188 THE KING'S MIRROR 



r, 



XXXIII 



THE PROPER USES OF " YOU " AND " THOU " 



Son. On what ground is it thought better to phrase 

 all remarks addressed to lords in the plural than in the 

 singular ? When one directs a prayer to God, Who is 

 higher and more excellent than all others, the expres- 

 sions that refer to Him are all phrased in the singular; 

 for everyone who makes his prayer to God speaks in 

 this wise: "Almighty God, my Lord, hear Thou my 

 prayer and be Thou more merciful toward me than I 

 deserve." But I hear no one form his words in this wise: 

 " My Lord, hear my prayer and deal better with me 

 because of Your mercy than I deserve." Now I am not 

 sure that my question is a very wise one; still, since you 

 have allowed me to ask whatever I desire to know, I 

 shall look for an informing reply as before, even though 

 I ask like a child. 



Father. I shall indeed be glad to explain everything 

 to you as far as I am able; but I do not see why you are 

 searching into this matter so closely that one shall even 

 have to give reasons for the choice of terms in holy 

 prayer. For the teachers of the church are far better 

 able to interpret matters that belong to divinity than I. 

 But since every question looks toward a reply, I shall 

 explain this to you in a few words, as it seems most 

 reasonable to me; and I shall take up first what seems 

 to me the most important. Now I believe the terms used 

 in sacred prayers are chosen so that we call upon the 

 divine name in the singular rather than in the plural, 

 in order that all who believe in God may clearly under- 



