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the Reproach of his Family, took care to spread it abroad. But Heloise, who loved Abelard a thoufand times better than she did herself, and always valued her dear Doctor's Honour above her own,. denied it with the most solemn Protestations, and did all the could to make the World believe her. She constantly affirm'd, that the Reports of it were mere Slanders; That Abelard never proposed any fuch thing; and if he had, she would never have consented to it. In short, she denied it fo conitantly, and with such Earnestness, that she was generally believed. Many People thought, and boldly affirm'd, that the Doctor's Enemies had spread this Story on purpose to lessen his Character. This Report came to Fuibert's Ears, who, know-ing that Heloise was the fole Author of it, fell into so outragious a Passion at her, that after a thousand Reproaches and Menaces he proceeded to use her barbaroufly. But Abelard, who loved her neverthe worse for being his Wife, could not see this many Days with Patience. He resolv'd therefore to order Matters so as to deliver her from this State of Perfecution. To this purpose they consulted. together what Course was to be taken; and agreed, that for fetting them both free, her from the Power. and ill Humour of her Uncle, and him from the perfecuting Reports which went about of him, Heloise should retire into a Convent, where she should take the Habit of a Nun, all but the Veil, that fo the might eafily come out again, when they should

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have a more favourable Opportunity. This Design was proposed, approved, and executed, almost at the same time. By this means they effectually put a stop to all Reports about their Marriage. But the Canon was too dangerous a Person to be admitted to this Consultation; he would never have agreed to their Proposal; nor could he hear of it without the utmost Rage. 'Twas then that he conceived a new defire of Revenge, which he purfued till he had executed it in the most cruel manner imaginable. This Retreat of Heloise gave him the more fenfible Affliction, because she was so far from covering her own Reputation, that she compleated his Shame. He consider'd it as Abelard's Contrivance, and a fresh Instance of his perfidious Dealing towards him. And this Reflection put him upon studying how to be reveng'd on them both at one Stroke; which aiming at the Root of the Mischief, should for ever disable them from offending again.

While this Plot was in Agitation, the Lovers, who were not apt to trouble their Heads about what might happen, spent their Time in the most agreeable manner that could be. Abelard could not live long without a fight of his dear Wife. He made her frequent Visits in the Convent of Argenteuil, to which she was retired. The Nuns of this Abby enjoy'd a very free kind of Life: The Grates and Parlours were open enough. As for Heloise, she had fuch excellent Qualifications, as made the C2 good good Sifters very fond of her, and extreamly pleased that they had such an amiable Companion. And as they were not ignorant what Reports there were abroad, that she was married to the famous Abelard, (tho' she denied it to the last) the most difcerning among them, observing the frequent Vifits of the Doctor, easily imagin'd that she had Reasons for keeping herself private, and so they took her Cafe into Confideration, and exprest a wonderful Compassion for her Misfortunes.

Some of them, whom Heloise loved above the reft, and in whom she put great Confidence, were not a little aiding and assisting in the private Interviews which she had with Abelard, and in giving him Opportunities to enter the Convent. The amorous Doctor made the best Use of every thing: The Habit which Heloise wore, the Place where he was to fee her, the Times and Seasons proper for his Visit; the Stratagems which must be used to facilitate his Entrance, and carry him undiscover'd to Heloife's Chamber; the Difficulties they met with, the Reasons they had for not letting it be known who they were; and the fear they were in of being taken together: All this gave their Amours an Air of Novelty, and added to their law-> ful Embraces all the Taste of stolen Delights.

These Excesses had then their Charms, but in the end had fatal Consequences: The furious Canon persisting in his Design of being revenged on Abelard, notwithstanding his Marriage with his

Niece, found Means to corrupt a Domestick of the Unfortunate Doctor, who gave Admittance into his Master's Chamber to some Assassins hired by Fulbert, who feized him in his Sleep, and cruelly deprived him of his Manhood, but not his Life. The Servant and his Accomplices fled for it; the wretched Abelard raised such terrible Outcries, that the People in the House and the Neighbours being alarm'd, hasten'd to him, and gave him such speedy Assistance, that he was foon out of a Condition of fearing Death.

The News of this Accident made a great Noise, and its Singularity raised the Curiosity of abundance of Persons, who came the next Day, as in Procession, to fee, to lament and comfort him. His Scholars loudly bewailed his Misfortune, and the Women diftinguished themselves upon this Occafion, by extraordinary Marks of Tenderness. And 'tis probable among the great Number of Ladies which pity'd Abelard, there were some with whom he had been very intimate: For his Philosophy did not make him scrupulous enough to esteem every small Infidelity a Crime, when it did not lessen his constant Love of Heloise.

This Action of Fulbert was too Tragical to pass unpunish'd; the traiterous Servant and one of the Affaffins were seized, and condemned to lose their Eyes, and to suffer what they had done to Abelard. But Fulbert denying he had any Share in the Action, saved himself from the Punishment, with the Loss only

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only of his Benefices. This Sentence did not fatis fy Abelard; he made his Complaint to no purpose to the Bishop and Canons, and if he had made a Remonftrance at Rome, where he once had a design of carrying the Matter, 'tis probable he would have had no better Success. It requires too much Money to gain a Cause there. One Foulques, Prior of Deuil, an intimate Friend of Abelard, wrote thus to him upon the Occasion of his Misfortune. * If you appeal to the Pope, without bringing an immense Sum of Money, it will be useless; nothing can satisfy the Infinite Avarice and Luxury of the Romans. I question if you have enough for fuch an Undertaking ; and if you attempt it, nothing will perhaps remain but the Vexation of having flung away so much Money, They who go to Rome without large Sums to squander away, will return just as they went, the Expence of their Journey only excepted. But since I am upon Foulques's Letter, which is too Extraordinary to be passed over in Silence, I shall give the Reader fome of its more remarkable Passages, adding some Reflections which may make him Amends for the Trouble of a new Digression.

This Friend of Abelard lays before him many Advantages which might be drawn from his Miffortune. He tells him, his extraordinary Talents, Subtilty, Eloquence and Learning, had drawn from all Parts an incredible Number of Auditors,

*This Letter is extant in Latin in Abelard's Works.

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