16. To The Monk Gundulf.
The Letters of St. Anselm 103 to him as well, that it may be a witness for you that we send you to him.
If, however, you are able to clear yourself of your debts, let lord Engelard know this, and when you come to us let him give you some sign by which we may know that he attests that you are free of your debt. Do not delay to do what we advise. For we have told the archbishop the same as we are writing to you. Farewell.
Before March 1073.
NOTES 1. Girard, mint-master of Arras, see Epp 14, 23.
16. TO THE MONK GUNDULF.
Anselm assures Gundulf of their continual intimate friendship and love, asks to be remembered to those he put into his care and thanks him for his gifts.
THE BELOVED FRIEND TO HIS BELOVED FRIEND, TO DOM GUNDULF,
BROTHER ANSELM: WHAT ANSELM [WISHES] FOR GUNDULF.
AGAIN AND AGAIN it presses upon me, aware as I am of another's conscience, which is mine, that my letter should fly across the sea to it and fly more often as if wanting to receive information about the state of my friendship. But what will my letter tell you that you do not know, you, my second soul? Go into the secret place of your heart1 and con sider the affection of your true love and you will learn the love of your true friend. Although we may not be equal by equality of conduct, still I dare not say that we are different; indeed, as regards the quality of our mutual love, we are not dissimilar. For I confess, and I blush to do so, I admit,
I say that my tepid charity is surpassed by your fervent charity, but it is not dissimilar because it is formed by the same Rule. Just as you try hard to love me with no less ardor than you love yourself so I strive not to love you with more
The Letters of St. Anselm coolness than myself. If you demand more, indeed I neither wish to do less nor am I able to do more. Accordingly, let your love obtain for me by your prayers that I may love my self as much as I should; and your lover will so love you that you yourself will say: now that is enough.
I do not say, 'Remember me' for I know well that you do that on your own—but remember those whom I entrust ed to your care2 some time ago. Greet those whom you usually greet on my behalf. Be assured that your gifts were very gratefully received by the lord abbot and by us, your brothers, but we are even more grateful for what we hear about your life. We hope, therefore, and we pray, that Almighty God may preserve by increasing and increase by preserving the good he works in you that the same holy
Lord may on this account repay you with the everlasting kingdom in eternity; let it be so, let it be so.3 c. 1070-1077.
NOTES 1. Cf. Mt 6:6.
2. See Ep 4, Osbern; Ep 7, Herluin.
3. On Anselm's concept of friendship, see A. Fiske, 'Saint Anselm and Friendship', Studia Monastica 3 (1961) 257-90; J.D. Loughlin, Saint An selm as a Letter Writer (Washington, D.C., 1967—Ann Arbor, 1983)
151-81; M.R. Barral, 'Friendship and conversatio in Anselm's Life and Writings', and W. Frohlich,'Saint Anselm's Weltbild as Conveyed in his Letters', both published in Anselm Studies II (1988) 165-182, 483-525.
See also Brian McGuire, Friendship and Community, the Monastic Experience, 350-1250 (Kalamazoo, 1988) 210-230.