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

[Aaron's rod, and the death of Moses.]

¶ þis moises þat I rede of here was tauȝte þe folke to lede & lere þat dalt were in kynredes twelue Moises hem bad him selue Line 6884 þat vche kynreden to bere a wonde his biddyng durst þei not wiþstonde And vche wonde þat þei þere bare he spered hem in her seyntware Line 6888 And wroot þe name & seled also þat noon shulde oþere gile þo whenne he hem loked on þe morn Line 6891 he fonde oon with leef & floure born And for hit was an almounde wonde þat same fruyt þer onne þei fonde Almaundes grewen þo þeron þe ȝerde þat fel to aaron Line 6896 To al þe folke in þat lond Moyses soone shewed þe wond But he tolde hem not þat tyde what þe token wolde abide Line 6900 For he her frowardenes knew And þei were of trouþe vntrew þis ȝerde was done vp to holde As god of myȝte him self wolde Line 6904

Line 6904 In token for to take & telle Aȝeyn þe folke þat was rebelle To vndirstonde þat god mouȝt Line 6907 Al þing do þat him good þouȝt þis ȝerde bitokened oure lady trewe þe fruyt hìr son swete iesu Of þis mateer mot I now cees To telle ȝou more of þis moyses Line 6912 whenne he as god him chees bifore he lad þe folk in wildernes þore Fourty wyntir and no las Dede in þat desert he was Line 6916 Al his elde was six score ȝeer For he was to god so dere him self buried him & hidde In a priue place vnkidde For wiste þe iewes where he lay Line 6921 Honoure him as god wolde þay