This little child his little book learning, As he sat in the school at his primére, He Alma redemptoris 3808 heardë sing, As children learned their antiphonere; 3809 And as he durst, he drew him nere and nere, 3810 And hearken’d aye the wordës and the note, Till he the firstë verse knew all by rote.

Nought wist he what this Latin was to say, 3811 For he so young and tender was of age; But on a day his fellow gan he pray To éxpound him this song in his languáge, Or tell him why this song was in uságe: This pray’d he him to construe and declare, Full oftentime upon his kneës bare.