10. To Maurice

Brother Anselm to his beloved brother and son Maurice.

I hear that you are studying under master Arnulph. If it is true, I am very glad, for I always longed for your improvement, as you partly know, by experience; and that never more than now. I have also heard that he is very strong in grammar; and you know that it was always tiresome to me to teach boys grammar, so that I did it much less than would have been useful for you. I know that under me you went back in parsing. Therefore, I exhort and pray, and desire you, as a beloved son, that whatever you read with him, and whatever else you can read, you try to parse most care fully. Nor be ashamed to learn in this way even what you think you do not need, as though you had but just begun: for by this means you will grasp more firmly what you do know, when you hear it repeated; and if you make any mistake, you will correct it by his teaching, and what you do not know you will learn. But if he reads nothing with you, and it is your own neglect, I am vexed; and I desire that so far as may be, you should be fully employed, and principally upon Virgil and the other authors which you did not read with me, except those in which there is anything shameful. And if you are for any cause prevented from reading them with him, at least try to do this: take the books which you have read, as many as you can, and at what times you can, and parse them right through carefully from beginning to end, as I advised above. Show also to that same dear friend of mine this letter, wherein I in a few words both beseech him to give you much affection and beg he will show you how I can trust in his real friendship, and point out that what he does for you, he doth for no other than for this my heart. For long have we been certain of our mutual friendship; if indeed he deigns to remember what I shall never for get. Greet him as respectfully as you can from me; and the lord prior, and my lord Gondulph, and the other masters and brethren who are with you. Fare well, my sweetest son, and despise not the advice of him who loveth thee with fatherly affection.