Letters of Abelard and Heloise
- Language:
- English
- Translation:
- Scott Moncrieff
- Status:
- Complete work
- Authorship:
- Written by the author
- Condition of the text:
- No scanning noise detected (automatic measure over the whole text, not checked by hand)
- Extent:
- ~56,400 words · 268 passages
Cite this work
- APAPeter Abelard. (n.d.). Letters of Abelard and Heloise (Scott Moncrieff, Trans.). Digital reproduction: SigPhi. https://sigphiai.com/en/works/peter-abelard/letters-of-abelard-and-heloise
- MLAPeter Abelard. Letters of Abelard and Heloise. Translated by Scott Moncrieff. Digital reproduction, SigPhi, https://sigphiai.com/en/works/peter-abelard/letters-of-abelard-and-heloise.
- ChicagoPeter Abelard. Letters of Abelard and Heloise. Translated by Scott Moncrieff. Digital reproduction, SigPhi. https://sigphiai.com/en/works/peter-abelard/letters-of-abelard-and-heloise.
Reference to the edition that SigPhi reproduces: SigPhi is its digital reproduction, not its publisher. The edition's year is not in the metadata (hence "n.d."), and the translator appears only when recorded.
What it is about
The letters of Abelard and Heloise.
Context and history
He writes to her as a spiritual director; she answers that she repents of nothing and entered the convent out of obedience to him and not to God. Heloise's letters are what make the collection immortal, and some have doubted they are hers precisely because they are too good.
Editorial context, not a citable source: unlike the passages of the work itself, these statements cannot be checked against the corpus.
However, it served only to unite their hearts more firmly; they were but the more eager to see one another. Difficulties increased their desires, and put them upon any attempts without regarding what might be the consequence. _Abelard_ finding it impossible to live without his dear _Heloise_, endeavoured to settle a correspondence with her by her maid Agaton, who was a handsome brown girl, well shaped, and likely enough to have pleased a man who was not otherwise engaged. But what a surprise was it to our Doctor, to find this girl refuse his money, and in recompence of the services she was to do him with his mistress, demanded no less a reward than his heart, and making him at once a plain declaration of love! _Abelard_ who could love none but _Heloise_, turned from her abruptly, without answering a word. But a rejected woman is a dangerous creature. Agaton knew well how to revenge the affront put upon her, and failed not to acquaint Fulbert with _Abelard's_ offers to her, without saying a word how she had been disobliged. Fulbert thought it was time to look about him. He thanked the maid for her care, and entered into measures with her, how to keep _Abelard_ from visiting his niece. The Doctor was now more perplexed than ever: he had no ways left but to apply himself to _Heloise's_ singing-master; and the gold which the maid refused prevailed with him. By this means _Abelard_ conveyed a letter to _Heloise_, in which he told her, that he intended to come and see her at night, and that the way he had contrived was over the garden-wall by a ladder of cords. This project succeeded, and brought them together. After the first transports of this short interview, _Heloise_, who had found some more than ordinary symptoms within her, acquainted her lover with it.…
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