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

How mannes synne þat I of mene Corrupte al þis World bi dene

When Iareth þat ȝe herde me neuen had elde of hundred wyntur & seuen

Muchel malis was first in mon But neuer bifore as was þon Line 1556 In Adames tyme was woo ynouȝe But þenne was þere more wouȝe Namely among Kaymes kynne þat delited hem but in synne Line 1560 hem þouȝte al wel þat was her wille þat þei drowȝe euer hem tille On alle þinge was more her þouȝt þen on god þat hem wrouȝt Line 1564 So blynde þei wex in her siȝt þat coude þei do no manere riȝt Euer þei ȝaf her lif to lust þat shent her soulis al to dust Line 1568 Wymmen as we hit fynde Went to gider aȝeynes kynde And men also þe same wise As þe deuel wolde deuyse Of soþfastenes as seiþ þe sawe Line 1573 þei left euer þe gode lawe þe lawe of soþenes ny of kynde Wolde þei no tyme fynde Line 1576 Al wexe wicke & in strif þe broþer toke þe oþeres wif Her cursednes was not vnkid þe lawe of kynde þei so fordid Line 1580 þe shame & synne þat þere was oute To telle were sumdel doute þe fende wende fully wiþ þis þat al mankynde shulde han ben his Line 1584 So ferforþ þat god not myȝt Brynge mon into state of riȝt Into þe astate þat he had tynt But god al oþere wyse mynt Line 1588 His owne hondiwerke so soone Wolde he not hit were fordone

þerfore in forme of iuggement A newe vengeaunce on hem he sent Line 1592 His foes to brynge alle of lyue And clense þe world of synne ryue Bi his grace to ȝyue hem griþ þat he monkynde shulde restore wiþ Line 1596 Whenne he bihelde þe foly stronge God þat beden hadde so longe þey he were wrooþ no wondir nas þis worde he seide anoon in plas Line 1600 þis was þe word he seide þan Me reweþ þat I made man But alle þat þis worde here & sene Woot what hit is to mene Line 1604 þis word was a prophecye þat was seide for his mercye Of þe reuþe he siþþe kidde Whenne he him self to pyne didde Line 1608 For his chosen on rode tre What was his reuþe may we se By þis word þat þere was seide His mercy was bifore purueide Line 1612 To þo þat weren on his party [folio 11a:1] For to bringe hem myȝtily As his owne his kyndam tille His enemyes alle for to spille Line 1616 Aȝeynes hem was so wrooþ And bi his riȝt hond swor an ooþ þat þei shulde alle haue shemful dede Saue þe gode wolde he rede Line 1620 þei alle þe foles were forlorn þe gode shulde be forborn As hit at Noe flood bifelle Wher of I shal siþþen telle Line 1624 But furst a tre of Noe kynne I shal here sette ar I bigynne

[[No gap in the MSS.]]