refufed, prevailed with him. By this Means Abelard convey'd a Letter to Heloife: In which he asquainted her that he intended to come and fee her at Night, and that the Way he had contrived was over the Garden-wall by the help of a Ladder of Cords. This Project fucceeded, and brought them together. After the firft Tranfports of this fhort Interview, Heloife, who had found fome more than ordinary Symptoms within her, acquainted her Lover with it. She had inform'd him of it before by a Letter; And now having this Opportunity to confult about it, they agreed that the fhould go to a Sifter of his in Britany, at whose Houfe the might be privately brought to Bed. But before they parted, he endeavour'd to comfort her, and make her eafy in this Distress, by giving her affurances of marriage. When Heloife heard this Propofal fhe peremptorily rejected it, and gave fuch Reasons * for her Refufal, as left Abelard in the greatest Astonishment.

Indeed a Refufal of this Nature is fo extraordinary a thing, that perhaps another Inftance of it is not to be found in Hiftory. I perfuade myself therefore, that I fhall not offend my Reader, if I make fome few Remarks upon it. It often happens that the Paffion of Love ftifles or over-rules

See Abelard's Letter to Filintus, and Helnife's first Letter 10 Abelard.

the

the Rebukes of Confcience; but it is unusual for it to extinguish the Senfibility of Honour. I don't speak of Perfons of a mean Birth and no Education; but for others, all young Women, I fuppofe, that engage in Love Intrigues, flatter themfelves with one of thefe Views; either they hope they fhall not prove with Child, or they fhåll conceal it from the World, or they fhall get themfelves married. As for fuch as refolve to deftroy the Fruit of their Amours, there are but few fo void of all natural Affection, as to be capable of this utmost Degree of Barbarity. However this fhews plainly that if Love tyrannizes fometimes, it is fuch a Tyrant as leaves Honour in Poffeffion of its Rights. But Heloife had a Paffion fo ftrong, that she was not at all concerned for her Honour or Reputation. She was overjoy'd to find herfelf with Child, and yet she did her utmost not to be married. Never fure was fo odd an Example, as thefe two things made, when put together. The first was very extraordinary; and how many young Women in the World would rather be married to a difagreeable Husband, then live in a S ate of Reproach? They know the Remecy is bad enough, and will coft them dear; but what fignifies that, fo long as the Name of husband hides the Flaws made in their Honour? But as for Heloife, fhe was not fo nice in this Point. An excess of Paffion never heard of before, made her chule to be Abelard's Miftrefs rather than his Wife.

We shall fee,

fee, in the Course of this Hiftory, how firm the was in this Refolution, with what Arguments fhe fupported it, and how earnestly fhe perfuaded her Gallant to be of the fame Mind.

Abelard, who was willing to lofe no time, left his dear Heloife fhould fall into her Uncle's Hands, disguised her in the Habit of a Nun, and fent her away with the greatest Dispatch, hoping, that after fhe was brought to Bed, he fhould have more leifure to perfwade her to Marriage, by which they might skreen themselves from the Reproach which muft otherwise come upon them, as foon as the Bufinefs fhould be publickly known.

As foon as Heloife was fet forward on her Journey, Abelard refolv'd to make Fulbert a Vifit in order to appease him, if poffible, and prevent the ill Effects of his juft Indignation.

The News that Heloife was privately withdrawn, foon made a great Noife in the Neighbourhood; and reaching Fulbert's Ears, fill'd him with Grief and Melancholly. Befides that he had a very tender Affection for his Niece, and could not live without her, he had the utmoft Refentment of the Affront which Abelard had put upon him, by abufing the Freedom he had allowed him. This fired him with fuch implacable Fury, as in the end fell heavy upon our poor Lovers, and had very dreadful Confequences.

When Fulbert faw Abelard, and heard from him the Reason why Heloife was withdrawn, never was

Man

Man in fuch a Paffion. He abandon'd himself to the utmoft Tranfactions of Rage, Defpair, and Thirft of Revenge. All the Affronts, Reproaches and Menaces that could be thought of were heaped upon Abelard; who was, poor Man, very Paffive, and ready to make the Canon all the Satisfaction he was able. He gave him leave to fay what he pleased; and when he faw that he had tired himfelf with exclaiming, he took up the Discourse, and ingenuously confeft his Crime. Then he had Recourse to all the Prayers, Submissions and Promifes he could invent; and begg'd of him to confider the Force of Love, and what Foils this Tyrant has given to the greatest Men: That the Occafion of the prefent Misfortune, was the most violent Paffion that ever was; that this Paffion continued still; and that he was ready to give both him and his Niece all the Satisfaction which this fort of Injury required. Will you marry her then? faid Fulbert, interrupting him. Yes, replied Abelard, if you pleafe, and she will confent. If I please! faid the Canon, pausing a little; if she will confent! And do you queftion either? Upon this he was going to offer him his Reasons, after his hafty way, why they should be married: But Abelard entreated him to fupprefs his Paffion a while, and hear what he had to offer: Which was, that their Marriage might for fome time be kept fecret. No, fays the Canon the Dishonour you have done my Niece is publick, and the Reparation you

make

make her fhall be fo too. But Abelard told him, that fince they were to be one Family, he hoped he would confider his Intereft as his own. At last, after a great many Entreaties, Fulbert feemed content it should be as Abelard defired, that he fhould marry Heloife after fhe was brought to Bed, and that in the mean time the Business should be kept Secret.

Abelard, having given his Scholars a Vacation, returned into Britany, to vifit his defigned Spouse, and to acquaint her with what had paffed. She was not at all concern'd at her Uncle's Displeafure; but that which troubled her was, the Refolution which she saw her Lover had taken to marry her. She endeavour'd to diffuade him from it with all the Arguments fhe could think of. She begun with reprefenting to him the Wrong he did himself in thinking of Marriage: That as she never loved him but for his own fake, fhe preferr'd his Glory, Reputation and Intereft before her own. I know my Uncle, faid she, will never be pacified with any thing we can do: And what Honour fhall I get by being your Wife, when at the fame time I certainly ruin your Reputation? What Curse may I not justly fear, fhould I rob the World of fo Eminent a Perfon as you are? What an Injury fhall I do the Church? How much fhall I difoblige the Learned? And what a Shame and Difparagement will it be to you, whom Nature has fitted for the Publick Good, to devote yourfelf entirely to a Wife? Remember what St. Paul lays, Art thou loofed from

a Wife?