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| Letter from Waller to Hopton 1643 | ||
| Jun 16 | To my noble friend
Sir Ralph Hopton at Wells. |
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| Sir
The experience I have had of your worth, and
the happiness I have enjoyed in your friendship are wounding
considerations when I look upon this present distance between us.
Certainly my affections to you are so unchangeable, that hostility
itself cannot violate my friendship to your person, but I must be true
to the cause wherein I serve. The old limitation 'usque ad aras' holds
still, and where my conscience is interested, all other obligations are
swallowed up. |
'usque ad aras' means 'even to the altar' ie 'for ever'. | |
| I should gladly
wait on you according to your desire but that I look upon you as you are
engaged in that party, beyond a possibility of retreat and consequently
uncapable of being wrought upon by any persuasion. And I know the
conference could never be so close between us, but that it would take
wind and receive a construction to my dishonour. |
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| That great God,
which is the searcher of my heart, knows with what a sad sense I go upon
this service, and with what a perfect hatred I detest this war without
any enemy, but I look upon it as Opus Domini, which is enough to silence
all passion in me. The God of peace in his good time send us peace, and
in the mean time fit us to receive it. We are both upon the stage and
must act those parts assigned to us in this tragedy. Let us do it in a
way of honour, and without personal animosities, whatsoever the issue
be, I shall never willingly relinquish the dear title of
Your most affectionate friend and faithful
servant, |
'Opus Domini' - Work of God | |