde þai merke þaire awen mede Line 752 to saue þaire self wiþ-outen ende or ellis in sorou for to lende.