88. To his Nephew

Anselm the archbishop to his dear nephew Anselm, greeting, and blessing.

The anxiety and sadness you feel about your dear mother, I also endure. I had therefore begged the lord abbot of Cluny to receive her into the convent of the Lord's handmaidens at Marcinneus; which he for love of me freely granted; and the handmaidens of the Lord were willing also. So I have by letter and by my messenger begged the Cluniac abbot and his nuns, as humbly and earnestly as I could, to give my sister up to me for this. But they would by no means consent; rather were much excited against me and thought I had done them dishonour. But I shall not yet give up trying to carry through by some means what I have begun. But if I cannot, we must not, you ind I, be overcome with inconsolable sadness, but patiently commit ourselves and her to the providence of God. For I hope in God that He will not suffer her to be tempted by any inconveniences beyond what she is able to bear, but that He will so lead her through the many trials which she has since her infancy borne, and will bear to the end, as that He may cause her to enter into His rest. But I, so far as I am able, shall never cease to help her in every way so long as I live. Now, as to yourself; I desire and enjoin you on no account to be idle, but to resolve daily to improve in that for which I left you in England. Try to understand the value of correct grammar; accustom yourself to compose daily, chiefly in prose; and do not be too fond of writing in a difficult style, but rather write plainly and clearly. Always, except when necessity compels, speak in Latin. Above all aim at a steady life and sober ways. Avoid much talking; for a man gains more by being silent and hearing what others say, and by reflecting on how he may profit by that and by their example, than by volubly displaying his own knowledge without being thereto obliged by any necessity. Greet your teacher kindly from me; to him I should really like to be of use (did God give me the opportunity), both for your sake and for that of the other brothers he is teaching and on account of his own sterling character. But in the meantime •! have laid this before the lord prior and begged him earnestly to treat him so kindly as that he will not be sorry to have attached himself to you. Farewell.