eaves
_to thee_ with the bonds of charity, _and forget not the soul of thy
poor man for ever_.[963] For neither, as it were anew, _do we commend
ourselves unto you_[964] when now for a long time we _glory in the
Lord_[965] that our littleness has been worthy _to find grace in the
sight of_ your holiness;[966] but we pray that our affection, no longer
new, may advance with new accessions day by day. We commend to you our
sons, yea also yours, and the more earnestly because they are so far
removed from us. You know that, after God, all our trust was in you, in
sending them, because it seemed to us wrong not to fulfil the prayers of
your holiness. See, as becomes you, that with your whole heart of love
you embrace them and cherish them. In no wise for any cause let your
earnest care for them grow cold, nor let that perish _which thy right
hand hath planted_.[967]

2. We have now indeed learned both from your letter and from the report
of our brothers[968] that the house is making good progress, [and] is
being enriched both in temporal and spiritual possessions.[969]
Wherefore we rejoice greatly with you and give thanks with our whole
heart to God and to your fatherly care. And because there is still need
of great watchfulness, because the place is new, and the land
unaccustomed to the monastic life, yea, without any experience of it,
_we beseech you in the Lord,[970] that you slack not your hand_,[971]
but perfectly accomplish that which you have well begun. Concerning our
brothers who have returned from that place,[972] it had pleased us well
if they had remained. But perhaps the brothers[973] of your country,
whose characters are less disciplined and who have lent a less ready ear
to advice in those observances, which were new to them, have been in
some measure the reason for their return.

3. We have sent back to you Christian, our very dear son, and yours. We
have instructed him more fully, as far as we could, in the things which
belong to the [Cistercian] Order, and henceforth, as we hope, he will be
more careful concerning its obligations.[974] Do not be surprised that
we have not sent any other brothers with him; for we did not find
competent brothers who were ready to assent to our wishes, and it was
not our plan to compel the unwilling. Our much-loved brother,
Robert,[975] assented on this occasion also to our prayers, _as an
obedient son_.[976] It will be your part to assist him that your house
may now be set f