The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1871-11-10
Abelard and Heloise.


OF the two Venuses of Socrates, Venus
Urania and Venus POlyhymnia, the for
mer was the type of earthly, the latter
of heavenly love. A picture of heavenly
love was Shakespeare's POrtia, or his
Juliet, whose bounty was as bOundless
aS the sea, and whose love was as deep;
the more she gave to Romeo the more
she had left to give, for the sources of
her love were infinite. And such love
as this was that of HelOise for Abelard.
She was born in the year 1101, and lived
with her uncle, the Canon Fulbert of
the Notre Dame, until she was sent to a
convent for education. When she re-
turned at the age of eighteen she had at
tanned to the most surprising beauty,
and acquired cultivation of mind far
superior to that of the priestly guests
whom she met at her fathers table, and
who were at that time the most learned
class of the community. She is decribed
as possessing large and sOftly-lighted
eyes, dazzling teeth, a long and flexible
neck, perfect form, and grace and ele-
gance of carriage that delighted all who
saw her.
1t was about this time that the fame
of Abelard began to claim the attention
of the world. He was at once a poet, a
philosopher, a theOlOgian. Philosophy
was his study, songs his pastime. At
sixteen he had won all the laurels the
schools could confer, and such was his
reputation that even at this age he could
find no philosopher to dispute with him.
Added to these surprising beauties of the
mind was the most perfect grace of per-
son, which procured among women an
admiration superior even to the distinc-
tion he enjoyed among men, and 1t Is
said that people would come in masses,
and oftentimes from a long distance, in
order to get sight of the illustriOus
Abelard. Having disputed with his
/ teacher and propOunded to him ques-
/ tions which it was impossible to answer,
/ he founded a school of philosophy and
theology at Hilan. Here he was absO-
| lutely Overrun with hpupils, and his name
rose higher than ever.
! It was about this time, when he was
/ thirty-eight years of age, that he first
met Heloise. He proposed to instruct
her, taking up his abode in the same
house; and to this plan the Canon Full
bert assented, like, the doctor says, the
simple-hearted, wOoden-headed, ambi-
tious, vain old fool that he was. Then
came their infatuation and abandonment
to a mad passion. Abelard spent his
time in writing verses to the canOn's
niece.
Even as Hercules laid down his club
and took up his distaff because of the
Establishments of Omphale, so did the
young priest renOunce the staff of the
colleges and lend all his intellect to the
composition of love songs. If then they
had been married all would have been
well; but the law of eelibacy for the
/, priest was inexOrable. He was no wiser
than his age. If he had fought the can
ons of the church with one-half the
energy that he exhibited in attacking
the professors of st. Denis, the story Oi
Abelard and HelOise might have beer
, different. But they did not marry, and
at length the scandal broke.
Abelard offered to marry her then,
and she refused, affirming that his good
was more dear to her than her own name
of fame. At length he compromised by
marrying her secretly, after which she
retired to a convent, and he resumed
his teachings in Champagne. Here
were experienced his most brilliant days,
when it was conceded that he was the
greatest eXpOunder of philosophy and
theology in all Europe. At one time he
lectured to upwards of three thousand
pnpils, who were content to leave the
luXuries of Paris to listen to his teach
ings Afterwards he was forced to Brit
. ldAlNf NAitAN it AlNSh iot gNe'A'f ANtNSi &.
passing meantime between him and
HelOise.
All this while HelOise lived at her
convent, passing her life in goodness,
but not fOrgetful of her love. She be-
came lady abbess, and enjoyed high rep
utatiOn and respect. After Abelard, now
/ an old man, returned to his native
, country, he lived but a few years. AT
, his death, his body was carried to He
loise, who had loved him so well-tOC
well-and she received it with tears and
in silence. The burial service was read
in her presence by Peter the Venerable
after which his ashes were consigned tC
: the earth. HelOise survived him twenty
i years-a priestess of God, a mOurner a
: the tomb of Abelard.