21. To William And Roger
The Letters of St. Anselm
ship, although my ability to do so does not accompany it in the like degree. Where goodwill thrives, true friendship can exist even if there is never any necessity of asking or if the capability of acceding is never there.
Lastly, concerning what was said to me in your letter— All you know is nothing unless someone else knows you know it: although Persius said this to discourage vain display and not to encourage it, I answer: 'All I know is nothing unless someone else knows what it is like.'
As to your question, why the fame of Lanfranc and Wimund flies around the world more than mine;1 it is be cause no other flower emits a fragrance like the rose, even if it deceives by having the same redness. Farewell. c. 1073.
NOTES 1. See Ep 19.
21. TO WILLIAM AND ROGER
Anselm promises to pray for William and Roger as they requested.
TO HIS LORDS AND BROTHERS, WILLIAM AND ROGER1, FREELY
LOVING AND DESERVEDLY LOVED: BROTHER ANSELM, GREETING.
AFTER OUR LORD AND FRIEND Evremerus returned from Rome, he brought me your request that I remember you in my prayers with such entreaty that, while shame compelled me to give what was so urgently demanded yet conscience forbade it, because I did not have in me what was hoped for. Since therefore, the sincerity of your devo tion to God and your love for me had already been made known to me by others, I would freely and very modestly have granted what I had also done previously. This same friend of ours and yours insistently implored that our
The Letters of St. Anselm letter make this known to you without letting too much time pass.
Therefore, divine mercy permitting, I promise I will pray for you, and if providence works any good in me I permit you to share it with me to the same degree in true charity; but whether it will do you any good I entrust to him, from whom all good comes. As we carry the gift of charity out for you, as best we can, we humbly beg that you do the same for us, as best you can. When this is done, I do not know, being aware of my own merits, whether it will do you much good. I warn you of this as dearly beloved friends and brothers, for I am certain that if these things are neglect ed they cause evil, if they are observed they bring salva tion. From this alone, most beloved, learn that you can be capable of the Truth which is Christ, and live in such a way as to prove that you are willing to be followers of Christ who is Truth.
I have learned from the report of many that Dom Lam bert, your master, is loved by everybody because of both the sincerity of his character and the honesty of his way of life. He deigned to greet me and ask me to pray for him, through the cleric who came from that area and brought me the message of your love; I hope you may so greet him on our behalf that you may bind him to me by chains of love. Farewell. before 1078.
NOTES 1. William and Roger were monks at La Chaise-Dieu, near St-Etienne.
On La Chaise-Dieu, see Pierre-Roger Gaussin, L'abbaye de la ChaiseDieu (1043-1518), L'abbaye en Auvergne et son rayonnement dans la Chretiente (Paris, 1962). See also Epp 70, 71.