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/56

 02 ABELARD. whofe name was Fulbert, had a great paffion for money, and vehemently defired to have Heloife a woman of learning; which difpofition of the uncle Abelard contrived to make furj- fervient to his defign. " Allow me ((aid he to Fulbert) to tc board in your houfe ; and I will pay you whatever fum " you demand in confederation thereof." The fimple uncle, thinking he fhould no-y furnifii his niece with an able precep- tor, who, inftead of putting him to expence, would p.iy largely for his board, fell into the fnare ; and requeued Abelard to inftrut her day and night, and to ufe compulfion in cafe (he fhould prove negligent [c]. The preceptor gave himfelf no concern to fulfil the expectations of Fulbert; he foon fpoke the language of love to his fair dilciple ; and, inftead of ex- plaining authors, amufed himfelf in kiffing and toying with Abelard. his lovely pupil. " Under pretence of learning (fays he) we eput. p. jj.n devoted ourfelves wholly to love ; and our ftudies furnifhed " us with that privacy and retirement, which our paffion de- " fired. We would open our book, but love became the " only leflbn ; and more kilies were exchanged, than fentences " book; and our eyes were more employed in gazing at each " other, th^n looking at the volume. That we might be the " love ; and the ftripes were fweeter than the moft fragrant " ointments," Having never tailed fuch joys before, they gave themfelves up to them with the greateil tranfport ; fo that Abelard now performed the functions of his public office with great rcmiffnefs, for he wrote nothing but amorous verfes. His pupils, perceiving his Ie-iures much altered for the worfe, quickly guefied the caufe ; but the fimple Fulbert was the I a ft perf :n who difcovered Abelard's intrigue. He would not at- fir ft believe it ; but his eyes being at length opened, he obliged his boarder to quit the family. Soon after,, the niece, finding herfelf pregnant, wrote to her lover, who advifed her to leave Fulbert. She complied with the advice of Abehrd, who fent her to his fitter's houfe in Britany, where fhe was delivered of a fon ; and, in order to pacify the canon, Abelard offered to marry Hdoife privately. This propofal pleafed the uncle, mote than the niece j who, from a ftrange [c] Abelard makes the following re- " if neceflary, what was this but yield- fiedtion on the canon's fimpiicity : " I " ing her to my wiflies, and giving ua " was greatly furpri zed," fays he, " no " an opportunity, whether we would or f< lets than if he had delivered up a ten- " not ; fince he gave me a power to ufe " der la;nbto a famidied wolf. And as " threats, and even ftripas, if gentle- " he not only defired me to teach her, neft failed?" Ib. p, II, " but to ufe the moft ccmpulfive means, fingu-
 * ' explained. I put my hand oftner to her bofom than to the
 * ' leis fufpected, I fornetimes beat her, not out of anger, but