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

Cum ieiunatis nolite fieri sicut ipocrite tristes.

He sais, "when ȝe sall fast, bese noght Als ipocrites mornand in thoght, þai schew þaire dedes men forto knaw, Line 29066 Bot when ȝe fast, þan sall ȝe schaw Meri sembland with glad chere, And seme als ȝe noght fastand were." So sal noman wit of ȝowre dede, Line 29070 And god sall gif ȝow heuyn to mede. Þe thrid poynt es mesure and houe, þat we sall with oure fasting proue, In fast we suld noght tak to bere Of mete ne drink more þan mistere, Line 29075

Line 29075 For whi a dronkin mans orisowne Wantes all right deuocioune. Line 29077 þe ferth point es þus to say, þou ett in tyme on fasting day, . . . . . . . . . . Line 29081 . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] And in fasting he dose grete wrang, þat vses to sit at mete ouer lang. Line 29085 Þe thrid chastiyng þat I cald wand Es discipline to vnderstand, And may be set on foure manere, þe first armes of schrift to bere. Line 29089 Als wering of haire or oþer thing Sighing, wepeing, and ill liging; þat oþer point to vnderstand, Es kneling and beteing with wand; þe thrid in pilgrimage þan es; Line 29094 þe ferth vnhele and pine of fleschs, With sorow and site and with sere wa, Als iob tholed and oþer ma. Al þus sais Salomon þe wise, Line 29098 "Oure lord betes and chastise All þe childer þat his sall be, And sekenes to þam sendes he, To luke if þai in gude life lend, And suffers what he will þam send." Forþi þe preste þat wisdom can. Aw to bid þe, sinful man, Line 29105 þat he take slike thing in sufrance, To stand him in stede of penance, . . . . . Line 29108 . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] Of waking we may ensawmple tell How crist cumandes in his godspell, Line 29111