not, thou shalt have no part with me._[949] And, indeed,
I not only earnestly entreat this of you, but also require it as in some
sense the payment of a debt, since I cry to the Lord for you, if the
prayer of a sinner can do anything. Farewell in the Lord.

II

To Malachy. 1141 _or_ 1142.[950]

(Epistle 356.)

To Malachy, by the grace of God bishop, legate of the Apostolic See,
Brother Bernard, called to be abbot of Clairvaux, if the prayer of a
sinner can do anything, and if the devotion of a poor man is of any
advantage.

We have done what your holiness commanded, not perhaps as it was worthy
to be done, yet as well as was possible considering the time in which we
live. So great evil everywhere struts about among us that it was
scarcely possible to do the little that has been done. We have sent only
a few grains of seed,[951] as you see, to sow at least a small part of
that _field_ into which the true _Isaac_ once went out _to meditate_,
when _Rebekah_ was first brought to him by Abraham's _servant_, to be
happily joined to him in everlasting marriage.[952] And the seed is not
to be despised concerning which we find that word fulfilled at this time
in your regions,[953] _Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we
had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha._[954] _I_,
therefore, have sown, do you _water_, and _God shall give the
increase_.[955] All the saints who are with you we salute through you,
humbly commending ourselves to their holy prayers and yours. Farewell.

III

To Malachy. 1143 _or_ 1144.[956]

(Epistle 357.)

To our most loving father and most revered lord, Malachy, by the grace
of God bishop, legate of the Holy and Apostolic See, the servant of his
holiness, Brother Bernard, called to be abbot of Clairvaux, health and
our prayers, of whatever value they may be.

1. _How sweet are thy words unto my taste_,[957] my lord and father. How
pleasant is _the remembrance of thy holiness_.[958] If there is any
love, any devotedness, any good will in us, without doubt the charity of
your belovedness claims it all as its due. There is no need for a
multitude of words where affection blossoms abundantly. For I am
confident that _the Spirit which_ you have _from God_[959] bears
_witness with your spirit that[960] what we are_,[961] however small it
be, _is yours_.[962] You also, most loving and most longed-for father,
_deliver not_ to forgetfulness _the soul of the poor man_, which cl