Sentence:  Oh! France! charming country! where I had the good fortune to be born! one never quits thee with impunity. Celebrated for the rich beauty of thy soil, for the sociability of thy inhabitants, for all the comforts of civilized life, thou <WSD>meritest</WSD> thy reputation, and nothing is so rare. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  To deserve, to earn.