But, in the midst of this success, his happiness was still incomplete : a passion, stronger than literary am bition, now occupied his breast ; and he began to sigh for pleasures, which neither learning nor fame could impart. Yet his ambition attended him even in love. in the bloom of life, elegant in his manners, and grace ful in his appearance, he was confident of success to his addresses wherever he should condescend to pay them, and resolved to be satisfied with no ordinary conquest. His choice did not long remain undecided. A young lady, named Heloise, reputed niece of Fulbert, a canon of the church of Notredame, happened to re side near the place where Abelard lectured. She was in her eighteenth year, when the heart is most tender and susceptible. To the most exquisite beauty, she united mental accomplishments equally admirable : and her charms were heightened by such a graceful and modest air, as rendered their influence irresistible. Abelard could not aspire to a lovelier object. He saw her, conversed with her, and was captivated. Philoso phy and divinity were forgotten, and his whole mind was bent on the completion of those desires which Heloise had inspired.
A most favourable opportunity soon occurred. Ful bert, who loved his niece, was desirous to cultivate her genius and propensity for learning. He had already hired masters to instruct her in several languages; and would gladly have indulged her desire of attaining a knowledge of the higher branches of literature: but he was fond of money ; and though anxious for his niece's improvement, he wished to effect it with little expense. He was, therefore, highly pleased, when Ahelard proposed to board in his house. Ile requested him to devote some of his leisure hours to the instruc tion of Heloise in philosophy ; resigned her entirely to his authority ; and even enjoined him, if he should find it necessary, to inforce his precepts by compulsion. Abelard undertook the charge with transport ; though, by a refined dissimulation, he seemed at first unwilling to agree to the canon's proposal ; alleging, that the sciences in which he wished his niece to be instructed, NNW,' beyond the reach of female intellect. He con trived to render his instructions extremely pleasing to his fair pupil : Instead of the dull precepts of philoso phy, he taught her the delightful lessons of love ; and insinuated himself so completely into her affections, that she was willing to comply with his fondest wishes.
Fulbert had a counti y tit hich, a place of retirement favourable to study, the lover., used Frequently to repair. They spent w hole months in this retreat, abandoning themselves, w idiom fear of observation or of censure, to the transports of a mutt la I passion. The vigour Abelard's mind was percepti bly impaired by this criminal indulgence. His 'midi, performances were mean. lie became averse to study ; and the hours V. 111111 he could steal from the soft endearments of love, were employed in the composition of amorous lays. So striking a change
naturally occasioned surmises; and the unguarded be haviour of the lovers soon convinced the world, that their secret hours were not always spent in the study of the sciences. Fulbert alone had no suspicion of their intimacy. Ilis partiality to Heloise, and his confidence in her preceptor, prevented hirn from giving credit to the rumours which prevailed against them, till, awa kened by the numerous hints and discoveries, which were daily communicated to him, he watched their conduct with the closest vigilance, and surprised them in a moment of criminal enjoyment. An immediate separation was the first consequence of this discovery. With the ingenuity natural to lovers, they still found means to continue their interviews; and one evening, after the transport of meeting, II eloise acquainted Abelard, that she began to feel the effects of their fa miliarity. Abelard proposed, that she should remove to the house of his sister in Brittany ; and I feloise, dis guised in the habit of a nun, set off without delay.
After her departure, Ahelard waited on the canon, explained to him the reason of his niece's withdrawing, and endeavoured to appease his rising fury, by offering to make any reparation for his offence. Fulbert insisted on their immediate marriage, to which Abelard con sented. But Heioise, with the most romantic and un paralleled excess of love, remonstrated against an union, which might perhaps diminish their mutual at tachment, and would certainly prevent the advance ment of her beloved Abelard. Her objections with difficulty overcome ; and, on her return from Brit tany, they were married in the most private manner. As it was the interest and the wish of Abelard that their marriage should be kept secret, I feloisc, regard less of her own reputation, denied it so solemnly and obstinately, as to obtain general credit. I fel- uncle, on the other hand, anxious only to conceal her reproach, was highly incensed by her false and shameless beha viour. To screen her from the effects of his resent ment, Abelard sent her to the convent of Argenteuil, where she assumed the habit of a nun. She did not, however, take the veil, that it might still be in her power, in more favourable circumstances, to return to the world. Fulbert, regarding this as a fresh instance of her seducer's perfidy, meditated schemes of deep revenge. By means of a treacherous domestic, assas sins were admitted into the chamber of Abelard, while asleep ; and, by the canon's direction, inflicted upon him the most cruel and degrading mutilation. Shame and despair drove him into the darkness of a monas tery, where his only consolation was the conversation and condolence o f Heloise, whose affection did not seem diminished by his misfortune. At the age of twenty two, while yet warm in youth, and glowing in beauty, she assumed the veil, in compliance with his request, and renounced for ever the pleasures of society.