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

Qui iesu crist born wald be Of a spousid may, nou tell i þe.

And þar es resunes writen sere, Querfor god wald scho spousid were. Line 10784

Line 10784 þe first þat þe feind suld noght perceyue þat a mayden suld conceyue, Line 10786 For had he on any wise ouer-tan A child bifore of a mayden, . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] Ne had he neuer gyuen to rede þat iesu crist war don to dede, For wele he miht haue witten þan þat he suld haue sauid man. Line 10794 vr lauerd wild for resun suilk Be fostrid of a mayden milk, þat suld hir maydinhed haf hidd, And hir husband þo-queþer kidd. Anoþer, for men suld hir noght stan, If scho wid child war ouertan, Line 10800 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] For lawe was þat time in þe land, womman þat hadd na husband, If scho funden war wid child, Fra staning suld na man hir schild. Þe thrid resun of hir sposayle, Line 10809 þat manes help hir suld noght fayle, For to help hir in hir nede, Queþer-sua scho rade or scho ȝede. þus kept he hir, þat lauerd i-wiss, For to be quene of heuen bliss, Line 10814 All cristen men, bath mare and less, Thoru hir þai haue þair selyness.