their leave; nay, he could not, without the consent of his own monks, cast off the duties which he owed to them. The bishops told him that the consent of all concerned would be easily gained. He protested that all that they did, all that they purposed, was nought.[1]
Anselm dragged to the King's bedside.
Pleadings of the King.
The bishops had certainly the better in the argument;
they had also the better in the physical struggle; for
they now dragged Anselm close to the King's bedside.
They set forth to Rufus what they called the obstinacy
of the Abbot;[2] it was for the King to try what his
personal authority could do. The sick man, lately so
proud and scornful, was stirred even to tears; he made
a speech far longer than his wont, but which seems to
carry with it the stamp of genuineness. He had raised
himself to speak his formal choice with a voice of authority;
he now spoke, in plaintive and beseeching
words, in the ear of the holy man beside him. In the
mind of Rufus at that moment it was his own personal
salvation that was at stake. "O Anselm," he whispered,
"why do you condemn me to eternal torments? Remember,
I pray you, the faithful friendship which my
father and my mother had to you and which you
had to them; by that friendship I adjure you not
to let their son perish both in body and soul. For
I am sure that I shall perish if I die while I still
have the archbishopric in my hands.[3] Help me then,
help me, lord and father; take the bishopric for the
holding of which I am already greatly confounded,
and fear that I shall be confounded for ever." Still
Anselm drew back and excused himself. Then the
- ↑ "Nihil est omnino, non erit quod intenditis."
- ↑ "Rapiunt hominem ad regem ægrotum, et pervicaciam ejus exponunt."
- ↑ "Contristatus est rex, pene ad suffusionem oculorum, et dixit ad eum, 'O Anselme quid agis? Cur me pœnis æternis cruciandum tradis?'" He adds presently, "Certus sum enim quod peribo, si archiepiscopatum in meo dominio tenens, vitam finiero."
