With a love that is father and mother to men,
Ye are all my children, merchants.
Merchant: We have no time, we have no time to listen to idle dreams.
Aldhelm: But I, poor Aldhelm, say you nay;
Till ye hear me, ye have no time
Neither for trade nor travelling;
Till ye hear me ye have no time to fight nor marry nor mourn;
There is not time, O World,
Till you hear me, the Poet Aldhelm,
To eat nor to drink nor to draw breath.