thee to look on me and take pity on me. For thou art the mother of Solomon; not of him who was David’s son, but of him who is the father of David, and the Lord of Solomon, who built that wonderful temple, which truly prefigured thee. For the son will hearken to the mother, and to such and so great a mother. Obtain, then, that the infant Solomon who slumbered in thee, watch with me, so that no sinful delight sting me, that the contrition of my sins be permanent, love of the world be dead within me, my patience persevering, my penance fruitful. For I have no power for me, except one word, and that is: "Mary, take pity!" for my temple is all the contrary of thine; it is darkened with vices, soiled with luxury, eaten by the worms of cupidity, unstable by pride, tottering from the vanity of worldliness. — Lib. iii., c. 29.
V.
Blessed art thou, O my God, my Creator and Redeemer. Thou art the ransom by which we have been redeemed from captivity, by which we are directed to all salutary things, by which we are associated to the unity and trinity. If I blush for my own sloth, yet I rejoice, that thou who didst
