Thoughts On Separation

Teadet animus meus multum pro absentia tui. O quam dulcis vita fuit, dum sedebamus quieti inter sapientis scrinias, inter librorum copias, inter venerandos Patrum sensus; quibus nihil defuit quod religiosae vitae et studio scientiae deposcebat. Utamur tamen sorte praesenti secundum virtutem animae, in gratia confidentes divina, quae nos nunquam derelinquit, si totam spem ponamus in illam. Ego vero taediosus et tristis desiderabilem vestrae faciei praestolabor aspectum, ignorans si te venientem videre merear; vel si tu me veniens invenire merearis; occulta sunt enim judicia Dei: praeparet sibi unusquisque lampades ardentes, ut quacunque hora sponso occurrere jubeatur, cum luce bonorum operum thalamum aeterni regis intrare mereatur. Alcuinus, Epistola XXII, Ad Quemdam Discipulum Source: Migne PL 100.175c-d

My soul is very weary on account of your absence. O how sweet life was when we sat in quiet among the writings of the wise, among an abundance of books, among the venerable thoughts of the fathers; when nothing distracted from the religious life and the study of knowledge. We should employ, however, the present time according to the strength of our soul, confident in the Divine strength, which will never forsake us, if we place all our hope in it. Truly I am weary and sad with the desire to see your face, ignorant if I may even merit it; or indeed if you may be worthy to find me coming to you; the judgements of God are hidden. Everyone should prepare a blazing torch for himself that when the hour for the bridegroom comes he may rejoice and with the light of good works he may deserve entry into the chambers of the eternal king. Alcuin of York, from Letter 22, To a Pupil