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

Incipiunt dolores Beate Marie.

[S]pel yet I wald spek if I cuþe War ani mirþis in mi muþe For mikel haf to mot Line 23947 Bot þat in hertis we hordes rest Nedwais ut bihouis it brest Of bal to brew sum bot Line 23950

Sco þat es bet of al bale Of hir trewlik es al mi tale Hir murning for to minne For þat soru þa sco seye Line 23954 Hir swet son on rod dreye Als þoru his auen kinne

Hir pining was hir sonis pin And þair pinis ach baþe be min If þat I luf þaim trew [folio 10b:1] Line 23959 I se him hang, I se hir wring Þe car al of þat cumli king Al cristin aw to rew Line 23962

Line 23962

In hert to rew in mouþe to quain Hu þat þai haf þat sakles slain Line 23964 Þe plaint it es þair pliht Quen he bitaht him til his awen Þai haf baþe fordriuin and drauen Als schawid vs to vr siht Line 23968

He hingis hei wit outen boru His moder finis noht to soru Quat selcuþe sertis nan Line 23971 To se hir fles and blod Sa to be pinid on rod Þat hauid na child bot ane Line 23974

Hir dole ne mai I noht fordil Bot wit hir wep I wil Wit Crist to suffir sar Line 23977 For al his bale was me to bete He drank þe soure and I þe swete Mi baret al he bar Line 23980

Wede of welþe in' [[ī = in in MS.]] wil nan mare Cleþing wil I tak of care Þar til me standis ned Line 23983 And murnin wit hir þat him bar Mad neuir sli murning moder ar Þat reuþe is of to red Line 23986

Sai me moder wit outen wem Was tu þan at Ierusalem Quen þat þi son was laht Line 23989 Bundin and sua laþeli lede And bett til his bodi gan blede To pilat swa bitaht Line 23992

I sai cod þu þat ic was þar Bot carkid sua I was of kar Uneþe I þider wan Line 23995

Line 23995 But quen I sau þat iues snel Line 23996 Ris igain mi son sa fel Ful wanles wex I þan Line 23998

Of wittis al me wantis miht [folio 10b:2] Gang and steuin and tung and siht Al failed me þat tide Line 24001 Cri mi word and wa mi witte Mi teres al mi siht þai ditte Ful pal wex al mi hide Line 24004

Al mi blod it was me blende Mi spirit for to wen I wend Þair swaiping was sa smert Line 24007 Wommen sau I wep and quain Bot nan als mari Maudelain Þat mast I tok til hert Line 24010

Wit outin me was womman nan Þat swa murnand mad his man Sua sorful als was sco Line 24013 Ful pituus it was þat plaint Ne kid sco noht hir luf was faint Sa redles out of roo Line 24016

Quen þe bedel gan his cri Up þe folk al ras in hi Mi son al for to schend Line 24019 To dreri dom mi son es drauen Al fled him fra þat was his auen Bileft vs noht a frend Line 24022

Vp reufulli þai gan him raip Ful snubnerlik him for to swaip Þat folk þat was sa fad Line 24025 Of clai þai cest at him þin clot And laiked wit him setisot I sah and stil abad Line 24028

Line 24028

Þai draw him forþe with staf and steng Ik and þat wrech woman yeng We folud him þaim to fote Line 24031 I staker swa miht I noht stand Bot als þai me vp help wit hand Vnbun was ik of bote Line 24034

Vn to þe mont o caluari Swa sorful womman an als I Þus wid mi son I went Line 24037 Þat soru þat I saw on him are Al it was me dubid þar [folio 11a:1] Þat euir mai me be ment Line 24040

To domisdai lif if I moht Forget þat dai neuir mar I moht Quen I þar suld þink Line 24043 Þat briesl beting crune and scorne Þat al his fleis it was bistorne Þai gaf him gal to drink Line 24046

Þar for I sai leuedi sa fre Þat a ful seli man war he Þat wit þe moht haf sene Þat pinis of þi suet son Line 24050 I wat þat euir it mad him mon Þat car þat was sa ken

Moder traistnes of vr trewþe Don vs to rewen wit þi rewþe Line 24054 And þinkin on þat stur Þat þi son þar droch in place Noht gain his wil bot wit his grace Vs al to don sucour Line 24058

I moder murnand wep cod þu Þis soru seand apon Ihesu Min soru I ne can noht sai Line 24061

Line 24061 [Nailid apon þat rod tre Line 24062 Ful sorfulli biheld he me, I think it euir and ai. Line 24064

Mar he murnid for mi car, Than for al his awen sar, For als a lamb he stod; Line 24067 For wit þaim þat swa him soht, A word to spek men herd him noht, Til he was spred on rod. Line 24070

Sa dep þat sithe me sat in site, þat wel I wist wit-outen wite, þai wroht him al þis wrang. Line 24073 þat es na tung mai spek wit word, Ne writer write wit pennis orde, Hu þat vr stur was strang. Line 24076

Fair he wes and fre, mi child, Softe in speche, in maner mild, Quil he stod in his state; Line 24079 His face þat fo[r]wit was sa schen, It es nou grisli on to sen, His bodi al blodi wate. Line 24082

A croun of þorn his hefd on stod, þat ilka prik broht vt the blod, þai sput on him þair spit, Line 24085 Vnnethes ik his kenning knew, þat i ne sach nan of him wald reu, þat wroht me out of wite. Line 24088

This harm mi hert it held sa hard, To wandrin wist I quiderward, Sa was me waies wan; Line 24091 Quen sli sette did him me forlete, Mi sun þat was sa selcuþe swete, And hauid bot him allan. Line 24094 Nailid apon þat rod tre Line 24062 Ful sorfullik biheld he me I þink it euir and ai Line 24064

Mar he murnid for mi car Þan for al his awen sar For als a lamb he stod Line 24067 For wit þaim þat swa him soht A word to spek men herd him noht Til he was spred on rod Line 24070

Sa dep þat siþe me sat in site Þat wel I wist wit outen wite Þai wroht him al þis wrang Line 24073 Þat es na tung mai spek wit word Ne writer write wit pennis orde Hu þat ur stur was strang Line 24076

Fair he wes and fre mi child Soft in speche in maner mild Quil he stod in his state Line 24079 His face þat fowit was sa schen It es now grisli on to sen His bodi al blodi wate Line 24082

A croun of þorn his hefd on stod Þat ilka prik broht vt þe blod Þai sput on him þair spit Line 24085 Vnneþis ik his kenning knew Þat me sach nan of him wald rew Þat wroht me out of wite Line 24088

Þis harm mi hert it held sa hard To wandrin wist I quiderward Sa was me waies wan Line 24091 Quen sli sette did him me forlete Mi sun þat was sa selcuþe swete And hauid bot him allan Line 24094

Line 24094

Allan he was mi hope and hald Of alle blis he made me bald Mi lif al in him hang Mi blod in me es nu sa blend Þat of mi soru mai be nan end It stikis me sa strang

Mi sterun þat I wa won to ster Vnneþis moht I seluin her Quen I wend word to wis Ar I moht a word werp til end Þe sorful sithe ai þairwit blend Mi word it brastin þris

Þe word þat ik in wil had wroht Mi soru þat I sa wit was soht Biweft þat word awai Luf wald I spak miht me witstod Mi rewþe was al apon þe rod Na sache ne moht I sai

Alhas alhas it was mi voice Mi son þat hang apon þat croice Rewlik on me biheld And bleþeli wald mi soru slak And þat I suld sum confort tak To haf sum bot of beld

Bot for na bod þat he me mad Ne moht he nim vngle ma glad Quilis ik apon him sey Lef sun ful wa es me Þat I þis soru sal se on þe Do me wit þe to dey

Mi lif sun qui dos þu swa Þi sorful moder sa ful of wa Qui latis tu þus life

Mi leue son na þing sa swet Wil tu þi moder hir forlete Wit þe to dey me gife

Þu did vnmek wit outen mak Þat carful wont es for to tak Þu freþe me noht al frend Yf þou me friþes þou ert mi fed Bot spar me noht to dey þu ded Mi son wit for to wind

Nis noht þat me mai bot tu Wit sun þu tak þe moder nu And latte vs deien samin Mi suet son mi luf mi lif Hard it es to drei þis strif Þar na gat es to gamin

Na graiþer gat of gamin es here Bot tun þi sorful moder here Þat sco wit the moht dey Ta me to þe apon þi rod Þan er we baþe a fleis and blod Lat taim baþe samin end

Ye iuwes þat kindill al þis car I bid you me noht for to spar Ye waful and ye wod Sin ye mi son wirkis þis wa Dos me þat ilk þan er we twa Be nailed on þe rod

Or wit rod or oþir pain Þis wriche moder to be slain Quat wise na force I wisse Vnrewfullik ye wirk unriht Þe werd ye reu þe sun of liht And blindis me mi blisse

Ye sla þe lif and hop of halle On quam sal I nu cri and calle I rednes out of ro Hu sal I lefe wit outin life Þus stekid in wit stur and strife Quat es me for to do

Bot to þe ded mak I man For haf I nou nan oþer wan Of bot war þou me best Wald þu be ken þi miht to kiþe Þu slas mi child sla me þan swiþe War nan sa redi rest

Bot ded allas qui dos tu sua Þat yernis þe þu fles ai fra Quen suet it war to swelt Þu folus þaim þat þe wald fle And lufes al þat lehtes te Þis part vneuin es delt

Mi suete son on þe I cri Þi sorful moder þou do merci Þat won was be sa mild Be noht sa hard þat tu ne it her Þe murning of þi moder der Sa hend was neuir cild

Þu do þi moder wit þe dey And lat us baþe togider drey Baþe vr wa and wel Moht ik þe anis þe weld in arm Hal me þink of al mi harm Þat i war ilka del

Moht I þe weld in armis min And suffir sum part of þi pin Ful wel me war þat siþe

Mi fadir mi spus mi cild er tu Mi God þat al ach for to bu Qua mai þis murning miþe Ik am nu widuit of mi spus Mi son me reuis car sa crus And faderles am I Al min hop awai es hal For al es brewed me to bal I nwat quarfor ne qui Losin ik haf al help and hald Kar clingis in mi hert sa kald Noht of meself me wate Line 24205 Ful wa es me me es ful wa Was neuer sa waful moder aa Stad vt of al state Line 24208 Mi son sa suet to me þu sai Hu þat I sal wend mi wai Line 24210 Quar for to latt me len Quat hop quat grace quat help quat rest Þu hihtis me for þu mai best If I ne wit þe sal wend Line 24214 Sin silk it war þin karis kid Þou dreied dol leuedi þu did For god it was þin euin Line 24217 Quen he þe sah þis murning mak Sum þing I wis to þe he spak If him stod ani steuin Line 24220 Þoh his vntelland was þe pin Til hert I wat þat he to þin Þat egging was til þis Line 24223 And al þe baret þat he bar It seteld in þin hert ful sar Wit outin ani mis Line 24226

Line 24226

He þat sa rewfulli was diht Line 24227 If he þe said oht for to liht Þi mod þat was in murne Line 24229 Ya did he quat said nu dere Moder þu sal mend þi cher To fader min I turne Line 24232

Þu cark þe noht sa fast wit car Sin I sal to þi fader far I sal te leue and fer Line 24235 For in mi sted þu sal haf an Þat sal ti cosin be Iohand Þin auen lef and dere Line 24238

Þou sal be moder he sal be son To seruin als I was [[was repeated in MS.]] wan Quilis tu sal lengin her Line 24241 For he is baþe war and wis Ik haf him taht to þi seruis Nou most þu med þi cher Line 24244

Mi suet moder tender of hert Confort þe þu sal haf quert And werp awai þi wep Line 24247 It es þi kind for me to kar Bot sua ine wil þu do no mar Bot ta to Iohan kep Line 24250

Mi moder dar þu wat þat I Nam fleis of þe and resun qui Hit hang apon þis tre Line 24253 Bot for to dei for manis kind Als man in propheciis mai find Þat er forsaid of me Line 24256

Bot þoh I deien on þis wis I sal þe þred mornin rise Þat tu sal se wit ey Line 24259

Line 24259 To mi discipilis and to þe Line 24260 Schauen soþefastnes sal I me For þi nu most I dey Line 24262

Nu sal I dei ris sal I son And stey vp to mi fader tron Þarfor mai þu be bliþe Line 24265 Mi speche [[sic in MS.]] ar fundin to þe fald To quilis þe wolf held in his hald Þat tint war ander siþe Line 24268

For þi sal an be ded and slain Þat al þis werd sal quiken again Þat a man forwit sloh Line 24271 A man tint al quen it bigan Al sal be saufed þoru þat man Þat born es on þis buh Line 24274

Þe þing þat es mi fader wil Moder þune ne ma noht þink it ille For soþe it most be don Þis ilke pin es for me diht And lang es of mi fader hiht Ouer pas I sal it son Line 24280

Ne dred þu noht moder swet Þat I wil te þus forlete Þoh I nu fra þe far Line 24283 For wit þou wel ik am wit þe Wit outen twin and ai sal be Fra nu for euirmar Line 24286

I mostin vndirlie þe ded Sin it es suilk mi faderis red Þe ded al for to quel Line 24289 Queþin þat I com þu wat al plain Þidir sal I nu stei again Quen ik haf herid helle Line 24292

Line 24292

I far bifor it es þi pru Line 24293 Bot cum wit me mai þu noht nu Bot tu sal folun efte Line 24295 I far for me bihouis to wend To quil sal Ion þat es þi frend Insted of me be left Line 24298

Ioon he said þis mai þu her Ta kep nu to moder der And serue hir wit solace Line 24301 Þou tak mi moder nu for þin For þoht þat sal pas þis pin Wit you sal be mi grace Line 24304

Quil Ihesu spac þir wordis quon To techen þaim quat tai sul do[n] Þai ne finid noht to gret Line 24307 For soruing al dumb war þai Swa þat a word miht þai noht sai Na stand apon þair fete Line 24310

Þir martiris tuim þat ik of men Kosnis baþe and maiden clen Quen þai herd Cristis woice Line 24313 Sa waik þat vnneþe moht þai her Com neuir kar þair hert sa ner For him þai sah on croice

Wit hard trhauis þe he þrow Þai sau þat he to ded him drew Þat soht þair hertis sare Line 24319 Als ded þai war wit outen spek Was neuir for soru tua sa sek Sin ani werdis ware Line 24322

Vr spirit was als fled vs fra For wen wist of naþing bot wa Þoch we herd quat he said Line 24325

Line 24325 Spek we wald miht hafd we wan For þi we stemid stil als stan Þhoh lif was us forlaid Line 24328

Als suiþe þar com an orde Fra þe croice of cristis suord And þirlid baþe ur hert Line 24331 Ful ken it was and com ful ken Ful soþe it was apon us sen Þat smitim war sa smert Line 24334

Þoh we war wondit baþe I wis Mi wond it was hardir þan his Bot baþe was hard inoht Line 24337 He was mi son and cosin his To me his moder did þai þat mis Þai wroht on him þis woh Line 24340

Vr sorwin baþe it was for an Þat sat vs baþe in fleis and ban Swilk baret hauid na bote Line 24343 To ten al tiht vs was þat tim Quen we na hel moht se on him Fra heuid vnto þe fote Line 24346

Hauid he noht fre on al his felle In suim al faldin dun I fel And þar als ded I lai Line 24349 Þat suim was of mi soruing swage I wist noht walewai Line 24352

Wit outen croice þe croice I bar Þat croicid wes was al mi car Quen ik on him biheld Line 24355 Þe sper þai stokid him wit wrang Þat ilk mi hert it þoru stang And hid me to held Line 24358

Line 24358

Þe nail þat him fest on rod [A gap in the MS.] Line 24361

Line 24361 Sa fersli to fal . . . . . [folio 13a:1] Line 24520 Me es ful waful wa es me To gret es turnid al mi gle Na blis mai mak me bliþe Line 24523

Line 24523 If þu wil sun mi murning mend I wald in me þat þu wald send Þin hali gast eft siþ Line 24526

Þat mikel ioi I was vmset Quen I was wit þat angel gret In mi likham þu lyht Line 24529 Þat mikil ioi þan was I in Vnneþe nu mai I þarof min Sua mat ik am of miht Line 24532

I kissid him baþe frunt and chek Muþe and nes and ein and chek Ai quilis I moht drei Line 24535 Bot quen I sau þat face bispit And þoh apon þa iuwis flite Þe tere fel of min ey Line 24538

I murnand moder þus for mad Vnsterin staking was I stad Sa wa mi stondes stor Line 24541 Mi lif was ded ded was mi lif Þus was I stikid al wit strife To tel it war ful tor Line 24544

Nu I lig and nu I stand Bundin þus in balful band Bot hop of bute I bar Line 24547 Of bale and bot sulk was mi soru He hiht to ris þe þred moru Þat hop forkest mi kar Line 24550

Þan nicodem þat duhti kniht Wit Iosep nam þat cors to diht To birin als was best Line 24553 For lufe I bad þaim for to bide Or for to lai me by his side Togider for to rest Line 24556

Line 24556

I blicid oft mi blisful child Hauid neuir moder nan sa mild Þat euir me muþis to min Line 24559 Þai wald haf birid him ful fain Bot ik him held wit al mi main Sa laþe vs was to twin Line 24562

Frendis I said þat es sa fre For drihtin luf ye rew of me Mi praier for to her Line 24565 A quil lat ye him her li stil Ye mai do siþin quat ye wil Wit mi derling sa der Line 24568

On him bihaldis al mi blis And al mi bal quen ik him mis Ye reu of me for þi Line 24571 Sin I him mai noht haf in lif Gifs me him ded witouten strif Fre for your curtaisi Line 24574

Leuir me war to ded be driuin Þan eftir his lif for to liuin I ne roht quat ded I war Line 24577 Þat bliced bodi to wind þai wald And I biguþe it withald Suilk strif bitwix vs was tar Line 24580

A leuedi qua herd euir in led Of ani run sa reuful red Talking for to telle Line 24583 Þis semid strif bot it was nan For baþe your blis it was an Sen was als siþin fel Line 24586

Þi son to worsip wald þai son An sua þa wald þat it war don If lufe þen led to lite Line 24589

Line 24589 Þho þu wald þai birid þi barn His lif was te ful laþe to þarn Þat slak was of þi siht Line 24592

Suilk it was yor suet discord Discord of muþe of hert acord Als frendis baþe and fed Line 24595 Quat did ye þan sai lefdi mar Bot nicodem and iosep bar To delue þat bodi ded Line 24598

Quen his likham in stan was laid Allas allas ful oft was said Noht al for him allan Line 24601 Bot alsua for my sorful scuris Þat þai sah led wit sli languris Al menid þaim of mi man Line 24604

Of mi man mar quat mai I men For tuglid þus wit trai and ten Als taht me was þat tide Line 24607 Quen oþir men war went awai Apon mi sonis tumb I lai Þar bed I for to bide Line 24610

At þe last left ik allan Kissand euir elik þat stan Þat mi lef lai vnder Line 24613 Þan com mi cosin saint Iohan Þat þan of welþe was al mi wan Mi soru fra me to sunder Line 24616

To me reuful he raht his hand On fot vnneþis moht I stand Sa lam in lim als liþe Line 24619 Vnto þe ton þan he me led And oþer wimmen murnand med Þai went vs þider wit Line 24622

Line 24622

Mani of þat wit me met For mi greting ful sar þai gret And sihet sar wit alle Line 24625 Fra me wald þai nawit twin Til I com mi cosinis Inne Þar stabeld þai mi stalle Line 24628

Þar lai I in mi lof langing Ai to mi sonis vprising Þat faiþe I was ifest Line 24631 Ion luued me if he miht mar Þan his moder þat him bar He yeld him þat mai best Line 24634

Sa sek I was and sar forsoruin Quen mi son ras þe iij mornin Al til his þruh þai þrang Line 24637 Moht I noht þiderward afot Ne for bed was me na bot Þat let þoht me ful lang Line 24640

Ful lang leuedi þoht me þat let And þoh þan was þi bal al bet For grew al þi gle Line 24643 Wit oþir wimen þat him soht Send bodwor[d] to þi leue þu moht In lagins [[read I languis]] al for þe Line 24646

Of al þis langur was þu lift Bird of bliss na sune sa briht And al þin balis bet Line 24649 Þi suet sun sa halle of hiht Son he þe confort wit his siht Quen ye war samin met Line 24652

Þu hauid him siþin til al þi wille For al þi ioi wald he fulfil Ogain sa strang a stur Line 24655

Line 24655 Þar þu him nu hauis al in blis Leuedi þiderward vs wis Line 24657 Wit [[MS. wat]] fand of þi socur