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ELOISA

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ABELARD.

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Belard and Eloifa flourish'd in the twelfth Century; they were two of the most distinguish'd 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 contain'd the history of his misfortunes, fell into the hands of Eloifa. This awakening all her tenderness, occafion'd 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 paffion.

1

ELOISA

то

ABELAR D.

N thefe deep folitudes and awful cells,

IN

Where heav'nly-penfive contemplation dwells,
And ever-mufing melancholy reigns;

What means this tumult in a vestals veins ?
Why rove my thoughts beyond this laft retreat?
Why feels my heart its long-forgotten heat?
Yet, yet I love!-From Abelard it came,
And Eloifa yet muft kifs the name.

Dear fatal name! reft ever unreveal'd,
Nor pafs thefe lips in holy filence feal'd.

Hide it, my heart, within that close disguise,
Where, mix'd with Gods, his lov'd idea lies.
Oh write it not, my hand- The name appears
Already written-wash it out, my tears!
In vain loft Eloifa weeps and prays,

Her heart ftill dictates, and her hand obeys.
Relentless walls! whofe darkfom round contains
Repentant fighs, and voluntary pains:
Ye rugged rocks! which holy knees have worn;
Ye grots and caverns fhagg'd with horrid thorn!
Shrines! where their vigils pale-ey'd virgins keep,
And pitying faints, whofe ftatues learn to weep!
Tho' cold like you, unmov'd, and filent grown,
I have not yet forgot my felf to ftone.

Heav'n claims me all in vain while he has part,
Still rebel nature holds out half: my heart;
Nor pray'rs nor fafts its ftubborn pulse restrain,
Nor tears, for ages, taught to flow in vain.

Soon as thy letters trembling I unclofe,.
That well-known name awakens all my woes.
Oh name for ever fad! for ever dear!
Still breath'd in fighs, ftill usher'd with a tear.
I tremble too, where-e'er my own I find,
Some dire misfortune follows close behind.

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