Letters204 Letter CCIV. To the abbot of s. Aubin. (Circa A.D. 1140)
Letter CCIV. To the abbot of s. Aubin. (Circa A.D. 1140)
Bernard declares Jiis affection for him and his wish to see him.
Though you are unknown to me by face, yet you are not by renown; and it is very precious to me to know you thus. For such an image of you has stolen into my heart through this report, that though I am occupied with many things, yet, my dear brother, that pleasing thought of you often calls me from them all, so that I dwell on it willingly and with pleasure. But the more I cherish the thought of you, the more eagerly do I long to see you. But when will that be? or will it ever be? Certainly if not before, at all events we shall meet in the city of our God, if here we have no abiding city, but seek one above. There, there shall I see you, and my heart shall rejoice. In the meanwhile I shall be delighted and pleased none the less with what I hear from you, hoping and expecting to see you face to face in the day of the Lord, that my joy may be full. Add, I pray you, to those good things which are always coming to me from you and about you, my dear and longed-for brother, your own prayers and those of your brethren for me.
Etsi facie ignotus es mihi, sed non fama: nec parum aut vile quid tui gratulor me tenere munere illius. Nam talis, fateor, per eam insinuatus es meo pectori, ut, licet in multis occupatum, ipsa tamen serenissima recordatio tui, mi dilectissime frater, facile me plerumque ex omnibus vindicet sibi, ita ut in ea libenter immorer et suaviter requiescam. Caeterum quo memoriam plus accepto, eo avidius suspiro praesentiam Sed quando istud, aut si quando istud? Utique etsi non ante, profecto in civitate Dei nostri: si tamen non habemus hic manentem civitatem, sed illam inquirimus. Ibi, ibi videbimus nos, et gaudebit cor nostrum. Interim vero delectabor et laetabor nihilominus in his quae dicta sunt mihi, sperans et exspectans quod reliquum est de visione corporali in die Domini, ut gaudium meum plenum sit. Adde, obsecro, ad ea bona quae abs te et de te nobis assidue veniunt, tuas tuorumque pro nobis orationes, pater charissime et desideratissime.