Letters225 Letter CCXXV (A.D. 1143)
Letter CCXXV (A.D. 1143)
To THE BISHOP OF SOISSONS. Bernard urges him to promote peace.
We have worked hard, but it is a question whether we have made much progress. We have sown much, but reaped little. We want, I must tell you, your help and presence. You will hear from our common friend, the Abbot of S. Denys, why we did not seek your help before in our great strait. But now I appeal to your holy watchfulness to dissemble no more, but to labour for the things which make for peace according to the wisdom given you by God. For you ought not to need entreaty to take such action, since it is evident that by it your ministry is not only greatly honoured, but also that if you neglect it, it is greatly disgraced. I hope to see you at the festival announced to be held at S. Denys.
Laboravimus, sed de profectu adhuc quaestio est. Seminavimus multum, sed intulimus parum. Fatemur nos eguisse vestra opera et praesentia. Verum quod eam non requisivimus in tanta necessitate, per amicum communem sancti Dionysii abbatem docebimini. Nunc itaque ne de caetero dissimuletis, sed secundum sapientiam vobis a Deo datam studeatis quae ad pacem sunt, monemus sanctam sollicitudinem vestram. Nam rogandus non estis pro tali re, qua utique constat non modo valde honorificari ministerium vestrum, sed et turpari admodum si negligitis. In indicta celebritate apud Sanctum-Dionysium speramus videre vos.