I am almost consumed by the flame of the affairs going on without ceasing at Rome. Would that I could be refreshed by a pleasant and much desired perusal of your writings. But alas! no writers can be found in the whole of Clairvaux for the work of [me your servant: from a son to a father a word is sufficient. My friend, the Lord N., is both a lover of me personally, and a munificent friend to our Order: he has faithfully conducted the business with which he was charged: I trust your Benevolence will hold him dear, both for his own sake and for mine.
Frigescente charitate, pauci hodie inveniuntur fideles, et quia omne charum pretiosum, fidelitas et amor domini N. qui fidelissime vestra negotia apud nos gessit, arctioribus vinculis gratiae et benevolentiae debet astringi. Prosit autem ei, quoniam nos ipsum tanquam promptum litterarum et fidelem virum spirituali charitate diligimus.
