ARGUMENT. ABELARD and Eloifa flourished in the twelfth Century; they were two of the most distinguished perfons of their age in learning and beauty, but for nothing more famous than for their unfortunate paffion. After a long courfe of calamities, they retired each to a feveral Convent, and confecrated the remainder of their days to religion. It was many years after this feparation, that a letter of Abelard's to a Friend, which contained the hiftory of his misfortune, fell into the hands of Eloifa. This awakening all her tenderness, occafioned thofe celebrated letters (out of which the following is partly extracted) which give fo lively a picture of the struggles of grace and nature, virtue and passion. ELOISA то A BEL N these deep folitudes and awful cells, IN Where heavenly penfive contemplation dwells, And ever-mufing melancholy reigns; What means this tumult in a Veftal's veins ? Why rove my thoughts beyond this last retreat? my heart its long-forgotten heat? Yet, yet I love!-From Abelard it came, Dear fatal name! reft ever unreveal'd, Relentless walls! whofe darkfome round contains Repentant fighs, and voluntary pains : Ye rugged rocks! which holy knees have worn; N 4 5 10 35 20 All All is not Heaven's while Abelard has part, Soon as thy letters trembling I unclose, 25 30 Still breath'd in fighs, still usher'd with a tear. I tremble too, where'er my own I find, Some dire misfortune follows close behind. Now warm in love, now withering in my bloom, There stern Religion quench'd th' unwilling flame, Yet write, oh write me all, that I may join 35 40 Tears ftill are mine, and those I need not spare, 45 Then share thy pain, allow that fad relief; 50 Ah, more than share it, give me all thy grief, The The virgin's with without her fears impart, 55 Thou know'st how guiltless first I met thy flame, When Love approach'd me under Friendship's name; My fancy form'd thee of angelic kind, Some emanation of th' All-beauteous Mind. Those smiling eyes, attempering every ray, Shone fweetly lambent with celestial day. Guiltless I gaz'd; heaven liften'd while you fung; 65 How oft, when press'd to marriage, have I said, Before true paffion all thofe views remove, 70 75 Fame, wealth, and honour! what are you to Love? 80 Should |