8. To Lambert and Falcerald

Brother Anselm to his honoured uncles, much-loved uncles and kind guardians, Lambert and Folcerald: despise earthly good for heavenly, and take unto yourselves heavenly for earthly.

Although time and space, by the disposition of the Divine Will, separate us, yet nothing has nor shall have power to lessen in me the desire for your affection, God's grace protecting me. And since I am assured that a like affection for me dwells in no different manner in your hearts, I have no doubt but that just as I wish to know all about you, so you always wish to be informed as to all which concerns me. But you will be able to learn and notify it more fully by means of the bearer of this note, than the small space of a letter would allow. But what an affection my heart bears you, may He from whom cometh and to whom tendeth and to whom alone is known that affection, so show to you and convince you of, as He knows is profitable for you. But yet, — if I may say somewhat out of the abundance of my heart: — I fear nothing more for you than lest you should go on in the love of the world, and of a worldly life, sleeping unto the end; and (with abundance of possessions) should find nothing or little in your hands, when you shall have awoke again after the end.