Page:A new and general biographical dictionary; containing an historical and critical account of the lives and writings of the most eminent persons in every nation v1.djvu/55

 ABE L A R D. 19 their convent ; but this, inflead of extricating him, w.i<? the caufe of" his being defer tod by all his pupils ;, ar.ti ('nun after this poor phflofopher entered into a convent. AbciarJ and Champeaux were now the only antagonifts, and the li-nior was far (rum having the advantage. Before the conult was finifhed, Abelard was obliged to go to fee his mother ; who, after the example of her hufband, was about to retire to ;i cloyfter. Ai his return to Paris, he found his rival promoted to the bifhoprick of Chalons; fo that now having it in bis power to give up his fchool without the imputation of flying from the field, he refolved to apply himftlf wholly to the fturfy of divinity; and for this purpofe removed to Laoh, where Anfelm gave ledtures on theology with great appl.iulc. Abe- lard, however, upon hearing him, conceived no opinion of his capacity [A] ; and therefore, inflead of attending his lec- tures, he refolved to read divinity to his feliovv-Aucients. He accordingly explained the prophecies of Ezekiel in fuch a fatis- falory manner, that he foon had a crowded audience: which raifed the jealoufy of Anfelm to fuch a degree, that he ordered Abelard to leave off" his lectures. Abelard upon this iccurned to Paris, where he explained Ezekiel in public with fo much fuccefs, that in a fhort time he became as famous for his knowledge in divinity as in philofophy ; and his encourage- ment was fo confiderable, that he was enabled to live in great affluence. That he might enjoy all the fweets of life, he thought it neceflary to have a miftrefs ; and accordingly fixed his affections on Heloife, a canon's niece, preferably to a num- ber of virgins and married women, into whofe good graces, he fays, he could eafily have insinuated himfelf (B). The canon, [A] " I went to this old man," fsys " meaning. His difcourfe refembled a he, " who had acquired a reputation " fire, which enlightens not the houfr, more from his long praflice and ex- " but fills it with fmoke ; a tree dhoun- perience, than from genius or me- " ing wholly in leaves, and appearing rr>ory. If any one confulted him upon " beautiful at a diftance ; but thofe, a doubtful point, he was fure to come " who came near and examined it nar- away more dubious and perplexed. " rowly, found it barren. Accordingly He appeared wonderful in the eyes of " when I went up to pluck cf its fruit, fuch as were only auditors, but con- " I found it l.ke the figtrec which our " temptible to thofe who put queftions " Lord cUrfed, orthntold oak to which " to him. He had a furprifing fluency " Lucan compares 1'ompey." A'jiclaiJi " of word?, but thofe without fenfc or opera, p. 7. But flood the fliadow of what once he was. " So in the field with Ceres' bounties fpread, 11 Up-rears fome ancient oak his icverend head." Rowe's Lncan, book I. ver. 256, &c. [B~] Abelard had a good deal of vanity, are his own words : " Tantiquippe tune Being handfome, and in the bloom of " nominis eram; etjuventulis, et f.>im life ^ hiving a genius for poetry, and " gratia przeminebam j ut quanicunq-e bounding in money; he nattered him- " feminarum nortrodicnarer amorc.nul- felf every woman he addrafFed would re- " lam verercr repullam," Ab^lardi ceive him fsvourably. The following oprra, p. 10, C 2 whofe
 * ' Still feemed he to pofiefs and fill his place :