O Lord our Lord! thy name how marvellous Is in this largë world y-spread! 3791 (quoth she) For not only thy laudë 3792 precious Performed is by men of high degree, But by the mouth of children thy bounté Performed is, for on the breast sucking Sometimës showë they thy herying. 3793
Wherefore in laud, as I best can or may Of thee, and of the whitë lily flow’r Which that thee bare, and is a maid alway, To tell a story I will do my laboúr; Not that I may increasë her honoúr, For she herselven is honoúr and root Of bounté, 3794 next her son, and soulës’ boot. 3795