About ten years after his return to St Guildas, his enemies brought a new charge of heresy against him, before the archbishop of Sens. At his own desire, permission was granted him to defend his doctrine be fore a public assembly. For this purpose, the council of Sens was convened in 1140, in which Louis the Se venth :153;Sted in person. St Bernard was his accuser, and delivered to the assembly some propositions, drawn from Abelard's book, which were publicly read. Abe lard, dreading the malice and unfairness of his enemies, appealed to the pope. But he had been anticipated by St Bernard, who prevailed with the pontiff to con firm the sentence, which, notwithstanding his appeal, the council had pronounced against him before he had time to present himself before his Holiness's tribunal. The pope, likewise, ordered his books to be burnt, himself to be confined, and to be for ever prevented from teaching. Soon after, his Holiness was appeased by the intercession of the abbot of Clugni, who, with great humanity, received Abclard into his monastery, reconciled hint with St Bernard, and admitted him as a religious of his society. In this last retirement, Abclard experienced every kindness, till, weakened by age, and afflicted with complicated disease, he was sent to the priory of St Marcel, near Chalons, where he died on the 21st of April, 1142, in the sixty-third year of his age. His body was sent to the chapel of the Paraclete, according to a former request of Heloise, and his own desire. She survived him for 20 years, distinguished for her learning, her piety, resignation, and exemplary conduct. She died on the 17th of May, 1163, and desired to be buried in the same tomb with Abelard, whose memory she had cherished with un diminished affection till the last moment oilier life.
The following epitaph was inscribed on her tomb :* On reviewing the life of Abelard, we find much to admire, but more to condemn. Singular, indeed, must have been the talents of that man, who, in an age when logic was almwt the only science, could foil the first champions in the field of disputation ; and who, under every circumstance of discouragement, could draw, even to a solitary desert, admiring and crowded audi tories from the most distant countries of civilized Europe. But vanity and selfishness were the pre
dominant features in his character. Even modesty, it is true, will not always shield superior genius front envy and persecution ; but he may fairly he suspected of unusual petulance and presumption, who never chang ed his situation without exciting new enemies, and who was driven from every society with which he was con nected, by the dissensions and animosities which he himself had occasioned. His conduct to Heloise will stamp his memory with perpetual infamy. Ilad he merely been impelled by the ardour of resistless pas sion, his crime, though still unjustifiable, might have Found some apology in human frailty. But black must have been the heart, which could form against such lovely excellence a deliberate plan of seduction, and could requite with selfish jealousy, and cold indif ference, the most disinterested and faithful affection. Youth and inexperience plead the excuse of Heloise ; and if we must still condemn her crime, her amiable sensibility, and romantic generosity, soften at least the severity of our censure.
The works of Abelard, written in Latin, arc, " An address to the Paraclete on the study of the Scriptures ; Problems and Solutions ; Sermons on the Festivals ; Treatise against Heresies ; an Exposition of the Lord's Prayer ; a Commentary on the Romans ; a System of Theology ; and his Letters to Hcloise, and others." The best edition of the works of Abclard, is that which was published at Paris, from the MSS. of Francis D'Amboise, intitled ?badardi et Hclots•,e, conjugis ejus, oprra, ex editione. Andrei Quercetani, quarto, 1616, sometimes dated 1606, and 1626. (k)