23I tested all this with wisdom,
I said ‘Let me be wise’,
but it is far from me.
24What happens is far away
and deep, deep; who can find it out?
25I myself turned round my heart
to know
and to explore,
and to seek wisdom and the scheme of things,
and to know that wickedness is foolishness
and foolishness is madness.
ternal Light, shine into our hearts,
Eternal Goodness, deliver us from evil,
Eternal Power, be our support,
Eternal Wisdom, scatter the darkness of our ignorance,
Eternal Pity, have mercy upon us;
that with all our heart and mind
and soul and strength we may seek thy face
and be brought by thine infinite mercy
to thy holy presence;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Alcuin (735-804)