1 Let folly praise that fancy loves;
I praise and love that child
whose heart no thought, whose tongue no word,
whose hand no deed defiled.
I praise him most, I love him best;
all praise and love are his.
While him I love, in him I live,
and cannot live amiss.
2 Love's sweetest mark, laud's highest theme,
our most desired light.
To love him life, to leave him death,
to live in him delight.
He mine by gift, I his by debt,
thus each to other due:
first friend he was, best friend he is;
all times will find him true.
3 Though young, yet wise, though small, yet strong,
though man, yet God he is;
as wise he knows, as strong he can,
as God he loves to bless.
His knowledge rules, his strength defends,
his love doth cherish all;
his birth our joy, his life our light,
his death our end of thrall.
Source: Common Praise (1998) #152