16Woe to you, land, whose king is a youth
and whose princes eat in the morning.
17 Blessed is the land whose king is one born of noble people
and whose princes eat at the proper time,
– for strength and not drinking.
18Through laziness the roof sinks,
through drooping hands the house drips.
19 ‘Bread’ is made for laughter,
wine rejoices life;
silver answers everything.
20Even in your thinking don’t slight the king,
and in your bedroom don’t slight a wealthy person,
Because a bird of the heavens may make the sound travel,
an owner of wings may tell of the thing.
Eternal 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)