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/57

 A B E L A R D. 21 fiogularity in her paffion, chofe rather to be the miftrefs than the wife of Abelard [D]. At length, how;cr, (he confcntL-J. to a private marriage ; but even after this would, on Come occafions, affirm with an ouh that llie w.is Hill unmarried. t ulbert, being more liefirous of divulging the man hgr, to wipe off the afperfion brought upon the famij), than of ktepin^ his promife with Abelard not to mention it, often abufed his niece, when (he ahfolutely denied her being Abelard's wife. Her hufhcind, thereupon fent her to the monaftery of Argenteuil ; where, at his delire, (he put on a religious habit, but not a veil. Heloife's relation?, looking upon this as a fecond piece of treachery in Abelard, were tranfportcd to fuch a degree of re- fentment, that they hired ruffians, who forcing into his cham- ber by night, deprived him of his manhood f E]. This in- famous treatment forced Abelard to a cloyfter, there to conceal his confufion ; fo that it was fhame, and not devotion, which made him put on the habit in the abbey of St. Dennis. The disorders of this houfe, where the abbot exceeded the reft of the monks in impurity as well as in di^nitv, foon drove Abe- lard from thence; for, having taken upon him to cenfure their behaviour, he thereby became fo obnoxious, that they defired to get rid of him. He retired next to the territories of the count of Champagne, where he gav~ public lectures ; and drew together fuch a number of hearers, that the other pro- [u J Mr Pope makes Eloife thus exprefs herfelf in her letter to Abelard : How of:, when prefs'c! to marr'age, hjve 1 laid, Cuife on all laws but thofe wtiicti love h.i made ? Should at my feet the woild's great nidfter ;.i I, Himfelf, his throne, his world, I'd (corn them dll: Not Ca?fjr's ernprefs would 1 Heign to prove ; No, aiaUe me miiirefs to the man I lve. If there be yet another name mote tree, " More fond than rninrefs, make mr that to th^e ! " Oh ! happy ftate ! when fouls each otKe, draw, " When love is liberty, and na'.u-e i.i." [E] Thi? cruel misfortune is allodfii to in the following lines of the fame epillle ; " Alas, how chang'd ! vhat fudden horrors rife ! " A naked lover hound and bleeding lies ? " Vhere, where was Eloi'e? her voice, her hand, " Her poniard had oppos'd theoire command. " Barbarian, ftay ! that blocdy ftroke reftiain j " The ciime was common j common be the pain. " I can no more, by flume, by rsge funorols'd, " Let tears and burning bluih's Ip.ak the teft " Still on thatbreaft enamour'd let me lie, " Still drink delicious poifi.n from thy^ye, " Pant on thy lip, and to thy bean be preis'J, C 3 feilors
 * ' Give all thou canft and let me dream the reft."'