46. To William.
The Letters of St. Anselm
46. TO WILLIAM.
William and Anselm seek each other's love. Anselm encourages William to perse vere faithfully in his monastic life.
TO HIS BELOVED AND REVERED LORD WILLIAM, WORTHY TO BE
LOVED WITH HIS WHOLE HEART: HIS BROTHER ANSELM WISHING
HIM PERSEVERANCE IN ADVANCING TOWARDS HOLINESS FOR THE
LOVE OF HAPPINESS AND AN ETERNITY IN AMPLE HAPPINESS FOR
THE REWARD OF HOLINESS.
THE LETTER I RECEIVED FROM YOUR HONOR, sweet
to me, rejoiced my heart by the inscription of your beloved name, refreshed me with the perfume of sublime humili ty, filled me with the savor of profound charity, and pricked me with a sense of righteous complaint. Indeed I wish never to disappoint your petition, but I confess that I can give no adequate reply. Since I am very much aware that in the whole of myself and in all that is in me, there is nothing worthy of such a request, and your kindness and—what is much more and dearer to me—your love for me deserve more of me than what I am; indeed, no verbal homage matches my affection, which I offer to you with my very self because I cannot offer more. Your holiness should not doubt that a constant memory of you exists in me as well as [of me] in you, and if there is anything godly in me, it is certain that what is in me is also in you.
Since, therefore, I know myself to be in debt, not only in prayers but also in admonitions and all manner of wor ries to the one whom I greet and to whom I acknowledge
I belong, your faithful friend begs, admonishes you not to let the seed of goodwill which has begun to grow in you through divine grace dry up through love of this world. Do not let the feet which have already begun to walk along the path to eternity by works of mercy and also by searching for more sublime ways be held back by the snares of the world. But diligently turn the eyes of your mind away so