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

The wonderful Childhood of Christ.

Soone was Ioseph redy boun Line 11595 By nyȝt he went out of toun Wiþ marie mylde & her meyne A mayden & also knaues þre Þat þenne were in her seruyse Line 11599 Alle were þei war & wise

Forþ she rood þat mayden mylde And in hir arme lad hir childe Til þei coom bi a caue depe þere þei þouȝte to reste & slepe Line 11604 Þei dud mary þere to liȝt Soone þei sawe an vgly siȝt As þei loked hem bi syde Out of þis caue þei say glide Mony dragons sodeynly Line 11609 Þe gromes þo bigon to cry whenne Ihesus say hem drad so be He went doun of his modir kne And stood vpon þo beestes grym Line 11613 And þei louted doun to him Þus coom þe prophecie al clere To dede as seiþ þe sautere ȝe dragouns wonynge aboute Þat lord owe ȝe loue & loute Line 11618

Iesu went biforn hem þon Forbede harm to any mon Marie & Ioseph not for þi For þat childe were dredi Line 11622 Iesu seide to hem vchone For me drede haue ȝe none lete no sorwe in to ȝou bite For I am mon al parfite Line 11626 Alle þo beestis þat are wilde To me shul be tame & mylde